Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Arkansas means applying through the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Arkansas licensing and credentialing for you.
Official AR boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners websiteHow to get licensed in Arkansas
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam results (INBDE + a clinical exam), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Arkansas issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners
The AR board sets Arkansas's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$150
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~45 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free AR checklist
Get the complete Arkansas dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Arkansas dental license
Once you're licensed, the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Renew by January 1 of even-numbered years (renewal forms go out in December of odd-numbered years); a license not renewed within 30 days after January 1 is forfeited
- Renewal fee
- Renewal fee not published; late fee: Relicensing after forfeiture: all accrued renewal fees plus a $200 penalty; after 2 years, a clinical re-examination is also required
- Continuing education (CE)
- 50 hours every 2-year reporting period, plus Healthcare Provider-level CPR
- At least 1 hour infection control each reporting period
- Healthcare Provider level CPR (ACLS or PALS accepted); CPR hours count toward CE hour-for-hour
- How to renew
- Online through the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners renewal portal; CE hours are entered in the board's CE capture systemOpen the renewal portal
- NoteRenewal fee is set by the board and was not published on the board pages read; fees changed July 1, 2023
- NoteYou cannot renew if you are short on CE hours
- NoteCourses must relate directly to patient care or management of the dental practice; home-study counts if it has a post-test
- NoteThere is no retired status; a license is either active or not held
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesArkansas Dental Practice Act, Rules and Regulations (May 2025), A.C.A. 17-82-310 to 17-82-312ASBDE Frequently Asked QuestionsASBDE Rules Article XIV: Continuing Education for Dentists and Dental Hygienists (038.00.08 Ark. Code R. 002)Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Arkansas renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Arkansas
A Arkansas license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Arkansas license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Arkansas license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each dental plan (and any medical plan you'll bill) that you want to join in Arkansas. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Arkansas Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Arkansas licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Arkansas license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Arkansas application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Arkansas dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas dentist applications take about 45 days once the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses dentists in Arkansas?
Dentists in Arkansas are licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Arkansas dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Arkansas dentist application fee is around $150. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners before you apply.
How do I renew my Arkansas dental license?
In Arkansas, renewals are filed with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. How to renew: Online through the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners renewal portal; CE hours are entered in the board's CE capture system. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Renew by January 1 of even-numbered years (renewal forms go out in December of odd-numbered years); a license not renewed within 30 days after January 1 is forfeited. Continuing education: 50 hours every 2-year reporting period, plus Healthcare Provider-level CPR. Required topics include At least 1 hour infection control each reporting period; Healthcare Provider level CPR (ACLS or PALS accepted); CPR hours count toward CE hour-for-hour. This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a dental license in Arkansas?
50 CE hours. The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners publishes the requirement as: 50 hours every 2-year reporting period, plus Healthcare Provider-level CPR. Required topics include At least 1 hour infection control each reporting period; Healthcare Provider level CPR (ACLS or PALS accepted); CPR hours count toward CE hour-for-hour. Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Arkansas dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Arkansas?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Arkansas that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Arkansas Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Arkansas license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Arkansas — including by telehealth — you typically need a Arkansas license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Arkansas dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Arkansas license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Arkansas application and payer enrollment end to end.