National Dental Association announces support for dental licensure compact

On Monday, October 13, the National Dental Association (NDA) publicly announced its support for the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact (IDDHLC).

Developed by the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), the IDDHLC aims to streamline the path to licensure for dental hygienists that want to practice across state lines while maintaining a high-quality training and education regimen. Under the IDDHLC, hygienists can work outside their home state after graduating from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-approved school and passing the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination.¹

The NDA House of Delegates voted to support this compact at their July meeting in Kansas City following a recent trend of public state support. Louisiana was the first state to join the IDDHLC earlier this year, with other states following suit. As of right now, the legislation has been enacted in 12 states total and is pending in an additional six.²

On this decision, AADB president Arthur Chen-Shu Jee stated: "The NDA's support validates our approach to balancing professional mobility with patient safety, and we look forward to working together to improve access to quality dental care across the nation."

According to a press release by the NDA, benefits of the IDDHLC that align with their mission include:

• Enhanced professional mobility for dentists and dental hygienists

• High standards of patient safety through uniform competency requirements

• Improved access to dental care in underserved communities

• Cost-effective implementation for participating states

• Preserved state authority over dental licensing¹

Dr. Leslie Grant, former NDA president and current chair of the legislative committee noted: "There is a fine balance between public protection and license portability. Equally important is that Dental Boards have full and direct jurisdiction over healthcare providers in their specific State of practice. The IDDHLC fulfills these requirements."

Overall, the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact is committed to providing licensure portability without sacrificing quality patient safety and care. It is gradually becoming the preferred model for interstate practice as more states and dental organizations come together to support this legislation.¹

References

1. NDA announces support for dental license compact. October 13, 2025. National Dental Association. Press release.

2. Compact Map. Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. 2025. https://ddhcompact.org/compact-map/