Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

What Texas State Board of Dental Examiners does

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) is a state government regulatory agency established in 1905 under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 256, headquartered at 1801 Congress Ave., Suite 8.600, Austin, Texas, with 53 employees. It is the sole state authority responsible for licensing and regulating dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratories, and mobile dental facilities in Texas, with the statutory mandate to protect public health and safety in dental care. The Board operates an online licensing portal (vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov) available 24/7 for new applications, biennial renewals, and license management, supplemented by paper applications for specific categories (military, temporary, criminal history evaluation) and mandatory IdentoGO fingerprinting for criminal background checks.

The Board's product portfolio spans 13 interconnected services, including Dentist Licensure Services (exam, credentials, foreign-educated, faculty, military paths), Dental Hygienist Licensure Services, Dental Assistant Registration Services, an Anesthesia Permit System (Nitrous Oxide and Levels 1–4), a Jurisprudence Assessment Platform, Public License Search, Dental Laboratory Registration, Mobile Dental Facility Registration, Complaint and Investigation Services, Continuing Education Provider Approval, Prescription Monitoring Program Integration, and Professional Recovery Network Referral. The underlying technology is a web-based licensing system that serves as the primary interface for all transactional regulatory functions, with separate contact channels for licensing, anesthesia, military licensing, and the Dental Review Panel.

TSBDE's business model is fee-funded, with revenue generated through licensing fees, registration fees, application fees, specialty permit fees (e.g., anesthesia permits), and per-assessment fees such as the $54 Jurisprudence Assessment for Dental Assistant Registration. Fees may be adjusted at the beginning of each Texas fiscal year (September 1). The go-to-market is direct-to-licensee via the online portal, email communications, and direct-mail renewal postcards sent 60 days before expiration. The customer base is segmented into five primary groups: Dentists (primary), Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Dental Laboratories, and Mobile Dental Facilities, all of which are statutory participants in the Texas dental regulatory ecosystem.

Name

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

Legal name

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

Website

https://tsbde.texas.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners is a state government agency that licenses and regulates dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratories, and mobile dental facilities in Texas, operating an online licensing portal and serving all Texas dental professionals practicing in the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing and Dental Regulation

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Licensing, Accreditation & Credentialing Boards (HLAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Controlled Substances & Pharmacy Regulation Authorities (HLAJACAI)

Keywords

• Dental professional licensing
• State regulatory oversight
• Anesthesia permit services
• Continuing education compliance
• Dental laboratory registration

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Registration Fees: The Board generates revenue through licensing fees, registration fees, and renewal fees for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratories. Fees may change at the beginning of each fiscal year (September 1st). Application fees are charged for initial licensure, renewals, and specialty permits such as anesthesia permits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners is a state government regulatory agency that licenses and regulates dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratories, and mobile dental facilities in Texas. It processes initial license applications and biennial renewals, issues anesthesia permits at multiple sedation levels, administers jurisprudence assessments, conducts complaint investigations, and maintains a public license verification system to protect public health and safety in dental care. The Board also operates a Professional Recovery Network referral program for licensees with substance use or mental health concerns.

Product overview

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) is a state regulatory agency that operates a comprehensive licensing and regulatory platform for dental professionals. The organization provides multiple interconnected services including: an online licensing portal for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants; anesthesia permit management; jurisprudence assessment examinations; public license verification; dental laboratory registration; mobile dental facility oversight; complaint handling; and continuing education provider approval. The platform is built around a web-based online licensing system that serves as the primary interface for all license applications, renewals, and management functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dentist Licensure Services Comprehensive licensing services for dentists seeking to practice in Texas, providing multiple licensure pathways (exam, credentials, foreign-educated, faculty, military), anesthesia permits, biennial renewal, reinstatement, retirement, and continuing education compliance. Intended for dental professionals requiring Texas licensure.
• Dental Hygienist Licensure Services Licensing services for dental hygienists in Texas, including license by examination, license by credentials, faculty license, local infiltration anesthesia endorsement, nitrous oxide monitoring endorsement, biennial renewal, retirement, and reinstatement. Intended for dental hygiene professionals requiring Texas licensure.
• Dental Assistant Registration Services Registration and certification services for dental assistants in Texas, including Registered Dental Assistant X-Ray Certification, biennial renewal, continuing education compliance, retirement, and reinstatement. Intended for dental assistants seeking Texas registration.
• Anesthesia Permit System Permit issuance and management for dental sedation levels (Nitrous Oxide, Level 1 through Level 4), including authorization for sedation of high-risk and pediatric patients, and instructions to drop level of sedation. Intended for Texas-licensed dentists seeking sedation privileges.
• Dental Laboratory Registration Registration and annual renewal services for commercial dental laboratories and in-house dental labs with more than two technicians, including continuing education compliance under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 266. Intended for dental laboratory operators in Texas.
• Mobile Dental Facility Registration Registration and annual permit services for mobile dental facilities and portable dental units in Texas, including annual reporting requirements and change of address notifications. Intended for operators of mobile dental facilities and portable dental units.
• Jurisprudence Assessment Online examination system delivering required jurisprudence assessments for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratories as part of the Texas licensing and registration process. Intended for Texas dental professionals and laboratories completing initial licensure or registration.
• Public License Search Online search tool enabling members of the public to verify the license status of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in Texas. Intended for consumers, employers, and the general public.
• Complaint and Investigation Services Services for submitting complaints against Texas dental professionals and tracking investigation processes, including the Dental Review Panel established in 2013 to address standard of care complaints. Intended for patients, the public, and licensees subject to complaints.
• Continuing Education Provider Approval System for approving continuing education course providers and individual courses that meet TSBDE requirements for license renewal. Intended for CE providers seeking approval and dental professionals seeking approved CE offerings.
• Professional Recovery Network Referral Referral services connecting Texas-licensed dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants with substance use or mental health concerns to the Professional Recovery Network of Texas (PRN) for confidential peer assistance and monitoring. Intended for licensees experiencing potential impairment.
• Online Licensing System Web-based portal at vo.licensing.hpc.texas.gov for dental professionals to apply for, renew, and manage licenses for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants in Texas. Supports license applications, biennial renewals, address updates, and verification requests. Intended for Texas dental professionals and applicants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established 83rd legislative session (2013) Dental Review Panel for standard of care complaints

