Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Illinois means applying through the Illinois State 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 Illinois licensing and credentialing for you.
Official IL boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Illinois State Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Illinois
- 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 Illinois State 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, Illinois issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Illinois State Board of Dentistry
The IL board sets Illinois's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$250
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Illinois State Board of Dentistry. 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 IL checklist
Get the complete Illinois dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Illinois dental license
Once you're licensed, the Illinois State Board of Dentistry requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Deadline
- Expires September 30 every 3 years (2024, 2027, ...); renewal allowed during the month preceding expiration
- Renewal fee
- $300 ($100 per year) (late fee: Renewal within 90 days after expiration requires an additional fee; restoration (other than from inactive) is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 48 hours every 3 years (prerenewal period = 36 months preceding September 30)
- Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA/ARC guidelines) required at renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE
- Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5)
- 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7)
- How to renew
- Online through IDFPR's online renewal systemOpen the renewal portal
- NoteNo CE required for the first renewal after initial licensure
- NoteNo more than 50% of CE by correspondence/self-study; up to 4 hours for volunteer clinical service
- NoteSedation permits renew separately ($300 per renewal)
- NoteIllinois controlled substance license is separate from the dental license
- NoteExpired up to 5 years: restore with CE proof; over 5 years requires fitness showing
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Illinois State Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesIDFPR - Dentist68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220 (Dental Practice Act rules)225 ILCS 25/16 - Expiration, renewal and restoration225 ILCS 25/16.1 - Continuing education20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5 - Sexual harassment prevention training20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7 - Implicit bias awareness training
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Illinois renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Illinois
A Illinois 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 Illinois license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Illinois 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 Illinois. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Illinois 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 Illinois licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Illinois license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Illinois State 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 Illinois application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Illinois dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Illinois?
Most Illinois dentist applications take about 45 days once the Illinois State 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 Illinois?
Dentists in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois State Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Illinois dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Illinois dentist application fee is around $250. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Illinois State Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Illinois dental license?
In Illinois, renewals are filed with the Illinois State Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through IDFPR's online renewal system. Renewal cycle: Every 3 years. Deadline: Expires September 30 every 3 years (2024, 2027, ...); renewal allowed during the month preceding expiration. Renewal fee: $300 ($100 per year) (late fee: Renewal within 90 days after expiration requires an additional fee; restoration (other than from inactive) is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees). Continuing education: 48 hours every 3 years (prerenewal period = 36 months preceding September 30). Required topics include Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA/ARC guidelines) required at renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE; Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7). 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 Illinois?
48 CE hours. The Illinois State Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 48 hours every 3 years (prerenewal period = 36 months preceding September 30). Required topics include Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA/ARC guidelines) required at renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE; Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7). 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 Illinois dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Illinois State Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Illinois?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Illinois 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 — Illinois Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Illinois license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Illinois — including by telehealth — you typically need a Illinois license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Illinois dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Illinois 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 Illinois application and payer enrollment end to end.