Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Montana means applying through the Montana 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 Montana licensing and credentialing for you.
Official MT boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Montana Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Montana
- 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 Montana 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, Montana issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Montana Board of Dentistry
The MT board sets Montana's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$185
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Montana 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.
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Renewing your Montana dental license
Once you're licensed, the Montana Board of Dentistry requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every year (CE tracked on a 3-year cycle)
- Deadline
- Expires March 1 every year; a lapsed license can still be renewed within 45 days with applicable fees
- Renewal fee
- $306 per board FAQ; the board's paper renewal form lists $183 ($153 + $30 Montana Prescription Drug Registry fee), so published figures conflict - confirm in the online portal (late fee: Penalty of 100% of the renewal fee after March 1 (renewal form states total becomes $612))
- Continuing education (CE)
- 60 hours per 3-year cycle (cycles started April 15, 2015); 10% of active dentists randomly audited
- Deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders: 20 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60
- Moderate sedation permit holders: 12 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60
- Basic life support/CPR courses do not count toward CE
- How to renew
- Online through the Montana DLI Business Standards Division licensing portal (paper renewal form also accepted by mail)Open the renewal portal
- NoteCurrent CPR, ACLS or PALS card required (attested at renewal)
- Note$30 annual Montana Prescription Drug Registry (MPDR) fee collected at renewal for prescribers
- NoteAnesthesia permits (moderate, deep sedation/GA) renew with the license for an extra $25 ($50 after March 1)
- NoteInactive status fee is $77 per year
- NoteCE rules quoted from the board's posted ARM Chapter 138 compilation (as of 6/30/2021, unofficial version)
- NoteNew licensees: CE obligations prorated from the March 1 following initial licensure
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Montana Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesMontana Board of Dentistry - FAQMontana Board of Dentistry - Dentist Renewal FormMontana Board of Dentistry - ARM Chapter 138 (as of 6/30/2021)Montana Board of Dentistry - License Information
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Montana renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Montana
A Montana 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 Montana license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Montana 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 Montana. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Montana 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 Montana licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Montana license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Montana 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 Montana application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Montana dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Montana?
Most Montana dentist applications take about 45 days once the Montana 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 Montana?
Dentists in Montana are licensed by the Montana Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Montana dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Montana dentist application fee is around $185. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Montana Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Montana dental license?
In Montana, renewals are filed with the Montana Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through the Montana DLI Business Standards Division licensing portal (paper renewal form also accepted by mail). Renewal cycle: Every year (CE tracked on a 3-year cycle). Deadline: Expires March 1 every year; a lapsed license can still be renewed within 45 days with applicable fees. Renewal fee: $306 per board FAQ; the board's paper renewal form lists $183 ($153 + $30 Montana Prescription Drug Registry fee), so published figures conflict - confirm in the online portal (late fee: Penalty of 100% of the renewal fee after March 1 (renewal form states total becomes $612)). Continuing education: 60 hours per 3-year cycle (cycles started April 15, 2015); 10% of active dentists randomly audited. Required topics include Deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders: 20 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60; Moderate sedation permit holders: 12 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60; Basic life support/CPR courses do not count toward CE. 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 Montana?
60 CE hours. The Montana Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 60 hours per 3-year cycle (cycles started April 15, 2015); 10% of active dentists randomly audited. Required topics include Deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders: 20 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60; Moderate sedation permit holders: 12 anesthesia-specific hours within the 60; Basic life support/CPR courses do not count toward CE. 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 Montana dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Montana Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Montana?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Montana 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 — Montana Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Montana license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Montana — including by telehealth — you typically need a Montana license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Montana dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Montana 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 Montana application and payer enrollment end to end.