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Professional Recovery Network of Texas (PRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRN is a nationally recognized peer assistance program dedicated to helping health care professionals enter safe, healthy recovery. The program has served over 1,500 healthcare professionals since established by the Texas Pharmacy Association in 1981. PRN helps identify, assist, support, and monitor Texas-Licensed Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Dental Assistants with potential impairment due to substance use or mental illness. The program is fully supported and recognized by TSBDE with a dual philosophy of providing confidential recovery opportunities while protecting the public from unsafe professional practice.
• Texas A&M University School of DentistryminorOthersCODA-accredited dental school providing education for future dentists. Graduates may seek licensure through TSBDE.
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El PasominorOthersCODA-accredited dental school providing education for future dentists. Graduates may seek licensure through TSBDE.
• The University of Texas School of Dentistry at HoustonminorOthersCODA-accredited dental school providing education for future dentists. Graduates may seek licensure through TSBDE.
• UT Health San Antonio, School of DentistryminorOthersCODA-accredited dental school providing education for future dentists. Graduates may seek licensure through TSBDE.
• Texas Dental Hygiene Schools (22 institutions)minorOthersCODA-accredited dental hygiene programs including Amarillo College, Austin Community College, Blinn College, Coastal Bend College, Houston Community College, Collin College, Concorde Career Colleges, Dallas College, El Paso Community College, Howard College, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lone Star College, Midwestern State University, Palo Alto College, Pima Medical Institute, Tarrant County College, Temple College, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Texas State Technical College, Texas Woman's University, Tyler Junior College, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, UT Health Science Center-San Antonio, and Wharton County Junior College. Graduates may seek licensure through TSBDE.
• American Dental Association (ADA)minorOthersNational dental association; ADA testing services provide National Boards examination scores validated by TSBDE.
• American Association of Dental Boards (AADB)minorOthersAADB validates self-query reports for licensure applicants. TSBDE recognizes AADB-ACE approved continuing education providers.
• Regional Clinical Examining Boards (ADEX, CRDTS-SRTA)minorOthersTSBDE validates clinical examination scores from ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA for licensure by examination.
• IdentoGO (Morpho Trust)coreTechnology or IntegrationFingerprinting services provider for criminal background checks through Texas DPS and FBI. TSBDE requires all applicants to use IdentoGO for fingerprint submissions. Contact: 1-844-321-2124, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CST.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association (ADA): National professional association that provides National Board examination scores validated by TSBDE. While not a regulator, it is a key stakeholder in the dental regulatory ecosystem that TSBDE operates within.
• Texas Medical Board: Texas's parallel state regulatory body for physicians, sharing the same Health Professions Council IT infrastructure and operating model. Comparable in headcount, funding structure, and statutory authority though in a different healthcare profession.
• American Association of Dental Boards (AADB): National association of U.S. state dental boards providing accreditation of continuing education providers and self-query report validation. TSBDE is a member and recognizes AADB-ACE approved CE providers.

Direct peers

• Ohio State Dental Board: Ohio's state dental licensing and regulatory agency, performing the same dentist, hygienist, and dental assistant licensing functions with parallel anesthesia permit oversight.
• Florida Board of Dentistry: Florida's state dental regulatory body operating under the Department of Health, with parallel licensing, enforcement, and continuing education oversight functions similar to TSBDE.
• New York State Board of Dentistry: New York's state dental licensing authority, with equivalent functions in initial licensure, renewals, professional conduct, and anesthesia permits. Directly comparable scale and regulatory mandate.
• Illinois Board of Dentistry: Illinois's dental licensing and disciplinary board, providing identical regulatory functions (licensure, renewal, complaint investigation) within a state government framework analogous to TSBDE.
• California Dental Board: California's state dental licensing and regulatory agency, directly comparable to TSBDE in scope (licensing dentists, hygienists, assistants) and statutory authority. Operates the same regulatory model with a larger licensee base.
• Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry: Pennsylvania's dental licensing board, performing equivalent dentist, hygienist, and EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Assistant) registration, complaint investigation, and renewal functions.

Emerging players

• National Board of Dental Examiners (NBDE / JCNDE): Operates the national-level dental and dental hygiene examinations whose scores TSBDE accepts for licensure. A complementary peer in the broader dental regulatory ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-state-board-of-dental-examiners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas State Board of Dental Examiners