Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry

About the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry

Dental licensure in Pennsylvania is administered by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, which operates within the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA). The Board is one of 29 professional licensing boards and commissions within the BPOA.

The Board's jurisdiction covers dentists, dental hygienists, expanded function dental assistants, restricted faculty licensees, and public health dental hygiene practitioners. Its authority encompasses licensure, registration, certification, and discipline of professionals practicing in Pennsylvania. The Board reviews complaints and makes disciplinary determinations on a case-by-case basis, applying the standards of the dental practice act and Board regulations.

Pennsylvania's dental practice act — Act 76 of 1933 — is the foundational statute governing dental licensure in the Commonwealth. The Board's administrative regulations set out specific requirements for licensure, renewal, continuing education, and professional conduct. The Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin publishes current Board regulations.

The Board meets on a regular schedule to review licensing applications, hear disciplinary matters, and conduct other Board business. Meeting notices and minutes are posted on the Board's page within pa.gov.

Dental Licensing in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry issues licenses and certifications across several dental professions. Pennsylvania's licensing structure reflects both general dental practice and specialized credentialing pathways:

• Dentist — general practice license authorizing the full scope of dental diagnosis and treatment as defined by Pennsylvania law.
• Dental hygienist — license for preventive and clinical hygiene services performed under dentist supervision.
• Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) — certification for dental assistants authorized to perform an expanded set of clinical procedures. EFDA examinations in Pennsylvania are administered through Pearson VUE.
• Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner — a specialized licensure pathway for dental hygienists practicing in public health and community settings.
• Restricted Faculty License — permits dental professionals to practice in an academic or clinical teaching context while affiliated with an accredited educational program.

Pennsylvania also recognizes pathways for temporary or provisional licensure for specific circumstances. Verify current requirements for each license type with the Board or through PALS.

How to Apply for a Pennsylvania Dental License

Pennsylvania dental license applications, renewals, and license verifications are processed through PALS — the Pennsylvania Licensing System — at pals.pa.gov. First-time users must create a PALS account; returning applicants log in to their existing account.

PALS provides an application checklist tool that lists all requirements and documents needed for each license type. The Board recommends reviewing the checklist before starting an application to ensure you have all required materials.

General documentation categories for new dental license applications include:

• Education credentials — official transcripts from an accredited dental education program.
• Examination scores — national and clinical examination results from accepted testing bodies.
• Background check authorization — IdentoGO fingerprinting pre-registration and service code as described above.
• Licensure history — verification of any licenses held in other states, if applicable.

For licensure by endorsement, applicants must demonstrate active licensure in good standing in another state. Contact the Board or review the PALS checklist for current endorsement requirements.

License Fees and Renewal

Pennsylvania dental license renewals are processed through PALS. Renewal applications typically open 30 to 60 days before the license expiration date. The Board recommends allowing sufficient processing time and not waiting until the deadline to submit renewal materials.

License renewal in Pennsylvania requires dentists and dental hygienists to attest to completion of required continuing education. The Board may also require renewal applicants to confirm their contact information, disclose any new disciplinary matters in other jurisdictions, and satisfy other renewal conditions established by Board regulations.

Failing to renew by the expiration date results in a lapsed license. Pennsylvania law provides procedures for reinstatement, which may require additional fees and documentation depending on the length of the lapse. Practice on a lapsed license may constitute unlicensed practice subject to disciplinary action.

Continuing Education Requirements

Continuing education is required for Pennsylvania dental license renewal. The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry establishes the CE requirements applicable to each license type — including the number of CE hours, mandatory subject matter categories, and approved provider standards.

Pennsylvania CE requirements apply separately to each license type. Dentists, dental hygienists, expanded function dental assistants, and other credentialed professionals may have different CE obligations. The Board's renewal information page specifies the requirements for each credential.

CE providers must generally be approved or accepted by the Board. The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) and other dental organizations offer CE programming that may satisfy renewal requirements — verify provider eligibility with the Board before registering for a course.

