Overview
In this career, your responsibilities may include:
- Planning and teaching courses in the dentistry program of a university.
- Working closely with students to help them achieve their academic and career goals.
- Staying informed about changes and innovations in the field of dentistry.
- Conducting research aimed at improving individual and communal dental health, and publishing your findings.
Job Titles
In your job search, you may find job listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.
Academic Requirements
Typically requires a doctorate.
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Certification
Certification is not required.
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Licensure
Licensure to practice dentistry is typically required to teach dentistry or conduct research in the field, or at least the eligibility to obtain licensure, although exceptions do exist.
Licensure is required to practice as a dentist. While licensure requirements vary by state, they all call for three basic requirements: education, written exam, and clinical exam or residency.
- Education: Internationally trained dentists are REQUIRED to first earn a U.S. DDS or DMD degree by completing a two- to three-year advanced standing program at a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Most, but not all, of these programs can be applied to through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (ADEA CAAPID).
- Written Exam: The old written exam, the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE), has now been replaced with the new Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) as of July 31, 2022. While the NBDE was in two parts, the INBDE is a single exam format.
- Clinical Exam: Most U.S. licensing boards also require that candidates pass a clinical exam on either a live patient or a manikin, although some may accept or require a one-year clinical residency instead. Most clinical exams are carried out by one of four regional clinical testing agencies, depending on where you are applying for licensure, although there are exceptions. They are:
- CDCA-WREB(formerly the Commission for Dental Competency Assessments and the Western Regional Examining Board)
- Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)
- Central Regional Dental Testing Services, Inc. (CRDTS)
- Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc. (SRTA)
You can find exam and other licensure information for your state on the American Dental Association’s searchable licensure map.
Contact us with any questions you might have.