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Mission of WREB

The mission of the Western Regional Examining Board is to develop and administer competency assessments for State agencies that license dental professionals.

History of WREB

The concept of a regional testing service originated with Dr. Martin Kolstoe of Oregon. Dr. Kolstoe was the prime organizer who worked diligently to assure the success of the regional testing concept. His original idea was to have a Northwest Regional testing service, and he gathered testing information from a variety of sources. As time went by, his horizons broadened, and the idea of a Western Regional Board was born.

1975

The idea was further explored in 1975 at a joint meeting of the American Association of Dental Examiners and the Western Conference of Dental Examiners and Dental School Deans. The idea of a Western Regional Board was discussed among the thirteen states of the Western Conference. Utah was looking for an affiliation of this type, since they did not have a proper facility for conducting examinations, and was forced to use hotels, prisons, etc. as examination sites. During the meeting, Utah made an arrangement with Oregon to have a simultaneous examination.

In November of 1976, the states formally incorporated WREB (Western Regional Examining Board) and in June of 1977, the first exam was given under the auspices of the WREB in Oregon. Oregon withdrew from WREB in 1981, but rejoined in January 1992.

1976

Arizona became a member in 1978, and in June 1978, the first exam was given with the three-state membership. The first Dental Hygiene exam was given in 1979.

1978

In January of 1980, Colorado became a member of WREB. Colorado withdrew from WREB in 1983.

1980

In March of 1985, Idaho became a member of WREB.

1985

In July of 1987, Alaska became a member of WREB.

1987

In January of 1988, New Mexico became a member of WREB.

1988

In 1994, Texas and Oklahoma became members of WREB.

1994

In 1995, Washington became a member of WREB.

1995
2000

In 2000, Wyoming became a member of WREB.

In 2006, California became a member of WREB (Dental Only).

2006

In 2007, Missouri became a member of WREB.

2007

In 2008, Kansas became a member of WREB.

2008

In 2009, North Dakota became a member of WREB.

2009

In January 2012 Illinois became a member of WREB, and West Virgina became an affiliate of WREB.

2012

2013, Nevada became a member.

2013

2014, Kentucky became a member

2014

Member States

This data is based on the most recent information available to WREB and is subject to change. Non-member states accepting WREB results may have additional exam requirements. Individual states should be contacted directly for the most current information.

wreb_membermap_2017-6-8
Member States

  • ALASKA

    Alaska State Board of Dental Examiners
    P.O. Box 110806
    Juneau, AK 99811-0806
    (907) 465-2542 phone
    (907) 465-2974 faxx

    website

  • ARIZONA

    AZ State Board of Dental Examiners
    4205 N. 7th Avenue #300
    Phoenix, AZ 85013
    (602) 242-1492 phone
    (602) 242-1445 fax

    website

  • ARKANSAS

    Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners
    101 East Capitol Avenue
    Suite 111
    Little Rock, AR 72201
    (501) 682-2085 phone

    website

  • CALIFORNIA (DENTAL ONLY)

    Dental Board of California
    2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550
    Sacramento, CA 95815
    (916) 263-2300 phone
    (916) 263-2140 fax

    website

  • HAWAII (DENTAL HYGIENE ONLY)

    Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Professional and Vocational Licensing
    DCCA-PVL, Att: DENTAL
    P.O. Box 3469
    Honolulu, HI 96801
    (808) 586-3000 phone

    website

  • IDAHO

    ID State Board of Dentistry
    P.O. Box 83720-0021
    Boise, ID 83720
    (208) 334-2369 phone
    (208) 334-3247 fax

    website

  • ILLINOIS

    Illinois State Board of Dentistry
    320 W. Washington, 3rd Floor
    Springfield, IL 62786
    (217) 782-8556 phone
    (217) 782-7645 fax

    website

  • KANSAS

    Kansas Dental Board
    Landon State Office Building
    900 SW Jackson Street, Room 564-S
    Topeka, KS 66612-1230
    (785) 296-6400 phone
    (785) 296-3116 fax

    website

  • MINNESOTA

    Minnesota Board of Dentistry
    2829 University Avenue, SE
    Suite 450
    Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
    (612) 617-2250 phone
    (612) 617-2260 fax

    website

  • MISSISSIPPI

    Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners
    600 East Amite Street
    Suite 100
    Jackson, MS 39201-2801
    (601) 944-9622 phone

    website

  • MISSOURI

    Missouri Dental Board
    3605 Missouri Boulevard
    P. O. Box 1367
    Jefferson City, MO 65102-1367
    (573) 751-0040 phone
    (573) 751-8216 fax

