A dentist who wants to practice needs more than a diploma and a passing board score. Most state dental boards require applicants to go through some form of criminal history review before a license is issued, and several require fingerprint based checks run through state or federal criminal databases. On top of the licensing board’s own review, a dental practice that hires a dentist, hygienist, or front office and clinical staff generally runs its own separate background check as part of hiring. This post covers both layers: what a sample of state dental boards require for licensure, what the federal programs that track dentists cover, and what a dental employer typically screens for the rest of the team.
Do state dental boards require a criminal background check?
The requirement varies by state, and dentists should always confirm the current rule with the board where they are applying rather than assume every state works the same way. Several of the larger state boards publish their fingerprint and criminal history rules directly. A few examples:
- Texas: The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners requires applicants to submit fingerprints for a criminal history check and separately explains how a prior criminal history is evaluated against licensure eligibility. See the board’s fingerprint and criminal background check page and its criminal history evaluation page, which covers the process for applicants with a record to seek an eligibility determination before completing the full application.
- California: The Dental Board of California requires applicants to submit fingerprints through the state’s Live Scan program, so the Department of Justice and the FBI can return any criminal history to the board. The board’s fingerprinting instructions are published at Dental Board of California fingerprinting requirements.
- Florida: The Florida Board of Dentistry, under the Florida Department of Health, lists licensing requirements for dentists at Florida Board of Dentistry licensing page for dentists. Florida runs background screening for many licensed health practitioners through the Department of Health’s statewide program, described at Florida Health background screening overview, which explains which practitioner types are screened and the level of check used.
- New York: The New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions publishes dentistry licensing information at Office of the Professions dentistry page. Unlike Texas, California, and Florida, that page does not describe a fingerprint based criminal history check for initial dental licensure. New York asks character and fitness disclosure questions on the application instead, and applicants should confirm the current steps directly with the Office of the Professions rather than assume a fingerprint requirement exists.
Where a board does not publish a fingerprint requirement, that is not a guarantee there is no screening at all. Some boards rely on disclosure questions and case by case review of any reported conviction instead of a state run fingerprint check. The rule varies by state, so confirm the current requirement with the specific board rather than relying on a general assumption.
State dental board fingerprint and criminal history requirements compared
| State board | Fingerprint based check for initial licensure | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Board of Dental Examiners | Yes, fingerprints required; separate criminal history evaluation process available | tsbde.texas.gov |
| Dental Board of California | Yes, through the state Live Scan fingerprinting program | dbc.ca.gov |
| Florida Board of Dentistry | Screening applies through the Department of Health’s statewide practitioner screening program | flhealthsource.gov |
| New York Office of the Professions (dentistry) | Not described on the board’s licensing page; disclosure questions apply instead | op.nysed.gov |
The National Practitioner Data Bank
Dentists who hold hospital privileges, work in a health system, or are credentialed by certain health care entities can be subject to National Practitioner Data Bank reporting and queries. The NPDB is a federal repository that collects reports of adverse licensure actions, clinical privilege actions, and certain malpractice payments involving health care practitioners, including dentists. Hospitals and some other health care entities that credential practitioners must query the data bank and report qualifying adverse actions. General information about who must report, who may query, and how the system works is published by the National Practitioner Data Bank, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The NPDB is not a criminal history database, and it does not replace a state board’s own licensure background check.
OIG exclusion check for federal health programs
A dental practice that bills Medicaid or any federal health care program should check whether a dentist or any staff member appears on the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. An excluded individual generally cannot be paid, directly or indirectly, for services billed to a federal health care program, and employing an excluded person without catching it can create liability independent of the underlying reason for exclusion. The OIG publishes the exclusions program and the searchable list at OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. Practices that participate in Medicaid or Medicare should check this list before hiring and periodically afterward, not only at the time of licensure.
DEA registration for dentists who prescribe controlled substances
Dentists who prescribe controlled substances, such as certain opioids used after extractions or oral surgery, must separately register with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA registration is distinct from state dental licensure and from a state controlled substance registration, which many states also require before a prescriber can write for scheduled drugs. The DEA’s registration program is published at DEA Office of Diversion Control registration information, and the underlying federal regulations are published at 21 CFR Part 1301 in the eCFR. A practice verifying a dentist’s credentials before hiring should confirm both the state license and, where the role involves prescribing, that DEA and any state controlled substance registrations are active and unrestricted.
