Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in West Virginia means applying through the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners, 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 West Virginia licensing and credentialing for you.
Official WV boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners websiteHow to get licensed in West 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 West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners, 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, West 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
West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners
The WV board sets West Virginia's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$167
An estimate; confirm current fees with the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners. 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 WV checklist
Get the complete West 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 West Virginia dental license
Once you're licensed, the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every year (CE reported every 2 years, in even-numbered years)
- Deadline
- Annual renewal due by February 1; CE documentation due February 1 of even-numbered years (next February 1, 2028)
- Renewal fee
- $167 annual information & renewal fee (late fee: Penalty equal to the renewal fee ($167) if not renewed by the renewal date; a late CE penalty may also apply)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 35 hours every 2 years
- 2 hours on drug diversion, oral effects of tobacco use, or oral effects of substance abuse
- 2 hours infection control
- Current healthcare-provider BLS/CPR (may count as CE)
- New licensees: 3 hours drug diversion / controlled-substance prescribing / opioid antagonist training within 1 year of licensure
- Anesthesia permit holders: 6 hours (Class 2) or 16 hours (Class 3/4) in sedation/anesthesia topics (count toward the 35)
- How to renew
- Online through the WV Board of Dentistry licensee portal (Individual Login - Renew)Open the renewal portal
- NoteOnline BLS courses accepted only with an in-person skills exam; online ACLS/PALS not accepted
- NoteAnesthesia certificates/permits renew separately with their own fees (Class 3/4 permit renewal $270)
- NoteKeep CE records 6 years; the board randomly audits
- NoteA 2026 proposed amendment to the fee rule (5CSR3) keeps the dentist renewal fee at $167
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesWV Board of Dentistry FAQ5CSR11 Continuing Education Requirements (eff. May 6, 2025)5CSR3 Fees - agency approved proposed rule (2026)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a West Virginia renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in West Virginia
A West 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 West Virginia license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your West 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 West Virginia. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with West 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 West Virginia licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your West Virginia license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners. 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 West Virginia application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
West Virginia dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in West Virginia?
Most West Virginia dentist applications take about 45 days once the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners 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 West Virginia?
Dentists in West Virginia are licensed by the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the West Virginia dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the West Virginia dentist application fee is around $167. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners before you apply.
How do I renew my West Virginia dental license?
In West Virginia, renewals are filed with the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners. How to renew: Online through the WV Board of Dentistry licensee portal (Individual Login - Renew). Renewal cycle: Every year (CE reported every 2 years, in even-numbered years). Deadline: Annual renewal due by February 1; CE documentation due February 1 of even-numbered years (next February 1, 2028). Renewal fee: $167 annual information & renewal fee (late fee: Penalty equal to the renewal fee ($167) if not renewed by the renewal date; a late CE penalty may also apply). Continuing education: 35 hours every 2 years. Required topics include 2 hours on drug diversion, oral effects of tobacco use, or oral effects of substance abuse; 2 hours infection control; Current healthcare-provider BLS/CPR (may count as CE); New licensees: 3 hours drug diversion / controlled-substance prescribing / opioid antagonist training within 1 year of licensure; Anesthesia permit holders: 6 hours (Class 2) or 16 hours (Class 3/4) in sedation/anesthesia topics (count toward the 35). 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 West Virginia?
35 CE hours. The West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners publishes the requirement as: 35 hours every 2 years. Required topics include 2 hours on drug diversion, oral effects of tobacco use, or oral effects of substance abuse; 2 hours infection control; Current healthcare-provider BLS/CPR (may count as CE); New licensees: 3 hours drug diversion / controlled-substance prescribing / opioid antagonist training within 1 year of licensure; Anesthesia permit holders: 6 hours (Class 2) or 16 hours (Class 3/4) in sedation/anesthesia topics (count toward the 35). 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 West Virginia dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in West Virginia?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In West 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 — West Virginia Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a West Virginia license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in West Virginia — including by telehealth — you typically need a West Virginia license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle West Virginia dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every West 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 West Virginia application and payer enrollment end to end.