Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Florida means applying through the Florida Board of Dentistry, 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 Florida licensing and credentialing for you.
Official FL boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Florida Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Florida
- 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 Florida Board of Dentistry, 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, Florida issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Florida Board of Dentistry
The FL board sets Florida's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteTypical 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 FL checklist
Get the complete Florida dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Florida dental license
Once you're licensed, the Florida Board of Dentistry requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years (biennium March 1 - February 28 of even years)
- Deadline
- Expires February 28 of even-numbered years at midnight ET (current licenses expire February 28, 2028); online renewal opens up to 90 days before
- Renewal fee
- $305 active-to-active renewal, plus a $43.25 fingerprint retention fee when Livescan retention expires during the cycle (late fee: Delinquent renewal $355 through March 31 after expiration, $455 thereafter, $760 if 120-day notified delinquent (active-to-active))
- Continuing education (CE)
- 30 hours per biennium (28 general + 2 hours prevention of medical errors) plus current live CPR
- 2 hours prevention of medical errors (every renewal)
- 2 hours safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances (every renewal; counts toward the 30)
- 2 hours domestic violence (every third biennium)
- 2 hours HIV/AIDS (first renewal only)
- 1 hour human trafficking (s. 456.0341; counts toward total hours)
- 4 hours management of medical emergencies incl. airway management (sedation permit holders)
- Current CPR certification from a live course (0 CE hours credited)
- How to renew
- Online through the MQA Services Portal or flhealthsource.gov (Renew A License) by card; by mail for status changes, check payment, military/volunteer status or name changesOpen the renewal portal
- NoteInitial licenses expire February 28 of the following even-numbered year; first renewal needs only 2 hours controlled substances and 2 hours HIV/AIDS
- NoteRenewal also requires the Financial Responsibility form, the chronic nonmalignant pain prescriber status, the primary practice address and fingerprint retention
- NoteDispensing ($100), general anesthesia ($200), moderate sedation ($200) and pediatric moderate sedation ($200) permits renew with additional fees
- NoteCE governed by s. 466.0135 F.S. and Rule 64B5-12 F.A.C.; report CE in CE Broker
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Florida Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesFlorida Board of Dentistry - Dentist RenewalFlorida Board of Dentistry - RenewalsFlorida Statutes s. 456.0341 (human trafficking CE)
Comparing states? See how often dentists renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: dental license renewal requirements by state.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Florida renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Florida
A Florida 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 Florida license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Florida 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 Florida. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Florida 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 Florida? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Florida licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Florida license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Florida Board of Dentistry. 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 Florida 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.
Florida dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Florida?
Most Florida dentist applications take about 45 days once the Florida Board of Dentistry 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 Florida?
Dentists in Florida are licensed by the Florida Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How do I renew my Florida dental license?
In Florida, renewals are filed with the Florida Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through the MQA Services Portal or flhealthsource.gov (Renew A License) by card; by mail for status changes, check payment, military/volunteer status or name changes. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (biennium March 1 - February 28 of even years). Deadline: Expires February 28 of even-numbered years at midnight ET (current licenses expire February 28, 2028); online renewal opens up to 90 days before. Renewal fee: $305 active-to-active renewal, plus a $43.25 fingerprint retention fee when Livescan retention expires during the cycle (late fee: Delinquent renewal $355 through March 31 after expiration, $455 thereafter, $760 if 120-day notified delinquent (active-to-active)). Continuing education: 30 hours per biennium (28 general + 2 hours prevention of medical errors) plus current live CPR. Required topics include 2 hours prevention of medical errors (every renewal); 2 hours safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances (every renewal; counts toward the 30); 2 hours domestic violence (every third biennium); 2 hours HIV/AIDS (first renewal only); 1 hour human trafficking (s. 456.0341; counts toward total hours); 4 hours management of medical emergencies incl. airway management (sedation permit holders); Current CPR certification from a live course (0 CE hours credited). 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 Florida?
30 CE hours. The Florida Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 30 hours per biennium (28 general + 2 hours prevention of medical errors) plus current live CPR. Required topics include 2 hours prevention of medical errors (every renewal); 2 hours safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances (every renewal; counts toward the 30); 2 hours domestic violence (every third biennium); 2 hours HIV/AIDS (first renewal only); 1 hour human trafficking (s. 456.0341; counts toward total hours); 4 hours management of medical emergencies incl. airway management (sedation permit holders); Current CPR certification from a live course (0 CE hours credited). 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 Florida dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Florida Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Florida?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Florida 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 — Florida Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Florida license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Florida — including by telehealth — you typically need a Florida license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Florida dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Florida 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 Florida application and payer enrollment end to end.