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FAQs - Applicants

Answer:

Applications for dental, dental hygiene and dental therapy licensure are completed through our online application portal. Please click here to navigate to the applications page: https://www.oregon.gov/dentistry/Pages/apply-license.aspx

 

Applications for sedation permits, expanded practice permits and restorative functions endorsements must be printed and mailed along with a cashier's check/money order for the required fee to the following address:

Oregon Board of Dentistry
Unit 23
PO Box 4395
Portland, OR 97208-4395

Local anesthesia and certification as a specialist endorsement applications do not require a fee, and may be uploaded directly to the licensure application under the 'supplemental documents' tab.

Please note that UPS and FEDEX do not deliver to PO Boxes.  If you use one of these delivery services, they convert the address from the PO Box to our physical street address.  The application packet will be returned to the applicant as the Board cannot accept monies at the Board's physical street address.​

Answer:

​The Oregon Board of Dentistry does not expedite applications.  We attempt to process applications in the order received and completed.  

Answer:

On average, it takes approximately four weeks from the time you submit your application/fees for a license to be issued. The application process may go faster or slower depending on the applicant filling out forms appropriately and getting all required materials submitted in a timely manner. ​

Answer:

​On the Board's website you are able to use a form to submit electronically a request to check on the status of any type of application.

Please note that repeated telephone calls inquiring about the application status will results in delays in the processing of applications for everyone, as it takes the Licensing Manager away from being able to process applications (initial and renewal) for licenses, endorsements, and permits.​

Answer:

Once an online licensure application is submitted, you should hear back from the Licensing Manager within 3-5 business days regarding your application.

Permit and endorsement applications will take slightly longer, as the applications must be mailed, and we process those payments through a third-party payment processing center. Please allow 1-3 weeks to hear from the Licensing Manager regarding a permit/endorsement application.

Correspondence regarding any application will be sent via the licensee's email address on file. ​

Answer:

Yes, all fees are mandatory when applying for a license, and for any permit or restorative functions endorsement. Local anesthesia and certification as a specialist endorsements do not require a fee.

If you are applying for multiple permits and endorsements at the same time, the fees may be combined into a single cashier's check/money order. Please ensure that your fees match the applications being submitted. If the fees and applications don't balance, all forms and fees will be returned to the applicant for correction. ​

Answer:

​The best way to prevent delays is to carefully read and follow all directions, and to double-check every document carefully before submitting.  The following are common issues which causes delays for applicants:

  • Providing inaccurate, false, incomplete information, or omitting important information by mistake (complete practice history, arrests believed to be expunged, convictions, licensed in other jurisdiction, etc.)
  • Submitting the wrong fee(s) with an application(s).
  • Applying for a license under the wrong pathway.
  • Not having the appropriate CE or Clinical Practice Hours for applicants applying for Licensure Without Further Examination.  Appropriate CE and Clinical Practice Hours must be completed prior to applying for a license.
  • Failing to contact the applicant's program to send directly to the Board their official transcript (Dental/Dental Hygiene), with their degree posted.
  • Failing to have any regulatory agency send verification of licensure prior to submitting your application.  Please note, documents received prior to the Board receiving an applicant's application, will be held for 180 days, and will be reunited with their application when it arrives.  Having these documents submitted prior to receiving an application will help the applicant get licensed in a timely fashion.

​

Answer:

​The Board does not release information on pending applications to anyone except the applicant, even if the applicant has given permission.  In addition, the Board recommends that a potential employer not schedule patients until the applicant is actually licensed.