Verified October 9, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What dentists miss in Arkansas
- Credentials hours must have been worked in the state the dentist is applying from, not anywhere.
- The board requires in-person Healthcare Provider CPR and does not accept online CPR.
- The board office discusses an application only with the applicant.
Can a dentist licensed elsewhere get a Arkansas license by credentials?
A dentist currently licensed and practicing continuously for five years can apply by credentials. The qualifying hours must come from the state the applicant is applying from, and postgraduate training can count toward the five years. Two dentist letters, peer review letters and verification from every state ever licensed are required.
- Licensure by credentials available
- Practice required: 5 years of continuous practice, with at least 1,000 hours a year in the last two calendar years
Citation: Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners, Licensure by Credentials requirements (board licensure page)
Which clinical exams does Arkansas accept?
ADEX lists Arkansas as accepting its dental exam. The board page for exam applicants says, since 2020, it accepts only exams with a live-patient restorative section plus manikin prosthetic and endodontic sections, treatment planning and periodontics; scores stay valid for five years.
- ADEX accepted
Does Arkansas require a jurisprudence exam?
Dentists, hygienists and assistants take an open-book Arkansas jurisprudence exam on the Dental Practice Act, Dental Corporation Act and board rules, emailed after the application arrives.
- Jurisprudence or law exam
Is Arkansas in the dental compact?
Arkansas has enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (2025), but no state issues compact privileges yet. Practicing here takes a Arkansas license.
- Compact enacted, not issuing
Does Arkansas require a sedation permit?
The board issues anesthesia permits to dentists with special training who want to use general anesthesia or conscious sedation in their offices.
- Separate sedation permit
Does Arkansas issue specialty licenses?
The board issues specialty licenses to general dentists with postgraduate training who pass a specialty exam; the application fee is $300.
- Specialty license or permit
What hygienists need to know in Arkansas
Hygienists licensed and practicing for five years or more can apply by credentials, with the same jurisprudence exam, background check and every-state verification as dentists. The board issues local anesthesia permits to hygienists whose training meets its criteria.
- Hygienist licensure by credentials
- Local anesthesia permit for hygienists
Do dental assistants need a Arkansas registration?
Assistants need a board permit for each expanded duty: radiography, coronal polishing, nitrous oxide administration and monitoring, and sedation monitoring. A sedation monitoring permit requires the nitrous permit first plus the Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification course, and applicants pass a jurisprudence exam at 75 percent.
- Assistant or EFDA registration
Does Arkansas require fingerprints?
- Fingerprint background check
Licensing in Arkansas?
For a license, we prepare every supporting document and a question-by-question guide, request your verifications, and track it to a decision; you complete, sign and submit the application. License by credentials is $799 per state.