LA Dental Juris

The Board ties Licensure by Examination (LBE) eligibility to successful completion of the ADEX exam. Dentists and dental hygienists each follow their own LBE pathway, with different application fees and different time windows after ADEX completion, so confirm which pathway matches your profession before applying.

Dentists may qualify for LBE if they apply within five years of successfully completing the ADEX exam. Dental hygienists may qualify if they apply within three years. These windows differ by profession, so track your ADEX completion date and apply well before the deadline for your discipline.

The Board lists the LBE application at $350 for dentists and $180 for dental hygienists, and describes the application as involving minimal paperwork. Fees and requirements are set by the Board and can change, so verify the current amount on the Board's licensing information page before submitting payment.

No. The Board states plainly that licensure is not guaranteed and that all applicants must meet additional requirements set by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Passing ADEX and submitting an application are necessary steps, but the Board reviews qualifications and makes the final licensing decision.

LBE is licensure by examination, based on successful completion of ADEX within the applicable window. LBC is licensure by credentials, for people currently licensed in another state, and it requires documentation of prior licensure. The Board notes LBC applications cost more and involve more extensive documentation than LBE.

Start with the ADEX content areas for your discipline, then build repetition around the clinical skills and didactic topics you perform least confidently. Because Louisiana requires ADEX completion within a fixed window, schedule your exam early enough that a retake, if needed, still leaves time to apply.

Two recurring problems are applying after the ADEX window has closed and assuming licensure is automatic once ADEX is passed. The Board states licensure is not guaranteed and that additional requirements apply. Confirm your completion date, read the licensing information page carefully, and submit complete documentation rather than partial materials.

Yes. The Board provides a Licensee Login page for online license renewal, and renewal can also be done by mail. The Board also posts renewal notices on its site, so check the homepage for current renewal instructions and deadlines that apply to your license expiration date.

The Board office telephone number is 225-219-7330. Mail goes to P.O. Box 5256, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-5256, and overnight documents go to 18212 East Petroleum Drive, Suite 2-B, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809. The Board warns that it never calls licensees demanding money.