Multiple Dental Licenses

[OMS2BBAD]

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Question for residents and/or current dentists...

I'm in PA right now, but originally from CA and woud like to practice in AZ in the future. If I activate an AZ dental license and practice there, are there any benefit to apply for a CA license and activate it just in case I want to get back to CA someday?

Are any of you out there have multiple state dental licenses? I know it can be a waste of money, but most of these licenses are fairly cheap for triennial or biennial renew fees. So, it's really not a big fee or deal to have multiple dental licenses considering how much you'll make as a dentist.

Please share your thoughts.

 

[NewFish]

Well, I happened to have licenses on 3 states, I think it is always good idea to keep your options open. Keep in mind that whole license process takes some time to get through, assuming you have all the qualification (graduation, Board etc).
I know from my own experience, that CA dental Board is ridiculously under-staffed and they want your fingerprints, law & ethics exam and so on, so if you know for sure that you're going to CA eventually, then you need to plan ahead (6 months, at least). AZ wants letters of endorsement and Jurisprudence exam among many things...
Bottom line, each state has its own quirks (i.e. ethics exams which are offered like only 4 times per year or something...) So if you don't time in right, you'll be in up in the air, so to speak.
All I can say again is Plan Ahead, like everything else in life~
Good Luck.

 

[Elipar]

Both CA and AZ are WREB schools, so one exam should cover it... I think.

 

[OMS2BBAD]

Both CA and AZ are WREB schools, so one exam should cover it... I think.

You're talking about once you've passed the WREB which is the clinical exam that will enable you to apply for a dental license in CA & AZ.

Once passed the WREB, then you can apply for a dental license in those states. Applying for a dental license, which Newflash had eluded to, has a lot of required documents and requirements.

Newflash:

thanks for the reply. I will plan ahead and most likely activate multiple state licenses to be safe.

 

[Bifid Uvula]

For the states that you "may move to in the future." Get those licenses and KEEP THEM ACTIVE. Requirments may change in the future and you can find yourself "$h!t out of luck" later.

Besides, some states may offer reciprocity with other states (for example having an active license somewhere for 5 years may negate needing to take another state board exam in another state should u choose to live and practice there).

Its always better to have an "active" and "unrestricted" license. And if you are working as a dentist somewhere else u certainly should be able to afford the fee to keep it active.