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
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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 (next September 30, 2027); renew during the month before expiration
- Renewal fee
- $300 ($100 per year) (late fee: Renewal within 90 days after expiration needs an additional fee (amount not in the rules); restoration (other than from inactive) is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 48 hours every 3 years (the 36 months before September 30 of the renewal year); not required for the first renewal
- Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA or American Red Cross guidelines) at every renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE
- 1 hour sexual harassment prevention training before every renewal, including the first (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5)
- 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period, starting with the first renewal that requires CE (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7)
- 1 hour cultural competency before the first renewal that requires CE, then every 6 years (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370)
- Mandated reporter (child abuse) training: dentists who work with children complete it at least every 6 years; others attest at each renewal
- Controlled substance license holders: 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each pre-renewal period (720 ILCS 570/315.5)
- How to renew
- In CORE if the license application was created in CORE (sign in with the application email, Renewals, Renew, attest, Pay now); otherwise through IDFPR's legacy online renewal portal linked from the dental pageOpen the renewal portal
- NoteNo more than 50% of CE by correspondence/self-study; up to 4 hours for volunteer clinical service
- NoteCE must come from approved sponsors (e.g. ADA CERP, AGD, accredited dental schools and hospitals)
- NoteSedation permits renew separately ($300 per renewal)
- NoteThe Illinois controlled substance license renews separately from the dental license
- NoteExpired up to 5 years: restore with proof of CE; over 5 years requires a showing of fitness
- NoteAllow 2-4 business days for a renewed license to post
- NoteLicenses not created in CORE renew at https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/; a missed renewal window requires a Reinstatement application from IDFPR
- NoteThe Illinois controlled substance license renews at $5 per year for dentists (IDFPR variance signed 10/15/2026, one year)
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Illinois State Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesIDFPR - Dental Professions (renewal links and notes)68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220 (1220.170, 1220.415, 1220.440)Illinois Dental Practice Act, 225 ILCS 25 (Sections 16, 16.1, 21)IDFPR Continuing Education Requirements (legislative mandates)720 ILCS 570/315.5 Opioid education for prescribersIDFPR CORE Renewal InstructionsIDFPR CORE page (renewals in CORE for CORE-created licenses)
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 Illinois renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Illinois? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
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. 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.
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: In CORE if the license application was created in CORE (sign in with the application email, Renewals, Renew, attest, Pay now); otherwise through IDFPR's legacy online renewal portal linked from the dental page. Renewal cycle: Every 3 years. Deadline: Expires September 30 every 3 years (next September 30, 2027); renew during the month before expiration. Renewal fee: $300 ($100 per year) (late fee: Renewal within 90 days after expiration needs an additional fee (amount not in the rules); restoration (other than from inactive) is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees). Continuing education: 48 hours every 3 years (the 36 months before September 30 of the renewal year); not required for the first renewal. Required topics include Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA or American Red Cross guidelines) at every renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE; 1 hour sexual harassment prevention training before every renewal, including the first (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period, starting with the first renewal that requires CE (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7); 1 hour cultural competency before the first renewal that requires CE, then every 6 years (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370); Mandated reporter (child abuse) training: dentists who work with children complete it at least every 6 years; others attest at each renewal; Controlled substance license holders: 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each pre-renewal period (720 ILCS 570/315.5). 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 Illinois?
48 CE hours. The Illinois State Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 48 hours every 3 years (the 36 months before September 30 of the renewal year); not required for the first renewal. Required topics include Current BLS for healthcare providers (AHA or American Red Cross guidelines) at every renewal; up to 4 hours count toward CE; 1 hour sexual harassment prevention training before every renewal, including the first (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness per renewal period, starting with the first renewal that requires CE (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7); 1 hour cultural competency before the first renewal that requires CE, then every 6 years (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370); Mandated reporter (child abuse) training: dentists who work with children complete it at least every 6 years; others attest at each renewal; Controlled substance license holders: 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each pre-renewal period (720 ILCS 570/315.5). 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 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.