Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Massachusetts means applying through the Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 Massachusetts licensing and credentialing for you.
Official MA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Massachusetts
- 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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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, Massachusetts issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry
The MA board sets Massachusetts's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$660
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 MA checklist
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Renewing your Massachusetts dental license
Once you're licensed, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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
- Renew no later than March 31 of even-numbered years
- Renewal fee
- Not published by the board; confirm with the board
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 CEUs during the 24 months preceding March 31 of even-numbered years
- CDC Guidelines (infection control)
- Continuous CPR/AED or BLS certification (ACLS or PALS for anesthesia permit holders)
- Prescriber training under M.G.L. c. 94C s. 18(e) (effective pain management, opioid misuse risks, non-opioid alternatives) for dentists who prescribe controlled substances or hold DEA/MCSR registration
- How to renew
- Biennial renewal application to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry (online renewal portal not confirmed)
- NoteMaximum 20 CEUs per cycle from individual study (home study, online, correspondence, audio/video)
- NoteExpired less than two cycles: pay renewal fee for each missed cycle plus late renewal fee, show CE and explain the lapse
- NoteCE must be completed before renewal, reactivation or reinstatement
- NoteFees are set by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance; fee amounts not confirmed
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources234 CMR 4.14 License Renewal, Reactivation and Reinstatement234 CMR 8.02 Continuing Education requirement234 CMR 8.03 Mandatory continuing education234 CMR 8.05 CE credit limitsM.G.L. c. 94C s. 18
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Massachusetts renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Massachusetts
A Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Massachusetts license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 Massachusetts application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Massachusetts dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Massachusetts?
Most Massachusetts dentist applications take about 60 days once the Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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 Massachusetts?
Dentists in Massachusetts are licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Massachusetts dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Massachusetts dentist application fee is around $660. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Massachusetts dental license?
In Massachusetts, renewals are filed with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. How to renew: Biennial renewal application to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry (online renewal portal not confirmed). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Renew no later than March 31 of even-numbered years. Continuing education: 40 CEUs during the 24 months preceding March 31 of even-numbered years. Required topics include CDC Guidelines (infection control); Continuous CPR/AED or BLS certification (ACLS or PALS for anesthesia permit holders); Prescriber training under M.G.L. c. 94C s. 18(e) (effective pain management, opioid misuse risks, non-opioid alternatives) for dentists who prescribe controlled substances or hold DEA/MCSR registration. 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 Massachusetts?
40 CE hours. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 40 CEUs during the 24 months preceding March 31 of even-numbered years. Required topics include CDC Guidelines (infection control); Continuous CPR/AED or BLS certification (ACLS or PALS for anesthesia permit holders); Prescriber training under M.G.L. c. 94C s. 18(e) (effective pain management, opioid misuse risks, non-opioid alternatives) for dentists who prescribe controlled substances or hold DEA/MCSR registration. 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 Massachusetts dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Massachusetts?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Massachusetts 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 — Massachusetts Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Massachusetts license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Massachusetts — including by telehealth — you typically need a Massachusetts license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Massachusetts dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts application and payer enrollment end to end.