Dental School Graduates and the Issuance of Provisional Licenses

If I am a dental school graduate, or soon to be graduate, may I apply for and be issued a license without taking the required national examinations, including the clinical examinations? While Governor Ducey's 2020-17 initially allowed for licensing agencies to issue provisional licenses without taking the required national examinations, it also stated that graduates would be required to take and pass the national examinations when testing centers re-open. Now that testing centers have re-opened and have even made allowances for examinations using manikin based tests, the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners ("Board") will no longer be issuing provisional licenses - beginning July 1, 2020.

Applications must complete all requirements under Arizona Law, including the national and clinical exams. Please note that the Board is still waiving all required application fees thru December 31, 2020.

The tests are for health care workers and first responders and are being funded by the State of Arizona. According to their guidance, an individual licensed by Arizona Board of Dental Examiners is included in their list of health care workers.

- updated July 1, 2020