Practicing in the USA

For dentists in the USA, licensing requirements vary by state.

All states require completion of both Part I and Part II of the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE) prior to licensure.

For private practice licensure, most states also require a completion of some form of clinical examination. A supplementary training program may be required. Individual states may then have further criteria such as: becoming CPR certified, completing a written test concerning state-specific regulation and law, or verifying proof of malpractice insurance.

Some states don't require state licensure for academic faculty or research positions.

It is advised for a prospective student to become familiar with the criteria for the state in which he or she intends to practice.

American Dental Association
American Associate of Dental Examiners

Practicing in Canada

Graduates of Irish dental schools undertake the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) Equivalency Process (a process where your degree is assessed). Upon completion of this process they then take the required Board Exams (NDEB written exam and the clinical OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) Examinations.

While being licensed at the federal level is a requirement to practice in Canada, individual provinces and territories regulate the practice of dentistry in their own jurisdictions. Several provinces require applicants to complete Jurisprudence and Ethics examinations which test knowledge related to local laws, ethics, and regulations of the profession.

Canadian Dental Association
National Dental Examining Board of Canada
Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry