License and permit information
Dental License
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates numerous professions in Illinois. The Department consists of a number of boards and committees, which participate in enforcement activities. Enforcement of the Dental Practice Act is in the hands of the Illinois State Board of Dentistry.
Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at 800-560-6420 to request the requirements and application for license to practice dentistry in Illinois. Your dental license expires on September 30 and is good for three years. Licensure by credentials is available for dentists, and the Department can give you the regulations and requirements. You should also request the following from the Department: the Dental Practice Act and the Rules and Regulations for the Administration of the Act.
If you practice as a specialist, you must have a specialty license in addition to your general dentist license. You cannot advertise to limit a practice to a specialty area without having a specialty license. Visit the website at
www.idfpr.com/profs/dentist.asp to request applications and forms.
Dental Hygienists
All dental hygienists must have a current Illinois license to practice. Hygienists may request an application for licensure from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation after graduating from a dental hygiene school and passing the appropriate regional board examination. Licensure by credentials is available for dental hygienists. This license must be renewed every three years.
Dental Assistants
Requirements for dental assistants, including expanded functions, can be found in the Illinois Dental Practice Act and the Administrative Rules. These can be found on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s website:
www.idfpr.com/profs/dentist.asp.
Anesthesia and Analgesia
A permit from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is required if you plan to perform moderate sedation, conscious sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia in your practice. There are no regulations or permits needed for a dentist to provide nitrous oxide. Read the Rules and Regulations for the specific regulations concerning sedation and how to obtain a permit.