Scope of Practice

The scope of dental practice in Pennsylvania is defined by the dental practice act — Act 76 of 1933 — and by the Board's administrative regulations published in the Pennsylvania Code. The Board applies these standards to determine what constitutes lawful practice for each license type and what constitutes unprofessional conduct.

Pennsylvania's regulatory structure recognizes distinct scopes of practice for each credential the Board oversees:

• Dentists — authorized to perform the full scope of dental examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical treatment as defined by Act 76 and Board regulations.
• Dental hygienists — licensed to perform preventive and clinical hygiene services within the supervisory structure established by Board regulations.
• Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) — certified to perform an expanded range of clinical procedures delegated by a supervising dentist, within limits set by Board regulations.
• Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners — authorized to practice in public health and community settings, potentially with modified supervision requirements as defined by the Board.

The Board determines, on a case-by-case basis, whether a professional under its jurisdiction departed from or failed to conform to an ethical or quality standard of the profession. Practitioners are expected to review the requirements of their practice act and Board regulations to exercise clinical judgment consistent with acceptable and prevailing practice standards in Pennsylvania.

Filing a Complaint Against a Pennsylvania Dental Licensee

Complaints about Pennsylvania-licensed dental professionals are handled by the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA). The Board of Dentistry adjudicates complaints that are referred for disciplinary action within the Board's jurisdiction.

How to File a Complaint

Complaints may be submitted:

• Online — through the PALS website at pals.pa.gov
• By mail — using the downloadable complaint form available at pa.gov

All mandatory fields on the complaint form must be completed for the submission to be accepted. Complaints that do not fall within the Board's jurisdiction will not be investigated; the Department receives complaints from all sources and reviews all information provided.

What Happens After You File

When the Department receives a complaint, legal office staff review it to determine whether it falls under a licensing board's jurisdiction. If referred for investigation, cases are assigned to the Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI). The licensee is typically given the opportunity to respond. Disciplinary actions that result from adjudication or settlement become part of the licensee's public disciplinary record. The BPOA has the authority to expunge certain disciplinary matters after five years have passed, subject to applicable conditions.

Pennsylvania Dental Association

The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) was organized in 1868 and serves as the professional voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. The PDA supports member dentists by advocating for the profession at the state and federal levels, providing continuing education, and publishing communications resources for the dental community.

PDA membership offers access to:

• Legislative advocacy — the PDA represents member interests at the Pennsylvania Statehouse and participates in federal advocacy through ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.
• Annual Session — a major professional meeting featuring continuing education, networking, and professional development programming for Pennsylvania dentists.
• Continuing education — the PDA coordinates CE programming to help members meet renewal requirements and advance clinical knowledge.
• Community service — the PDA organizes MOM-n-PA (Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania), an annual free dental care event. The 13th annual MOM-n-PA took place in Allentown in May 2026, providing care to patients who lack access to regular dental services.

More information about PDA membership, events, and resources is available at padental.org.

Disciplinary Actions

Pennsylvania dental licensee disciplinary records are publicly accessible through PALS — the Pennsylvania Licensing System. PALS provides a Disciplinary Search function that allows anyone to look up disciplinary actions taken against licensed dental professionals in Pennsylvania.

To look up disciplinary records:

• Visit pals.pa.gov and use the Disciplinary Search or Person Search tool.
• Search by licensee name or license number to view current license status and any public disciplinary information.

Disciplinary actions — whether resulting from adjudication or settlement — become part of a licensee's permanent disciplinary record and are a matter of public record in Pennsylvania. The BPOA has the authority to expunge certain disciplinary matters after five years have passed, subject to applicable legal conditions.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry may impose sanctions including license suspension, license revocation, probation, fines, and mandatory remedial education. When the Board seeks to sanction a licensee and the licensee does not enter a consent order, the matter may proceed to an administrative hearing under BPOA procedures.

Other state dental boards