Virginia Dental License Verification: Lookup & Renewal Steps
Need to verify a Virginia dentist or dental hygienist? The official Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup is the primary place to check the credential, license number, profession, status and expiration information.
This guide explains the Virginia state dental license lookup process, how to read a Virginia dental license status, annual renewal rules, continuing education, current fees, expired-license reinstatement, dental hygiene requirements and formal verification for another jurisdiction.
Quick Answer: How to Verify a Virginia Dental License
Use the Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup to perform a Virginia state dental license lookup. The DHP system is the Commonwealth’s primary-source public verification service for healthcare credentials and provides license-specific information.
For a dentist, select the appropriate dentistry profession and confirm the practitioner’s name, license number, status and expiration information. For a dental hygienist, verify the dental hygiene credential rather than assuming a dentist’s record covers the hygienist.
The Virginia Board of Dentistry also explains that License Lookup can be used by employers, health regulators, insurance providers and members of the public seeking current licensure status. A printed License Lookup record can serve as official proof of the credential information shown by DHP.
Virginia DHP License Lookup
Start with the Department of Health Professions lookup rather than a private directory, clinic biography or search-engine result.
Match the exact practitioner
Compare the person’s name, profession and license number. A similar name alone is not enough for credentialing or patient-safety decisions.
Virginia is not West Virginia
A Virginia dental license is regulated by the Virginia Board of Dentistry. West Virginia uses its own state regulatory system and should be searched separately.
Virginia State Dental License Lookup: Step-by-Step
A reliable Virginia dental license verification is more than entering a name. Follow the complete record-reading process so an old, inactive or similarly named credential is not mistaken for current authorization.
Open the Virginia DHP License Lookup
Use the official Department of Health Professions License Lookup. It is the public source for Virginia healthcare practitioner license information.
Search by license number when available
A license number is generally the cleanest way to avoid confusion between practitioners with similar names. If you have the number from a credentialing file or practitioner, use it.
Use the practitioner’s name if necessary
If you do not have a license number, search using the person’s name and narrow the profession. Pay attention to middle initials, hyphenated names and legal name changes.
Confirm the profession
Make sure the result is for the intended credential: dentist or dental hygienist. Do not use an unrelated DHP profession as proof of dental licensure.
Read the complete license record
Review the license number, initial license date, expiration information and current status. Where public information is available, also check disciplinary information.
Save dated verification evidence
For employment, insurance credentialing or compliance, record the official source, date checked, practitioner name, license number, profession, status and expiration information.
Virginia DHP states that its License Lookup data serves as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth and is available as a free public service.
Virginia Dental License Status: How to Read the Result
The most useful Virginia dental license status check combines the credential type, current status and expiration information. Do not make a decision from a name match alone.
| Status or issue | What it means for the lookup | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The credential appears active in the DHP record. | Match the person and profession, then record the expiration date. |
| Inactive | The license is not in active status. | Do not assume the holder may practice as an active licensee. Review reactivation requirements. |
| Expired | The license is no longer current. | Determine whether renewal or reinstatement applies based on the length of expiration. |
| Suspended | The license has a disciplinary restriction or suspension. | Review Board case decisions and the applicable order before relying on the credential. |
| Revoked | The credential has been revoked. | Do not treat an old license document as evidence of current authorization. |
| No result | The search may have the wrong name, profession, state or credential information. | Use the troubleshooting process instead of concluding immediately that the person is unlicensed. |
License Lookup answers the licensing-status question. If a disciplinary history or Board action matters, use the relevant Virginia Board of Dentistry case-decision resources as a separate review step.
Virginia Dental License Requirements
Initial licensure and license verification are different tasks. If you are trying to become a Virginia dentist, the Board’s education, examination and other application requirements apply before a license can be issued.
Accredited dental education
Virginia’s regulations require an applicant for unrestricted dental licensure to graduate from a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
The regulation describes qualifying predoctoral dental education and specified postdoctoral dental programs with clinical components.
National and clinical competency requirements
Virginia’s examination pathway requires successful completion of the applicable National Board Dental Examination requirements and a dental clinical competency examination accepted by the Board.
Applicants should use the current Board application wizard and examination guidance because pathways and documentation requirements can change.
Licensure by credentials
Virginia also has a licensure-by-credentials pathway for qualifying dentists already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction.
