Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Tennessee means applying through the Tennessee 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 Tennessee licensing and credentialing for you.
Official TN boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Tennessee Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Tennessee
- 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 Tennessee 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, Tennessee issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Tennessee Board of Dentistry
The TN board sets Tennessee's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$310
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Tennessee 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.
Free TN checklist
Get the complete Tennessee dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Tennessee dental license
Once you're licensed, the Tennessee 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 the last day of the dentist's birth month; even-year births renew in even years, odd-year births in odd years. Renewal notices go out about 45 days before expiration.
- Renewal fee
- $197.50 ($187.50 renewal + $10 state regulatory fee) per published Rule 0460-01-.02; the fee rule effective 11/18/2026 raises renewal to $525 (per the April 2026 notice) (late fee: Reinstatement $562.50 plus all current and past-due renewal fees ($563 under the fee rule effective 11/18/2026); reinstatement requires PH-3870 and cannot be done online)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 hours per two-calendar-year cycle (January 1 of an odd year to December 31 of an even year)
- 2 hours on prescribing controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines (online allowed)
- 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia (within the 40) for limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders, plus current ACLS (PALS for pediatric dentists)
- Current CPR (BLS for Healthcare Providers or equivalent, in person with manikin skills test) at all times
- Online Dental Jurisprudence Exam retaken every renewal cycle (up to 70 days before expiration)
- New licensees are exempt from CE for their first two-year cycle (Rule 0460-01-.05)
- No limit on online CE for dentists; keep certificates 3 years, monthly random audits via CE Broker
- How to renew
- Online through the TN Department of Health Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS), up to the expiration date; mail renewals take 10-14 days. The renewal cannot be approved until the jurisprudence exam for that cycle is completed.Open the renewal portal
- NotePracticing on an expired license violates the law and Board rules.
- NoteSedation / anesthesia permits renew biennially ($75).
- NoteFee change: Chapter 0460-01 fee rule filed 8/20/2026, effective 11/18/2026 (Secretary of State pending rules list); the April 2026 notice proposed $525 renewal and $563 reinstatement.
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesTN Board of Dentistry (CE requirements and FAQs)Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0460-01-.05 Continuing Education and CPRTN Board of Dentistry - Notice of Rulemaking Hearing 04-16-26 (fees, with current fees shown struck through)TN Clinical Guidelines for Management of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain
Comparing states? See how often dentists renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: dental license renewal requirements by state.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Tennessee renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Tennessee
A Tennessee 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 Tennessee license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Tennessee 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 Tennessee. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Tennessee 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Tennessee? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Tennessee licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Tennessee license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Tennessee 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 Tennessee application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Tennessee dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Tennessee?
Most Tennessee dentist applications take about 45 days once the Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Dentists in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Tennessee dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Tennessee dentist application fee is around $310. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Tennessee dental license?
In Tennessee, renewals are filed with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through the TN Department of Health Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS), up to the expiration date; mail renewals take 10-14 days. The renewal cannot be approved until the jurisprudence exam for that cycle is completed. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires the last day of the dentist's birth month; even-year births renew in even years, odd-year births in odd years. Renewal notices go out about 45 days before expiration. Renewal fee: $197.50 ($187.50 renewal + $10 state regulatory fee) per published Rule 0460-01-.02; the fee rule effective 11/18/2026 raises renewal to $525 (per the April 2026 notice) (late fee: Reinstatement $562.50 plus all current and past-due renewal fees ($563 under the fee rule effective 11/18/2026); reinstatement requires PH-3870 and cannot be done online). Continuing education: 40 hours per two-calendar-year cycle (January 1 of an odd year to December 31 of an even year). Required topics include 2 hours on prescribing controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines (online allowed); 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia (within the 40) for limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders, plus current ACLS (PALS for pediatric dentists); Current CPR (BLS for Healthcare Providers or equivalent, in person with manikin skills test) at all times; Online Dental Jurisprudence Exam retaken every renewal cycle (up to 70 days before expiration); New licensees are exempt from CE for their first two-year cycle (Rule 0460-01-.05); No limit on online CE for dentists; keep certificates 3 years, monthly random audits via CE Broker. This is as published by the board (last verified November 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 Tennessee?
40 CE hours. The Tennessee Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 40 hours per two-calendar-year cycle (January 1 of an odd year to December 31 of an even year). Required topics include 2 hours on prescribing controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines (online allowed); 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia (within the 40) for limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permit holders, plus current ACLS (PALS for pediatric dentists); Current CPR (BLS for Healthcare Providers or equivalent, in person with manikin skills test) at all times; Online Dental Jurisprudence Exam retaken every renewal cycle (up to 70 days before expiration); New licensees are exempt from CE for their first two-year cycle (Rule 0460-01-.05); No limit on online CE for dentists; keep certificates 3 years, monthly random audits via CE Broker. Last verified November 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 Tennessee dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Tennessee Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Tennessee?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Tennessee 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 — Tennessee Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Tennessee license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Tennessee — including by telehealth — you typically need a Tennessee license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Tennessee dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Tennessee 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 Tennessee application and payer enrollment end to end.