Which States Have Joined the Dental Compact

Thirteen states have enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact and five more have bills pending, according to the Council of State Governments map. None of them issues compact privileges yet. Here is the list with bill numbers, what membership means today, and why the largest dental markets are missing.

As of October 2026, 13 states have enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, according to the compact map maintained by the Council of State Governments (CSG): Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Five more states have bills pending.

Being on the list does not mean a dentist or hygienist can use the compact in that state. CSG says compact privileges "are not yet being issued" anywhere. Membership today means the state has passed the law and, in most cases, seated a commissioner. It does not mean an application exists.

Which states have enacted the compact?

CSG's map links each enacted state to its bill. Here is what it shows:

Arkansas: SB 111 (2025 session).
Colorado: SB24-010.
Iowa: HF 656 (90th General Assembly).
Kansas: listed as HB 2543 on the map, linked to the 2023-2024 session.
Maine: LD 2137 / HP 1361.
Minnesota: HF 5247 (2024).
Nebraska: LB 148 (109th Legislature).
Ohio: SB 40 (135th General Assembly).
Oklahoma: SB 540. CSG reported that Governor Kevin Stitt signed it on May 13, 2026, "making Oklahoma the thirteenth state to enact" the compact.
Tennessee: HB 942 / SB 361 (113th General Assembly).
Virginia: SB 22 / HB 225 (2024).
Washington: HB 1576 (2023).
Wisconsin: AB 666 / SB 692 (2023 session).

The compact took effect on April 22, 2024, when it was "enacted in its seventh state," according to CSG's implementation timeline. Each state that has joined since then has been added to a commission that is still building the system.

Where are bills pending?

The CSG map marks five states as pending: Delaware (SB 147), Massachusetts (S 1494), Michigan (HB 4935), New Jersey (S806) and Pennsylvania (SB 81). Pending means a bill was introduced. It does not mean passage is likely or close.

The map also shows bills that did not pass. Illinois (HB2939), Missouri (HB 1847, 2026) and New Hampshire (SB 187) are marked as not enacted. Texas (HB 1803), Indiana, Alabama, Maryland, Oregon, Arizona, Vermont and New Mexico appear with bills linked but no active status.

Does "enacted" mean the state is ready?

Not yet. Joining has three stages, and only the first is complete everywhere:

Enactment. The legislature passes the model law and the governor signs it.
A seat on the Commission. Each member state's dental board appoints a commissioner. CSG's commissioner list shows 12 states seated. Oklahoma was not yet listed; the Commission's May 18, 2026 minutes note a "Fall effective date" for Oklahoma's law. Arkansas took time too: January 2026 minutes record that CSG staff had reached out "multiple times" before a delegate was identified.
Onboarding to the data system. CSG's timeline says that once the data system exists, "states will be tasked with onboarding to the system" and "will have varying timelines to onboard." No data system is running yet, so no state has reached this stage.

Until all three happen and the Commission opens applications, a license in Ohio does nothing for practice in Virginia beyond what Virginia's own credentials route already allows. Our post on why the dental compact is not issuing privileges yet covers the funding and rulemaking delays.

Why are the biggest dental markets missing?

None of California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois or Georgia has enacted the compact. Pennsylvania has a pending bill, and Ohio is the only one of the eight largest states in it. A Texas bill (HB 1803) and an Illinois bill (HB2939) appear on the CSG map without passage.

The reasons differ by state and are not ours to guess. The practical result is not in doubt, though: for the states where most dentists and hygienists practice, a state license will be the only route even after the compact opens. See the guides for California, Texas, Florida and New York.

What should a dentist in a member state do now?

Plan as if the compact did not exist, and treat it as a possible bonus later. A dentist licensed in Ohio who wants to practice in Virginia applies for a Virginia license. Virginia's credentials route asks for continuous clinical practice in five of the six years before applying, at a minimum of 600 hours a year, according to the Virginia Board of Dentistry (18VAC60-21-210.B.4). That path is open today. See Virginia dental licensing and the compact and Ohio dental licensing and the compact.

For hygienists the logic is the same. Every hygienist moving between member states still files a full state application, and the local anesthesia permit stays a separate filing. See hygienist license by credentials.

How can you track changes?

CSG updates its compact map as states enact the law, and the Commission posts agendas and minutes for its meetings. The dental compact hub on this site summarizes where things stand. If a state starts issuing privileges, it will show up there.

In the meantime, our Dental Licensure Readiness Review ($149) tells you which of your target states accept your exam history and years of practice, and our Dentist License by Credentials service ($799 per state) prepares the full file. You complete, sign and submit the application, and the board's own fees are separate.

Common questions

How many states are in the dental compact?

Thirteen, according to the CSG compact map as of October 2026. Oklahoma became the thirteenth when its governor signed SB 540 on May 13, 2026. Five other states have bills pending.

Is Texas or California in the dental compact?

No. California has no bill on the CSG map. Texas had HB 1803, which the map shows without passage. Florida, New York, Illinois and Georgia are not members either.

If my state joined the compact, can I practice in other member states?

Not yet. CSG says compact privileges are not yet being issued. You still need a license in each state where you treat patients until the Commission opens applications.