The current requirements include a current unrestricted license, good-standing verification and qualifying continuous clinical practice, in addition to the Board’s education, examination and other requirements.
Application is not a license
A submitted application, pending checklist or examination result should not be treated as proof that a Virginia dental license has been issued.
When current practice authority must be confirmed, return to the official DHP License Lookup after issuance.
Virginia Dental License Renewal Requirements
Virginia dentists and dental hygienists renew annually. The renewal deadline is tied to the licensee’s birth month for active and inactive licenses.
Dentist license
An active or inactive dentist license is renewed annually in the licensee’s birth month under the Virginia Board of Dentistry regulations.
15 hours each annual renewal
A dentist must complete at least 15 hours of qualifying continuing education for each annual renewal, except for the first renewal following initial licensure and specified restricted volunteer renewals.
Maintain current emergency training
Virginia’s dentist continuing-education rule includes a current hands-on CPR or basic life support certification requirement, subject to the anesthesia-related requirements in the regulations.
Additional CE when applicable
A dentist administering or monitoring patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation or moderate sedation has an additional four-hour CE requirement every two years directly related to that anesthesia or sedation.
Extra CE can be limitedly credited
CE hours beyond the annual requirement may be transferred to the next renewal year, but the Virginia regulation limits the credited amount to no more than 15 hours.
Up to 3 hours may qualify
Up to three of the 15 required hours may be satisfied through qualifying uncompensated dental services to low-income individuals through an eligible local health department or free clinic.
Virginia requires licensees to attest to CE compliance at annual renewal and may conduct post-renewal audits. Keep the original documentation needed to establish completion if selected.
Virginia Dental Hygiene License Requirements & Renewal
Dental hygienists have their own Virginia Board of Dentistry license and renewal rules. Do not substitute dentist requirements for dental hygiene requirements when completing a verification or credentialing file.
Accredited dental hygiene program
Virginia requires verification of completion of a dental hygiene degree or certificate from a CODA- or CDAC-accredited program for licensure by examination or credentials.
Dental hygiene examination
Applicants must provide verifiable evidence of a passing score from the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination administered through the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
Renew in the birth month
Active and inactive dental hygiene licenses are renewed annually in the licensee’s birth month.
15 approved hours
An active dental hygienist must complete at least 15 hours of approved continuing education for renewal.
Current hands-on CPR
Dental hygienists must maintain evidence of successful completion of a current hands-on CPR course for healthcare providers.
Additional training can apply
Dental hygienists practicing under Virginia’s remote-supervision provisions have additional continuing-education requirements addressing remote supervision, scope, controlled substances, records, risk management and applicable laws.
Virginia requires CE compliance to be verified at annual renewal and permits post-renewal audits. Documentation should identify the date, subject, sponsor and amount of CE earned and should be retained for the required period.
Virginia Dental License Fees: Dentist vs Dental Hygienist
Current Virginia Board of Dentistry regulations list separate fees for dentists and dental hygienists. Fees can change, so use the current Board regulations before submitting payment.
| Credential / service | Current listed fee | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist — active renewal | $285 | Annual active dentist license renewal. |
| Dentist — inactive renewal | $145 | Annual inactive dentist license renewal. |
| Dentist — late fee | $100 | Late active dentist renewal. |
| Dentist — reinstatement | $500 | Expired dentist license reinstatement under the applicable regulation. |
| Dentist — license verification | $35 | Written verification to another jurisdiction when requested through the Board. |
| Dental hygienist — active renewal | $75 | Annual active dental hygiene license renewal. |
| Dental hygienist — inactive renewal | $40 | Annual inactive dental hygiene license renewal. |
| Dental hygienist — late fee | $25 | Late active dental hygiene renewal. |
| Dental hygienist — reinstatement | $200 | Expired dental hygiene license reinstatement. |
| Dental hygienist — license verification | $35 | Written verification to another jurisdiction when requested through the Board. |
The public DHP License Lookup is the free primary-source lookup. A written verification sent to another jurisdiction is a separate Board service with its own fee and submission requirements.
Expired Virginia Dental License: Renewal vs Reinstatement
Do not use the ordinary annual renewal route indefinitely after expiration. Virginia separates renewal from reinstatement, and the correct route depends on how long the credential has been expired.
