Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Louisiana means applying through the Louisiana 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 Louisiana licensing and credentialing for you.
Official LA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Louisiana
- 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 Louisiana 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, Louisiana issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Louisiana State Board of Dentistry
The LA board sets Louisiana's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$350
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. 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.
Free LA 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 Louisiana dental license
Once you're licensed, the Louisiana 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 2 years
- Deadline
- Expires December 31 at the end of the biennial period (current cycle ends December 31, 2026); online payment must be completed by 11:59 PM December 31 (paper postmarked by December 31) to avoid a late/delinquent fee
- Renewal fee
- $590 biennial dentist license renewal (board fee page; LAC 46:XXXIII §415 still lists $540) (late fee: $250 delinquency fee in addition to the renewal fee (LAC 46:XXXIII §415); $500 reinstatement of a license lapsed by non-renewal)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 30 hours every 2-year renewal period (20 personally attended clinical + 10 clinical that may be online/correspondence with exam)
- 3 hours opioid management (one-time career requirement; exempt if no controlled substances prescribed/administered/dispensed during the period)
- 6 hours in-person sedation course per license period for general anesthesia / moderate sedation permit holders (12 if pediatric certification)
- How to renew
- Online through the board's Licensee Login renewal system (or by mail); CE is reported through CE Broker by December 31Open the renewal portal
- NoteBLS certification must be maintained at all times; BLS/ACLS/PALS cards must be uploaded to the CPR section in CE Broker
- NoteACLS required for adult moderate sedation/general anesthesia permit holders; PALS for pediatric moderate sedation permit holders
- NoteModerate sedation/general anesthesia permit renewal ($200) and nitrous permit renewal ($50) are separate fees
- NoteDentists renewing for the first time are exempt from CE (other than the opioid course)
- NoteCE not completed on time must be finished by August of the following year and does not count toward the next period
- NoteRenewal certificates are printed online; paper certificates are no longer mailed
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesLSBD - Licensee Login / renewalsLSBD - FeesLSBD - Continuing EducationLAC Title 46 Part XXXIII (Board rules, Jan 2026)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Louisiana renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Louisiana
A Louisiana 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 Louisiana license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Louisiana 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 Louisiana. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Louisiana 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 Louisiana licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Louisiana license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Louisiana 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 Louisiana application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Louisiana dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Louisiana?
Most Louisiana dentist applications take about 60 days once the Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Dentists in Louisiana are licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Louisiana dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Louisiana dentist application fee is around $350. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Louisiana dental license?
In Louisiana, renewals are filed with the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through the board's Licensee Login renewal system (or by mail); CE is reported through CE Broker by December 31. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires December 31 at the end of the biennial period (current cycle ends December 31, 2026); online payment must be completed by 11:59 PM December 31 (paper postmarked by December 31) to avoid a late/delinquent fee. Renewal fee: $590 biennial dentist license renewal (board fee page; LAC 46:XXXIII §415 still lists $540) (late fee: $250 delinquency fee in addition to the renewal fee (LAC 46:XXXIII §415); $500 reinstatement of a license lapsed by non-renewal). Continuing education: 30 hours every 2-year renewal period (20 personally attended clinical + 10 clinical that may be online/correspondence with exam). Required topics include 3 hours opioid management (one-time career requirement; exempt if no controlled substances prescribed/administered/dispensed during the period); 6 hours in-person sedation course per license period for general anesthesia / moderate sedation permit holders (12 if pediatric certification). 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 Louisiana?
30 CE hours. The Louisiana State Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 30 hours every 2-year renewal period (20 personally attended clinical + 10 clinical that may be online/correspondence with exam). Required topics include 3 hours opioid management (one-time career requirement; exempt if no controlled substances prescribed/administered/dispensed during the period); 6 hours in-person sedation course per license period for general anesthesia / moderate sedation permit holders (12 if pediatric certification). 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 Louisiana dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Louisiana?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Louisiana 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 — Louisiana Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Louisiana license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Louisiana — including by telehealth — you typically need a Louisiana license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Louisiana dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Louisiana 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 Louisiana application and payer enrollment end to end.