Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Pennsylvania means applying through the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania licensing and credentialing for you.
Official PA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Pennsylvania
- 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 Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry
The PA board sets Pennsylvania's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$260
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania dental license
Once you're licensed, the Pennsylvania 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 (biennial)
- Deadline
- Expires March 31 of every odd-numbered year; renewal opens about 60 days before expiration (PALS email notice)
- Renewal fee
- $366
- Continuing education (CE)
- 30 hours of Board-approved CE per biennium (April 1 to March 31), plus 2 hours child abuse reporter training and 2 hours opioid CE
- 2 hours Act 31 mandated child abuse reporter training (approved provider)
- 2 hours Act 124 opioid CE (not required if no DEA registration and not prescribing controlled substances under another's DEA)
- No more than 50% of credits via online/individual study
- CPR courses do not count toward CE
- How to renew
- Online only through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS); no paper renewalsOpen the renewal portal
- NoteCurrent infant, child and adult CPR required (hands-on)
- NoteProfessional liability insurance required if actively practicing ($1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate)
- NoteCE exempt in the first biennium if initial license was issued within that biennium
- NoteAnesthesia permits renew separately: Unrestricted/Restricted I $293 with 15 hours anesthesia CE and PSOMS evaluation within 6 years; Restricted II $74
- NoteChild abuse CE completion is reported electronically by the provider; do not upload certificate
- NoteLate fee not published in the renewal guide
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesPA State Board of Dentistry - Renewal InformationPA State Board of Dentistry Renewal Guide (Rev 01/2025)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Pennsylvania renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Pennsylvania license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Pennsylvania dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania dentist applications take about 60 days once the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Dentists in Pennsylvania are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Pennsylvania dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Pennsylvania dentist application fee is around $260. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Pennsylvania dental license?
In Pennsylvania, renewals are filed with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online only through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS); no paper renewals. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (biennial). Deadline: Expires March 31 of every odd-numbered year; renewal opens about 60 days before expiration (PALS email notice). Renewal fee: $366. Continuing education: 30 hours of Board-approved CE per biennium (April 1 to March 31), plus 2 hours child abuse reporter training and 2 hours opioid CE. Required topics include 2 hours Act 31 mandated child abuse reporter training (approved provider); 2 hours Act 124 opioid CE (not required if no DEA registration and not prescribing controlled substances under another's DEA); No more than 50% of credits via online/individual study; 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 Pennsylvania?
30 CE hours. The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 30 hours of Board-approved CE per biennium (April 1 to March 31), plus 2 hours child abuse reporter training and 2 hours opioid CE. Required topics include 2 hours Act 31 mandated child abuse reporter training (approved provider); 2 hours Act 124 opioid CE (not required if no DEA registration and not prescribing controlled substances under another's DEA); No more than 50% of credits via online/individual study; 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 Pennsylvania dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Pennsylvania?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Pennsylvania 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 — Pennsylvania Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Pennsylvania license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Pennsylvania — including by telehealth — you typically need a Pennsylvania license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Pennsylvania dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania application and payer enrollment end to end.