    website

  • MONTANA

    MT Board of Dentistry
    301 S. Park, 4th Floor
    P.O. Box 200513
    Helena, MT 59620-0513
    (406) 841-2202 phone
    (406) 841-2305 fax

    website

  • NEVADA

    Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners
    6010 S. Rainbow Blvd., Ste. A-1
    Las Vegas, NV 89118
    (702) 486-7044 phone
    (702) 486-7046 fax

    website

  • NEW MEXICO

    NM Board of Dental Health Care
    2550 Cerillos Road, 2nd Floor
    P.O. Box 25101
    Santa Fe, NM 87505-5101
    (505) 476-4680 phone

    website

  • NORTH DAKOTA

    North Dakota Board of Dentistry
    P.O. Box 7246
    Bismarck, ND 58507-7246
    (701) 258-8600 phone
    (701) 224-9824 fax

    website

  • OKLAHOMA

    OK Board of Dentistry
    2920 N. Lincoln Blvd, Suite B
    Oklahoma City, OK 73105
    (405) 522-4844 phone
    (405) 522-4614 fax

    website

  • OREGON

    OR Board of Dentistry
    1600 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 770
    Portland, OR 97201
    (971) 673-3200 phone
    (971) 673-3202 fax

    website

  • TEXAS

    TX State Board of Dental Examiners
    333 Guadalupe, Tower 3
    Suite 800
    Austin, TX 78701-3942
    (512) 463-6400 phone
    (512) 463-7452 fax

    website

  • UTAH

    UT Dentists & Dental Hygienists Board
    P.O. Box 146741
    Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741
    (801) 530-6628 phone
    (801) 530-6511 fax

    website

  • WASHINGTON

    WA State Department of Health
    Dental Quality Assurance Commission
    P. O. Box 47865
    Olympia, WA 98504-7865
    (360) 236-4700 phone

    website

  • WYOMING

    Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners
    2001 Capitol Ave
    Emerson Bldg., Room 104
    Cheyenne, WY 82002
    (307) 777-6529 phone
    (307) 777-3508 fax

    website

Non-Member States Accepting WREB

  • CALIFORNIA (DENTAL HYGIENE ONLY)

    Dental Board of California
    2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550
    Sacramento, CA 95815
    (916) 263-2300 phone
    (916) 263-2140 fax

    website

  • COLORADO

    Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners
    1560 Broadway, Ste. 1310
    Denver, CO 80202
    (303) 894-7761 phone
    (303) 891-7764 fax

    website

  • CONNECTICUT

    Connecticut State Dental Commission
    410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 12MQA
    P.O. Box 340308
    Hartford, CT 06134-0308
    (860) 509-7603 phone
    (860) 509-8457 fax

    website

  • INDIANA

    Indiana State Board of Dentistry
    402 W. Washington Street, Room W072
    Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
    (317) 234-2054 phone

    website

  • KENTUCKY

    Kentucky Board of Dentistry
    312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 101
    Louisville, KY 40222
    (502) 429-7280 phone
    (502) 429-7282 fax

    website

  • MAINE

    Maine Board of Dental Examiners
    161 Capitol St.
    143 State House Station
    Augusta, ME 04333
    (207) 287-3333 phone
    (207) 287-8140 fax

    website

  • MASSACHUSETTS

    Massachusetts Board of Dentistry
    239 Causeway Street, 2nd floor, Suite 200
    Boston, MA 02114
    (617) 973-0971 phone
    (617) 973-0982 fax

    website

  • MICHIGAN

    Michigan Board of Dentistry
    Health Professions Division, Bureau of Health Care Services
    P.O. Box 30670
    Lansing, MI 48909
    (517) 335-0918 phone

    website

  • NEBRASKA

    Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
    1301 Centennial Mall South
    3rd Floor PO Box 94986.
    Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
    (402) 471-2118 phone
    (402) 471-3577 fax

    website

  • NEW HAMPSHIRE

    New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners
    2 Industrial Park Drive
    Concord, NH 03301
    (603) 271-4561 phone
    (603) 271-6702 fax

    website

  • OHIO

    Ohio State Dental Board
    77 S. High Street, 18th floor
    Columbus, OH 43215
    (614) 466-2580 phone
    (614) 752-8995 fax

    website

  • PENNSYLVANIA

    State Board of Dentistry
    P.O. Box 2649
    Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
    (717) 783-7162 phone
    (717) 787-7769 fax

