Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Virginia means applying through the Virginia 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 Virginia licensing and credentialing for you.
Official VA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Virginia Board of Dentistry websiteHow to get licensed in Virginia
- 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 Virginia 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, Virginia issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Virginia Board of Dentistry
The VA board sets Virginia's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$400
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Virginia 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 VA checklist
Get the complete Virginia dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Virginia dental license
Once you're licensed, the Virginia 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
- Deadline
- Renews annually in the dentist's birth month; an additional late fee applies if the form and fee are not received by the deadline
- Renewal fee
- $285 (active dental license) (late fee: $100 late fee (active license))
- Continuing education (CE)
- 15 hours per annual renewal (not required for the first renewal after initial licensure)
- Sedation/anesthesia providers: 4 hours every 2 years on administration and monitoring of sedation/anesthesia
- How to renew
- Online through the Virginia Department of Health Professions renewal systemOpen the renewal portal
- NoteMust maintain current BLS / CPR with hands-on airway training for health care providers (unless holding advanced life support certification)
- NoteModerate sedation and deep sedation/general anesthesia permits renew annually with the license ($100 each)
- NoteUp to 15 excess CE hours may carry over to the next renewal year
- NoteLicenses lapsed more than 1 year require evidence of continuing clinical competence to reinstate
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Virginia Board of Dentistry. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
Sources18VAC60-21-240 Renewal18VAC60-21-250 Continuing education18VAC60-21-40 FeesVA Board of Dentistry - Dentist CEVA Board of Dentistry
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Virginia renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Virginia
A Virginia 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 Virginia license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Virginia 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 Virginia. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Virginia 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 Virginia licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Virginia license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Virginia 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 Virginia application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Virginia dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Virginia?
Most Virginia dentist applications take about 45 days once the Virginia 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 Virginia?
Dentists in Virginia are licensed by the Virginia Board of Dentistry, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Virginia dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Virginia dentist application fee is around $400. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Virginia Board of Dentistry before you apply.
How do I renew my Virginia dental license?
In Virginia, renewals are filed with the Virginia Board of Dentistry. How to renew: Online through the Virginia Department of Health Professions renewal system. Renewal cycle: Every year. Deadline: Renews annually in the dentist's birth month; an additional late fee applies if the form and fee are not received by the deadline. Renewal fee: $285 (active dental license) (late fee: $100 late fee (active license)). Continuing education: 15 hours per annual renewal (not required for the first renewal after initial licensure). Required topics include Sedation/anesthesia providers: 4 hours every 2 years on administration and monitoring of sedation/anesthesia. 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 Virginia?
15 CE hours. The Virginia Board of Dentistry publishes the requirement as: 15 hours per annual renewal (not required for the first renewal after initial licensure). Required topics include Sedation/anesthesia providers: 4 hours every 2 years on administration and monitoring of sedation/anesthesia. 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 Virginia dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Virginia Board of Dentistry's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Virginia?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Virginia 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 — Virginia Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Virginia license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Virginia — including by telehealth — you typically need a Virginia license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Virginia dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Virginia 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 Virginia application and payer enrollment end to end.