Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Connecticut means applying through the Connecticut State Dental Commission, 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 Connecticut licensing and credentialing for you.
Official CT boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Connecticut State Dental Commission websiteHow to get licensed in Connecticut
- 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 Connecticut State Dental Commission, 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, Connecticut issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Connecticut State Dental Commission
The CT board sets Connecticut's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$565
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Connecticut State Dental Commission. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 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.
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Renewing your Connecticut dental license
Once you're licensed, the Connecticut State Dental Commission requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every year
- Deadline
- Expires at the end of the birth month each year (first expiration is the first birth month after issuance); renewal notice is emailed about 60 days before and a final notice about 30 days after expiration. 90-day grace period after expiration (CGS 19a-88(f)) during which the dentist may practice and renew, then the license is void and needs reinstatement
- Renewal fee
- $575
- Continuing education (CE)
- 25 contact hours every 2 years (preceding 24-month period)
- At least 1 hour infection control
- At least 1 hour prescribing controlled substances and pain management
- At least 1 hour in each of any three of the ten DPH mandatory topics (e.g. record keeping/risk management, access to care, HIPAA, medical emergencies incl. CPR, sexual assault and domestic abuse, cultural competence, veterans' mental health, diagnostic technology)
- How to renew
- Online only through the CT DPH eLicense portalOpen the renewal portal
- NoteRenewal is annual but the CE requirement is measured over the preceding 24 months
- NoteFirst renewal is exempt from CE
- NoteYou attest to CE at renewal; keep certificates at least 3 years and produce them within 45 days of a DPH request
- NoteRenewal notices for dentists go by email only
- NoteFee waiver available for dentists volunteering 100+ hours a year at public health facilities, and a reduced-fee retired renewal exists
- NoteThe separate DCP Controlled Substance Registration renews every two years ($40), expiring February 28 of odd-numbered years
- NoteNo late fee: renewal inside the 90-day grace period is at the regular $575 (CGS 19a-88; late fee repealed 1980)
- NoteActive-duty U.S. Armed Forces licensees who are Connecticut residents may request a renewal fee waiver at each renewal
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Connecticut State Dental Commission. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesCT DPH - Dentist Licensing (renewal fee $575)CT DPH - Health Care Practitioner Renewal InformationCT DPH - Dentist Continuing Education InformationCT DPH - Dentist Waiver of Renewal FeeConnecticut General Statutes Chapter 379 (Dentistry), Sec. 20-126cConnecticut General Statutes Chapter 368a, Sec. 19a-88 (renewal, 90-day void period)
Comparing states? See how often dentists renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: dental license renewal requirements by state.
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Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Connecticut
A Connecticut 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 Connecticut license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Connecticut 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 Connecticut. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Connecticut 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Connecticut? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Connecticut licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Connecticut license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Connecticut State Dental Commission. 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 Connecticut application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Connecticut dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Connecticut?
Most Connecticut dentist applications take about 60 days once the Connecticut State Dental Commission 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 Connecticut?
Dentists in Connecticut are licensed by the Connecticut State Dental Commission, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Connecticut dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Connecticut dentist application fee is around $565. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Connecticut State Dental Commission before you apply.
How do I renew my Connecticut dental license?
In Connecticut, renewals are filed with the Connecticut State Dental Commission. How to renew: Online only through the CT DPH eLicense portal. Renewal cycle: Every year. Deadline: Expires at the end of the birth month each year (first expiration is the first birth month after issuance); renewal notice is emailed about 60 days before and a final notice about 30 days after expiration. 90-day grace period after expiration (CGS 19a-88(f)) during which the dentist may practice and renew, then the license is void and needs reinstatement. Renewal fee: $575. Continuing education: 25 contact hours every 2 years (preceding 24-month period). Required topics include At least 1 hour infection control; At least 1 hour prescribing controlled substances and pain management; At least 1 hour in each of any three of the ten DPH mandatory topics (e.g. record keeping/risk management, access to care, HIPAA, medical emergencies incl. CPR, sexual assault and domestic abuse, cultural competence, veterans' mental health, diagnostic technology). This is as published by the board (last verified November 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 Connecticut?
25 CE hours. The Connecticut State Dental Commission publishes the requirement as: 25 contact hours every 2 years (preceding 24-month period). Required topics include At least 1 hour infection control; At least 1 hour prescribing controlled substances and pain management; At least 1 hour in each of any three of the ten DPH mandatory topics (e.g. record keeping/risk management, access to care, HIPAA, medical emergencies incl. CPR, sexual assault and domestic abuse, cultural competence, veterans' mental health, diagnostic technology). Last verified November 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 Connecticut dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Connecticut State Dental Commission's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Connecticut?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Connecticut 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 — Connecticut Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Connecticut license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Connecticut — including by telehealth — you typically need a Connecticut license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Connecticut dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Connecticut 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 Connecticut application and payer enrollment end to end.