Expired less than or within the permitted renewal period
Virginia’s dentist regulation allows renewal when the renewal form, renewal fee and applicable late fee are received within one year of the applicable deadline, provided there are no grounds for denial.
The license becomes subject to the reinstatement process after the relevant one-year period.
More than one year expired
A dentist whose license has been expired for more than one year must submit a reinstatement application and fee and demonstrate continuing clinical competence under the Board’s rules.
The competence review can include CE, active practice, a clinical competency examination or a qualifying refresher program.
Renewal window
Virginia permits the Board to renew a dental hygiene license when the renewal form, fee and applicable late fee are received within one year of the deadline, subject to the applicable requirements.
More than one year expired
A dental hygienist whose license has been expired for more than one year must use the reinstatement process and satisfy the continuing-education and clinical-competence requirements in the regulation.
Virginia stopped mailing hard-copy licenses as part of the normal renewal process. A 2022 hard-copy license may contain no expiration date, but current status should still be checked through DHP License Lookup rather than inferred from an old paper document.
Virginia Dental License Verification for Another State
A public Virginia state dental license lookup and a formal verification sent to another licensing jurisdiction are not always the same service.
Check the receiving jurisdiction’s instructions
First determine whether the other state board accepts printed Virginia DHP License Lookup information or requires a formal verification directly from the Virginia Board of Dentistry.
Use DHP License Lookup for public status
For an ordinary current-status check, use the free online DHP License Lookup and save the record showing the credential information.
Use the Board’s verification form when formal verification is required
Virginia Board of Dentistry instructions state that verification to another jurisdiction requires a written request, a $35 payment and the practitioner’s full name, license number and receiving jurisdiction’s mailing address.
Do not send an unrelated verification form
The Board provides a specific Request for Verification of Virginia Dentist/Dental Hygienist License form. Use the current Board form rather than assuming another state’s form will be completed.
Virginia Dental Continuing Education: What Counts?
The 15-hour annual requirement does not mean every educational activity automatically qualifies. Virginia requires qualifying CE to be directly relevant to patient treatment and care and to meet the applicable sponsorship and documentation rules.
Acceptable subject areas
- Clinical dentistry and dental hygiene courses.
- Relevant patient-management subjects.
- Legal and ethical responsibilities related to practice.
- Stress-management subjects when supportive of clinical services.
- Other qualifying activities provided by an approved sponsor.
Do not assume every business course qualifies
- Estate planning.
- Financial planning.
- Investments.
- Business management.
- Marketing.
- Personal health.
Relevant hygiene education
Dental hygiene CE must be relevant to patient treatment and care and may include clinical dental or dental hygiene courses and qualifying nonclinical subjects supporting clinical services.
CE Broker is the official tracking system
The Virginia Board of Dentistry identifies CE Broker as its official CE tracking system. A free Basic Account is available for licensees who want to track completed continuing education.
Virginia Dental License Lookup Not Finding a Result?
A no-result search does not automatically prove that someone has never been licensed. Work through the search variables before reaching that conclusion.
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result by name | Spelling variation, hyphenation, middle initial or name change. | Try the license number or alternative legal-name format. |
| Several similar names | Name search is too broad. | Use the license number and confirm the exact profession. |
| Dentist result expected but hygienist result appears | The wrong profession was selected or the individual holds a different credential. | Confirm whether the person is being verified as a dentist or dental hygienist. |
| Virginia result expected but only West Virginia appears elsewhere | State abbreviation or search-engine confusion. | Return to the Virginia DHP License Lookup and search the Virginia credential directly. |
| Old paper license shows no expiration | Virginia changed its hard-copy license renewal practice. | Use the current DHP License Lookup to determine present status. |
| Application submitted but no license found | The application may still be pending. | Use the Board’s application-status resources; do not treat an application receipt as an active license. |
For Virginia dental licensure questions, contact the Virginia Board of Dentistry. For technical problems with DHP’s online systems, use the Department’s technical-support contact information.
Virginia Dental License Complaints and Discipline Checks
If your reason for Virginia dental license verification is patient safety, professional conduct or credentialing, a status check may not be the end of the research.
Start with License Lookup
Confirm the credential, profession, status and expiration first.
