Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Rhode Island means applying through the Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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 Rhode Island licensing and credentialing for you.
Official RI boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Rhode Island
- 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 Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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, Rhode Island issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry
The RI board sets Rhode Island's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$965
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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 RI checklist
Get the complete Rhode Island dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Rhode Island dental license
Once you're licensed, the Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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 (biennial)
- Deadline
- Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years; renewal application should be filed before May 1 of each even-numbered year; licenses not renewed by July 1 are automatically revoked
- Renewal fee
- $965 biennial dentist renewal (late fee: $90 reinstatement fee added to the base renewal fee)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 hours every 2 years
- Minimum 1 hour per year of training on CDC infection control guidelines
- Current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate
- How to renew
- Renewal application and fee filed with the Rhode Island Department of Health (Board of Dentistry) before May 1 of even-numbered years
- NoteFee is set biennially by the Director of Health, so confirm against current fee schedule
- NoteOnline renewal portal URL not confirmed
- NoteOpioid/controlled-substance CE not stated in the dentist regulation reviewed
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources216-RICR-40-05-2 Licensing of Dentists and Dental Hygienists216-RICR-10-05-2 RIDOH Fee Structure
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Rhode Island renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Rhode Island
A Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Rhode Island license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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 Rhode Island application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Rhode Island dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Rhode Island?
Most Rhode Island dentist applications take about 60 days once the Rhode Island Board of Examiners 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 Rhode Island?
Dentists in Rhode Island are licensed by the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Rhode Island dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Rhode Island dentist application fee is around $965. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Rhode Island dental license?
In Rhode Island, renewals are filed with the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry. How to renew: Renewal application and fee filed with the Rhode Island Department of Health (Board of Dentistry) before May 1 of even-numbered years. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (biennial). Deadline: Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years; renewal application should be filed before May 1 of each even-numbered year; licenses not renewed by July 1 are automatically revoked. Renewal fee: $965 biennial dentist renewal (late fee: $90 reinstatement fee added to the base renewal fee). Continuing education: 40 hours every 2 years. Required topics include Minimum 1 hour per year of training on CDC infection control guidelines; Current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate. 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 Rhode Island?
40 CE hours. The Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 40 hours every 2 years. Required topics include Minimum 1 hour per year of training on CDC infection control guidelines; Current BLS for Healthcare Providers certificate. 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 Rhode Island dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Rhode Island?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Rhode Island 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 — Rhode Island Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Rhode Island license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Rhode Island — including by telehealth — you typically need a Rhode Island license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Rhode Island dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island application and payer enrollment end to end.