Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Colorado means applying through the Colorado 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 Colorado licensing and credentialing for you.
Official CO boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners websiteHow to get licensed in Colorado
- 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 Colorado 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, Colorado issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners
The CO board sets Colorado's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$361
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Colorado 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 CO checklist
Get the complete Colorado dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Colorado dental license
Colorado dental licenses are renewed with the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners, which sets the renewal cycle, deadline, fee and any continuing-education (CE) requirements. Check the board's website for your current deadline and requirements before you renew: Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners website.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Colorado renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Colorado
A Colorado 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 Colorado license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Colorado 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 Colorado. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Colorado 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 Colorado licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Colorado license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Colorado 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 Colorado application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Colorado dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Colorado?
Most Colorado dentist applications take about 45 days once the Colorado 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 Colorado?
Dentists in Colorado are licensed by the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Colorado dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Colorado dentist application fee is around $361. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners before you apply.
How do I renew my Colorado dental license?
Renewals are filed with the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners, usually online through the board's licensing portal. The board sets the renewal cycle and any continuing-education requirements, so check its official website for your deadline. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How do I look up or verify a Colorado dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Colorado 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 Colorado?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Colorado 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 — Colorado Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Colorado license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Colorado — including by telehealth — you typically need a Colorado license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Colorado dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Colorado 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 Colorado application and payer enrollment end to end.