Review Board case information
If disciplinary history is relevant, review the Board’s public case decisions and read the actual action rather than relying on a summary label.
Use DHP Enforcement
Complaints about possible violations of Virginia healthcare laws or regulations follow the Department of Health Professions enforcement process.
A complaint is an allegation that may require investigation. A public Board order or disciplinary decision is a separate outcome. Read the official record before making a conclusion about a practitioner.
Which Virginia Dental License Route Do You Need?
Use the situation that matches your task instead of treating every dental-license search as the same process.
“I need to check a dentist.”
Use DHP License Lookup and confirm name, dentist credential, status and expiration.
“I need to verify a dental hygienist.”
Search the dental hygiene credential separately and apply the dental hygienist renewal and CE rules.
“My license is due.”
Check your birth-month deadline, CE compliance, current fee and DHP Online Licensing access.
“My license already expired.”
Determine whether the applicable late-renewal window remains available or whether reinstatement is required.
“Another board needs verification.”
Check the receiving jurisdiction’s instructions and use the Virginia Board’s formal verification route if required.
“I need a deeper credential check.”
Combine License Lookup with relevant Board case decisions when disciplinary history matters.
Official Virginia Dental License Verification Links
These are the official Virginia resources to use for license lookup, renewal, applications, fees, continuing education, regulations and formal verification.
Virginia Dental License Verification FAQs
How do I verify a Virginia dental license online?
Use the Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup. Search by license number when available, or use the practitioner’s name and profession. Confirm the exact person, credential, status and expiration information before relying on the result.
What is the Virginia state dental license lookup?
The Virginia state dental license lookup is the DHP License Lookup service used to obtain public licensing information for Virginia healthcare professionals, including credentials regulated by the Board of Dentistry.
Is Virginia dental license verification the same as West Virginia dental license verification?
No. Virginia and West Virginia are separate states with separate licensing systems. A Virginia dentist must be verified through Virginia’s Department of Health Professions and Board of Dentistry resources; a West Virginia credential requires the applicable West Virginia regulatory source.
How often does a Virginia dentist license need to be renewed?
Active and inactive dentist licenses are renewed annually in the licensee’s birth month. Certain special license types have different renewal deadlines.
What are the Virginia dental license renewal requirements?
A dentist must complete the applicable renewal process and fee and satisfy the continuing-education requirements. Virginia requires a minimum of 15 approved CE hours for each annual renewal, except for the first renewal following initial licensure and specified restricted volunteer renewals. Current CPR/BLS requirements also apply.
How many continuing education hours does a Virginia dental hygienist need?
An active Virginia dental hygienist must complete at least 15 hours of approved continuing education for renewal. A current hands-on CPR course for healthcare providers is also required.
How much is the Virginia dentist license renewal fee?
The current Virginia Board of Dentistry regulation lists a $285 active dentist renewal fee and a $145 inactive dentist renewal fee. A separate late fee applies when renewal is late.
How much is Virginia dental hygienist license renewal?
The current Virginia dental hygiene regulation lists a $75 active license renewal fee and a $40 inactive license renewal fee. A separate late fee applies when renewal is late.
What happens if my Virginia dental license expires?
Virginia distinguishes late renewal from reinstatement. For a dentist, the Board may renew when the required renewal form, fee and late fee are received within one year of the deadline, subject to the applicable rules. After more than one year expired, reinstatement is required. Dental hygiene has a similar one-year renewal window followed by reinstatement requirements.
How do I send Virginia dental license verification to another state?
First check what the receiving jurisdiction accepts. If formal verification is required, the Virginia Board of Dentistry provides a Request for Verification of Virginia Dentist/Dental Hygienist License. The Board currently lists a $35 verification fee and requires the practitioner’s full name, license number and receiving jurisdiction mailing address.
Verify the Virginia Dental License From the Official Record
For a Virginia state dental license lookup, start with DHP License Lookup and confirm the exact practitioner, profession, license number, current status and expiration information. For renewal, follow the annual birth-month deadline and complete the applicable CE and fee requirements. If the credential is expired, use the correct late-renewal or reinstatement route rather than relying on an old license document.
If you are checking a dental hygienist, use the separate dental hygiene requirements. If another state requires formal verification, follow the Virginia Board of Dentistry’s written verification process instead of assuming the public lookup is sufficient.