Each State provides a regulatory framework to license dental practitioners within their jurisdictions. In order to obtain a license to practice in a given State, dental practioners must satisfy certain basic requirements for their respective professions. However, thousands of dental practitioners go through a voluntary process, at considerable personal time and expense, to obtain and maintain a level of knowledge and expertise that go beyond the basic requirements of their chosen professions. Dental practitioners who meet these higher standards, as established by nationally recognized professional practice boards, earn the privilege to practice with a dental speciality board certification. Dental Specialty Certification Boards that provide online tools to confirm the the certification status of their member practitioners includes those organizations listed below. Additional specialty board certification resources can be found at Nursing Specialty Certification Boards and at Medical Specialty Certification Boards.