The American Student Dental Association believes the ideal requirements for initial dental licensure for predoctoral students include the following:

• Graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited predoctoral dental education program.
• Passing score on the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
• Successful completion of a clinical assessment that addresses the following criteria and methodology.
• Criteria:
• Does not use human subjects in a live clinical testing scenario
• Is psychometrically valid and reliable in its assessment
• Is reflective of the scope of current dental practice
• Is universally accepted
• Methodology: ASDA believes demonstration of both kinesthetic and clinical decision-making competence is necessary to obtain initial dental licensure. ASDA believes this should be demonstrated through the following:
• Manikin-based kinesthetic assessment, and
• A non-patient based Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

The American Student Dental Association is opposed to licensure by any mechanism of graduates from schools not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Graduation from a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, regardless of its geographic location, should be required for eligibility for initial licensure in any jurisdiction in the United States, given that all other jurisdictional requirements are also fulfilled.

In regards to National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE), the American Student Dental Association supports a secure examination process. In regards to an examination for advanced post graduate education in dentistry and International Dentist Programs (IDP),  the American Student Dental Association supports a single exam that is secure and valid for quantitative scoring.

The American Student Dental Association supports efforts to increase licensure portability. ASDA supports the ability for licensed dental professionals to practice in other states without needing to obtain an additional license despite differences in state licensure requirements. ASDA encourages dental boards to support interstate dental compacts that allow for increased mobility for dentists to deliver care, assist in reducing barriers to care, and support military members and their families.

The American Student Dental Association encourages all U.S. CODA-accredited dental schools to include the cost of obtaining initial dental licensure in their cost of attendance as defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This could include, but is not limited to, the cost of relevant clinical exams and the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE).