Two US interstate dental compacts gain state adoption in 2026
Two competing compacts offer different pathways for license portability. Dentists should track which compact their state may adopt.
Two separate interstate dental compacts are advancing across the United States as states seek to address dental workforce shortages through license portability. The Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, introduced by the Council of State Governments, allows dentists and hygienists to practice in all participating states without obtaining individual state licenses. The Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, backed by the American Association of Dental Boards, offers a similar streamlined pathway but with stricter requirements including mandatory hand skills exams and automatic transfer of disciplinary actions.
Current state adoption and pending legislation
The Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact has seen broader adoption, with 12 states currently enacted: Washington, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia and Maine. Nine states have pending legislation: Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact has achieved enactment in Louisiana and Mississippi, with six states working on pending legislation: Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Key differences between the two compacts
The two compacts differ in their regulatory approaches. The Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact prohibits regulations that override state law and mandates hand skills exams, whereas the Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact takes a less prescriptive approach. Both compacts require transfer of disciplinary actions between states, but they represent different philosophies on how much standardization to impose while maintaining state-level oversight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact?
Introduced by the Council of State Governments, this compact allows dentists and hygienists to practice in all participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. It has been enacted in 12 states as of 2026.
Which states have enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact?
Washington, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia and Maine have enacted this compact. Nine additional states have pending legislation.
How does the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact differ?
Backed by the American Association of Dental Boards, this compact mandates hand skills exams, prohibits regulations that override state law, and requires automatic transfer of disciplinary actions. Only Louisiana and Mississippi have enacted it.
Why are states adopting dental compacts?
States are using compacts to address dental workforce shortages by allowing dentists and hygienists to practice across state lines more easily without navigating separate licensing requirements for each jurisdiction.