    website

  • RHODE ISLAND

    Rhode Island Board of Dentistry
    Department of Health
    Three Capitol Hill, Room 104
    Providence, RI 02903
    (401) 222-2828 phone
    (401) 222-1272 fax

    website

  • SOUTH DAKOTA

    South Dakota Board of Dentistry
    P.O. Box 1037
    Pierre, SD 57501
    (605) 224-1282 phone
    (605) 224-7426 fax

    website

  • TENNESSEE

    Tennessee Board of Dentistry
    Cordell Hull Building, 3rd floor
    425 5th Avenue North
    Nashville, TN 37243
    (615) 741-3111 phone
    (615) 532-5164 fax

    website

  • VERMONT

    Vermont Board of Dental Examiners
    Office of Professional Regulation
    National Life Bldg., North FL2
    Montpelier, VT 05620
    (802) 828-1505 phone
    (802) 828-2465 fax

    website

  • VIRGINIA

    Virginia Department of Health Professions
    Perimeter Center
    9960 Mayland Dr., Ste. 300
    Richmond, VA 23233
    (804) 367-4538 phone
    (804) 527-4428 fax

    website

  • WISCONSIN

    Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board
    1400 E. Washington Ave.
    P.O. Box 8935
    Madison, WI 53708-8935
    (608) 266-2112 phone

    website

Affiliate Member States

  • WEST VIRGINIA

    West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners
    P.O. Box 1447
    Crab Orchard, WV 25827
    (877) 914-8266 phone
    (304) 253-9454 fax

    website

News

WREB Newsletter

Published Articles & Position Papers


FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions and Advice From Candidates

Q. Does Western Regional Examining Board provide patients for candidates? If not, where can I find potential patients?
A WREB, the licensing boards of the member states, and the school where the examination is held do not supply patients. However, you can check with colleges, local homeless shelters, Salvation Army, etc.

Q. When will I receive the schedule for my examination?
A Schedules are posted approximately 4 weeks prior to the exam. You will receive an email notifying you that your schedule is available for viewing. Schedules will not be posted if materials are missing from an application. WREB will not provide examination schedules via telephone or fax.

Q. I am interested in a refresher course for dental/dental hygiene. What schools can I call?
A WREB has no information on the availability of refresher courses offered at any school. You may wish to contact the continuing education departments of accredited dental or dental hygiene schools directly. Also, visit the ADA.org or ADHA.org websites for a list of accredited dental or dental hygiene schools.

Q. When will I receive the results of my examination?
A Results will be posted approximately 2-4 weeks following the last day clinical exam. You will receive an email notifying you that your results are available for viewing.

Q. What steps do I need to take to qualify for licensure in my state?
A The Western Regional Examining Board is a testing agency only and does not issue licenses. Successful completion of the WREB examination does not constitute licensure in any participating state. Questions regarding licensing and reciprocity should be directed to the State Board where licensure is sought.

Q. If I don’t pass the WREB exam, can I retake it? What do I need to submit?
A Candidates who fail the examination may apply for re-examination. If you choose to re-apply online, you will not have to re-enter your personal information or upload a new photograph. Your log-in and photo will only be valid for the calendar year in which you created/uploaded them.
You are allowed to take the exam three times within one (1) year of the initial test date. Candidates who are unsuccessful three times are required by WREB to take remediation in all areas of deficiency prior to retaking the exam. Upon failing a fourth time, additional remediation is required.

Q. What is the time limit after I pass WREB to apply for a license in a member state?
A You should contact individual state boards about time limits to apply for licensure. These times vary from state to state

Q. Since I am a foreign graduate, what must I do to be eligible to take the WREB exam?
A You should contact the state board where you wish to practice dentistry and inform that board that you are a foreign graduate and want to participate in the WREB dental exam.
If you meet a state board’s qualifications, that state board will send an original letter to the WREB office stating that you meet the requirements and are eligible to take the WREB dental exam. In some cases, you may be limited to practice only in that state.

Q. What if I change my name and want a new success card with my new name?
A WREB maintains your file under the name you used when you took the WREB exam. This will not impede your ability to be licensed. Your state licensing board will tell you what documentation they need. If you should need a copy of your certificate at a later date, and you have a different name, you will be asked to supply the name you had when you took the WREB examination.

Contact Us

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Email
dentalinfo@wreb.org
hygieneinfo@wreb.org

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Call
(623) 209-5400

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Fax
(602) 371-8131

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WREB
23460 N. 19th Ave, Ste 210
Phoenix,  AZ 85027