Dental practice employer screening for the rest of the team
Licensure review by the state board generally only applies to the licensed dentist, not to hygienists, assistants, or front office staff who may not hold a license requiring the same checks. A dental employer building a screening program for the whole team typically considers:
| Screening element | What it typically covers |
|---|---|
| License verification | Confirms the dentist’s or hygienist’s license is active and unrestricted through the state board’s public lookup |
| Criminal history | County, state, or nationwide criminal record search, separate from whatever the licensing board already reviewed |
| OIG and federal exclusion check | Relevant for any practice that bills Medicaid or another federal health program |
| Employment and education verification | Confirms prior work history and credentials required for the role |
| Motor vehicle record | Relevant where staff drive between offices or make deliveries |
| Drug test | Common for clinical roles with access to controlled substances; policy varies by practice |
Practices should scope screening to the actual duties of each role. A dentist handling controlled substance prescriptions, a hygienist working directly with patients, and an administrative employee handling billing present different risk profiles.
FCRA duties when an employer orders the background check
When a dental practice uses a consumer reporting agency rather than running checks in house, the Fair Credit Reporting Act sets procedural requirements the practice must follow. Before ordering a report, the employer must give the applicant a clear, standalone written disclosure and get written authorization separate from the general job application. If the practice may take adverse action, such as withdrawing an offer, based on something in the report, it must send a pre-adverse action notice along with a copy of the report and a copy of the consumer’s Summary of Rights, give the applicant a reasonable opportunity to respond, and then send a final adverse action notice if it proceeds. A background check does not automatically show every record in every state; what reports and how far back it goes depends on state law and the type of search ordered. The Federal Trade Commission publishes plain language employer guidance on these obligations at Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know. Employers considering a criminal record as part of a hiring decision should also know about federal guidance encouraging individualized assessment rather than automatic exclusion, published by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and should consult counsel on how state law applies to their hiring decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Do all states require fingerprinting to become a licensed dentist?
No. Texas and California both require fingerprint based criminal history checks as part of dental licensure. Florida runs background screening for many licensed health practitioners through its statewide program. New York’s dentistry licensing page does not describe a fingerprint requirement and relies on disclosure questions instead. The rule varies by state, so applicants should confirm the current requirement directly with the board they are applying to.
Is the NPDB a criminal background check?
No. The National Practitioner Data Bank tracks adverse licensure actions, clinical privilege actions, and certain malpractice payments reported by hospitals, boards, and other qualified entities. It is not a criminal history database, and access to query it is limited to authorized entities such as hospitals and state licensing boards.
What happens if a dentist is on the OIG exclusion list?
An individual on the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s exclusion list generally cannot be paid, directly or indirectly, for services billed to Medicaid, Medicare, or other federal health care programs. A practice that bills these programs should check the list before hiring and on an ongoing basis.
Do dentists need a separate registration to prescribe controlled substances?
Yes. A dentist who prescribes controlled substances must register with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and many states also require a separate state controlled substance registration. These registrations are distinct from the dental license itself.
Does the state board’s background check cover hygienists and office staff too?
Not automatically. A state dental board’s licensure background check generally applies to the specific license being issued, such as the dentist’s or a hygienist’s own license where one is required. It does not substitute for a dental practice’s own hiring screen of unlicensed staff such as dental assistants or front office employees.
Can a dental practice refuse to hire someone because of a past conviction?
Employers generally may be able to consider criminal history as part of a hiring decision, but many states limit how and when that consideration can happen, and federal guidance encourages individualized assessment rather than automatic exclusion. Practices should consult counsel on how their state’s specific rules apply.
Related reading
- Dental Hygienist License Background Checks: State Dental Boards, Fingerprints and Disqualifying Records
- Dental Office Background Checks: Staff Screening That Fits the Risk
Dental practices that need to run compliant pre-employment screening on dentists and the rest of the clinical team can learn more at Reveal Background.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. Licensing requirements and background check rules vary by state and change over time; confirm current requirements with the applicable licensing board and consult counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
