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
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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 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 fee
- Not published by the board; confirm with the board
- Continuing education (CE)
- 40 hours every 2 years
- 2 hours prescribing of controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines
- 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia for sedation or anesthesia permit holders
- How to renew
- Online through the TN Department of Health Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS); mail renewals take 10-14 daysOpen the renewal portal
- NoteCurrent CPR (BLS Healthcare Provider) required at all times; ACLS (or PALS for pediatric dentists) for sedation/anesthesia permit holders
- NoteFees in flux: an April 2026 Board of Dentistry rulemaking notice proposes a $525 biennial renewal fee and a $563 reinstatement fee (Rule 0460-01-.02); current effective amount not confirmed
- NoteA $10 state regulatory fee is also payable biennially (per Rule 0460-01-.02, not verified on the board site)
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesTN Board of DentistryTN Board of Dentistry - Notice of Rulemaking Hearing 04-16-26 (fees)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Tennessee renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours 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.
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.
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); mail renewals take 10-14 days. 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. Continuing education: 40 hours every 2 years. Required topics include 2 hours prescribing of controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines; 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia for sedation or anesthesia permit holders. 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 Tennessee?
40 CE hours. The Tennessee Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 40 hours every 2 years. Required topics include 2 hours prescribing of controlled substances, including the TN Chronic Pain Guidelines; 4 additional hours in sedation/anesthesia for sedation or anesthesia permit holders. 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 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.