ADA: Credentialing 101: What New Dentists Need to Know
For many new dentists, provider credentialing is not only one of the first administrative hurdles they face after graduation, but also one of the most frustrating. Delays in credentialing can postpone start dates, slow onboarding and even prevent dentists from getting paid for patient care.
In a recent survey conducted for the ADA New Dentist Committee, 85% of respondents responded that they are either not enrolled, or not sure if they are enrolled, in the free ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH. Nearly 43% of respondents said they did not know the service existed, and at the same time, nearly 72% said an ADA-supported credentialing platform would be either valuable or somewhat valuable to them.
“So many dentists didn’t know about the ADA’s credentialing services, and that actually surprised me,” said Sara Ehsani, D.D.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist, past new dentist representative to the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs and a 2025 ADA 10 Under 10 Award recipient. “The biggest challenge with credentialing, people said, was time, emails and paperwork.”
Credentialing is the process of verifying a dentist’s qualifications so they can participate with insurance plans and receive reimbursement. According to Dr. Ehsani, preparation is key.
“My biggest advice to new dentists is before they start applying for jobs or changing offices, it’s good to have all the documents ready,” she said. “If something is missing or expired, it’s going to take way longer.”
Dr. Ehsani recommends creating a dedicated credentialing folder with essential documents, including:
- Dental license
- Drug Enforcement Administration registration, if applicable
- National Provider Identifier number
- CAQH login information
- Current CV
- Dental school diploma and residency certificates, if applicable
- Specialty board certification documents, if applicable
- Malpractice insurance information
- Government-issued identification
- Immunization records
- Professional references
Read the full ADA article here.
For more information on the ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH, visit ADA.org/credentialing.
