Indiana recently passed House Bill 1254 , which creates a new pathway for foreign-trained dentists to become licensed dental hygienists in Indiana without having to complete a U.S. dental hygiene degree. The law takes effect July 1, 2026 and is designed to help address the ongoing shortage of dental hygienists across the state. Under the new law , internationally trained dentists are not automatically licensed . They must still: Have their dental education evaluated and approved. Demonstrate English proficiency when required. Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). Pass a regional clinical licensing examination. Meet all Indiana licensing and background check requirements established by the State Board of Dentistry. This creates a much more practical career pathway for highly educated dental professionals who have already completed dental school abroad but previously had few options other than repeating years of education in the United States. ...
At Ladd Dental Group, we understand that the patient comes first. That is why we have ten convenient locations throughout North Central Indiana, accept dental emergency patients, are In-Network with almost all insurances, and have Friday hours available at most of our facilities! Give us a call today or stop by the office closest to you, and see what Ladd Dental Group has to offer! #PatientFirst #ConvenientDentistry #LaddDentalGroup #SmileOn