Washington Dental Licensure
for International Dentists
How an international dentist (IDG) gets licensed to practice in Washington without a US DDS or DMD — sourced from a direct reply from the Washington dental board.
Per WAC 246-817-160 (Graduates of nonaccredited schools), a specific licensure path exists with specific conditions.
WA Dental Commission (May 2026, Debbie Gardner) sent the three controlling rules without pre-qualifying our scenario: WAC 246-817-110 (initial eligibility), -135 (licensure without examination), and -160 (graduates of nonaccredited schools). Read each before assuming eligibility.
Source: WA Dental Commission (Dental@doh.wa.gov), 2026-05-14
These are the post-graduate training programs the Washington board accepts as the educational requirement for IDGs:
Find Washington-eligible residency programs that match your profile
Run your INBDE score, visa status, and clinical experience through our matcher — see only the Washington-route programs you actually qualify for.
Compiled from direct email correspondence with the Washington dental board (May 2026 cycle). Always confirm current requirements with the board before submitting an application.