DentalMatch
Specialty Residency → Specialty LicenseVERIFIED · May 2026

Texas Dental Licensure
for International Dentists

How an international dentist (IDG) gets licensed to practice in Texas without a US DDS or DMD — sourced from a direct reply from the Texas dental board.

Pathway
Specialty Residency → Specialty License
Scope of practice
Specialty license; FEG holders may sit GP exam to upgrade to full Texas license
Exams required
INBDE + ADEX (with periodontics & prosthodontics sections) + Texas jurisprudence
What qualifies you

Foreign Educated Graduate (FEG) pathway: 2-year CODA-accredited specialty residency. AEGD/GPR alone do NOT qualify as the FEG education requirement.

What the Texas board actually said

TSBDE (May 2026) referred all foreign-educated applicants to the official Foreign Educated Graduate page: https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/dentists/dentist-license-foreign-educated-graduates/ — that page is the controlling source.

Source: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (licensinghelp@tsbde.texas.gov), 2026-05-14

Residencies that unlock licensure in Texas

These are the post-graduate training programs the Texas board accepts as the educational requirement for IDGs:

Ortho
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Perio
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Endo
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Prostho
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Pedo
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
OMFS
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
OMR
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
OMP
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Oral Med
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
OFP
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
DPH
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
Anesth
Specialty license (FEG). FEG holders may sit the GP exam later to upgrade to full TX license.
Specialty residency must be 2-yr CODA-accredited.
What does NOT qualify in Texas
  • AEGD 1TX Foreign-Educated Graduate (FEG) pathway requires a 2-year CODA specialty residency. AEGD/GPR alone do not qualify.
  • AEGD 2TX Foreign-Educated Graduate (FEG) pathway requires a 2-year CODA specialty residency. AEGD/GPR alone do not qualify.
  • GPR 1TX Foreign-Educated Graduate (FEG) pathway requires a 2-year CODA specialty residency. AEGD/GPR alone do not qualify.
  • GPR 2TX Foreign-Educated Graduate (FEG) pathway requires a 2-year CODA specialty residency. AEGD/GPR alone do not qualify.
This page was compiled from a direct email exchange with the Texas dental board between May 2026. The board's exact reply is quoted above. Rules change — always reconfirm with the board before applying. See all 50 states →

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Other states with this pathway
OklahomaNew MexicoMinnesotaIllinois

Compiled from direct email correspondence with the Texas dental board (May 2026 cycle). Always confirm current requirements with the board before submitting an application.