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 West Virginia
- West Virginia licenses dental specialties, so a specialist moving in needs both a general license and a specialty license.
- Every dentist and hygienist applicant must request and submit state and national criminal history record checks.
Can a dentist licensed elsewhere get a West Virginia license by credentials?
West Virginia uses one dentist application for new graduates and licensed dentists alike: national boards, a board-approved regional or state clinical exam, the West Virginia Dental Law Examination, good-standing letters for every health care license ever held, and state and national criminal history checks. No separate credentials route or years-of-practice rule was found in the application rule.
Citation: 5 CSR 9-3
Which clinical exams does West Virginia accept?
ADEX lists West Virginia as accepting its dental exam. Applicants submit results from a board-approved regional or state clinical exam sent directly by the testing agency.
- ADEX accepted
Does West Virginia require a jurisprudence exam?
Every dentist applicant passes the West Virginia Dental Law Examination, and the board may interview applicants in person.
- Jurisprudence or law exam
Is West Virginia in the dental compact?
West Virginia is not a dental compact member.
- Not a compact member
Does West Virginia require a sedation permit?
Dentists need a board anesthesia permit for the class of anesthesia they provide, with training verified directly by the program under the Dental Anesthesia Act. Class 3 and 4 applicants show advanced life support certification.
- Separate sedation permit
Does West Virginia issue specialty licenses?
A dentist may not practice or advertise as a specialist without a West Virginia dental specialty license, which requires a CODA-accredited specialty program and a general West Virginia dental license.
- Specialty license or permit
What hygienists need to know in West Virginia
Hygienists apply with national boards, a board-approved clinical exam and criminal history checks. Local anesthesia is an expanded duty certificate that requires a board-approved course and exam plus current BLS.
- Local anesthesia permit for hygienists
Do dental assistants need a West Virginia registration?
Dental assistants and hygienists apply to the board for certificates to perform expanded duties that require a board-approved course and exam, such as nitrous oxide monitoring.
- Assistant or EFDA registration
Does West Virginia offer a temporary or restricted dental license?
West Virginia issues dental intern, resident and teaching permits and special volunteer licenses.
- Temporary or restricted license available
How often does a West Virginia dental license renew?
Licensees renew annually or biennially as the board sets, and continuing education is a condition of every renewal.
Licensing in West Virginia?
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.
Sources
- compact (West Virginia not listed)
- clinicalExam.adexAccepted
- credentials (5-9-3 single application), clinicalExam, exams (Dental Law Examination, interview), sedation (5-9-8), hygienist (5-9-4, 5-9-10), assistants (5-9-10), temporaryLicense (5-9-6, 5-9-7, 5-9-11), notes (criminal history checks)
- specialty
- renewal
- hygienist (license requirements)