Two separate interstate agreements are targeting 2025 to improve cross-state mobility for dental hygienists and dentists. Backed by different organizations, the two agreements offer different paths for dental professionals to practice in multiple states.
Louisiana recently announced that it had joined an agreement promoted by the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB), becoming the first state to formally implement the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure (IDDHL) agreement; another separate agreement has entered the implementation stage.
According to the AADB, Louisiana officially passed House Bill 543 on July 1, 2025, becoming the first state to adopt the IDDHL agreement. The agreement aims to simplify the process for dental professionals to apply for licenses in multiple states while maintaining state management of licenses and existing examination standards.
At a hearing of the House and Government Affairs Committee on May 7, 2025, Rep. Wayne McMahen said the agreement would speed up the process of qualified dental professionals obtaining licenses in new states, expand Louisiana’s dental workforce, improve access to care, and simplify the licensing process.
The IDDHL agreement draws on the model of the medical licensing agreement, allowing dentists and dental hygienists who have graduated from a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and passed the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) exam, or have at least five years of practice experience and passed the regional licensing exam to obtain a license quickly.
The agreement also establishes a centralized license verification and disciplinary information portal through the AADB license repository for easy management and supervision.
Dr. Art Jee, chairman of the AADB Board of Directors, pointed out that this agreement is an important step for the dental industry, improving the accessibility of dental services and the mobility of professionals. Louisiana has opened up more opportunities for dental professionals who practice across state lines to serve the community.
The core benefits of the IDDHL agreement include expediting the licensing process, enhancing the mobility of dentists and dental hygienists, unifying competency standards to ensure patient safety, and providing participating states with cost-effective implementation plans.
Dr. Jee said that by joining the IDDHL agreement, Louisiana has demonstrated its strong commitment to meeting medical service needs and protecting public health. He looks forward to more states joining the agreement to form a national practice network that benefits dental professionals and patients.
As of July 2025, the IDDHL agreement has been implemented in nine states, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are reviewing the agreement, and the legislatures of Oklahoma and Mississippi have also passed relevant bills.