Every state operates on a different rhythm when it comes to licensure complexity and how quickly state boards process requests. Our compliance experts work to expedite this, but the following regional averages apply:

Northeastern States: Typically the most rigorous, averaging 8–12 months for full processing.

Southeastern and Central States: Generally more streamlined, averaging 4–6 months.

Southwestern and Western States: Average 4–6 months for standard registration.

North Pacific and Northwestern States: Can range from 4–10 months.

California (The Outlier): Due to specific state requirements and high applicant volume, California can take up to 18 months for full licensure. 

The "Partner Variable" & Our Expert Compliance Team

While state board processing speeds are a factor, the true "X-factor" in your licensing timeline is the Partner Variable. Licensure delays are rarely just about the state board; they are often driven by how quickly the applicant and the school return required documentation. At Clinical Edge, we minimize these delays through:

A Veteran Licensing Team: Our compliance experts bring decades of collective experience navigating the specific nuances of all 50 state dental boards. We don't just "submit and hope"; we understand the specific "red flag" triggers that cause applications to get stuck in administrative limbo.

Proactive Document Management: We bridge the gap between you and the state board. By knowing exactly what a state like California or New York requires upfront, we ensure your "Partner Variable" response time is as fast as humanly possible.

A Proven Track Record: We have successfully navigated thousands of applications through the most rigorous regulatory environments in the country. Our team stays current on 2026's shifting legislative landscape—including the current exam blackout periods and new digital submission requirements—so you don't have to. 

When you choose Clinical Edge, you aren't just getting a premium curriculum and turnkey school; you're gaining a concierge compliance partner. We turn confusing, months lomg bureaucratic nightmare into a streamlined, guided process, ensuring you get your license and get to work as fast as the law allows.

If you tried to open a school independently in California today, you’d be looking at an 18-month wait for state approval.

The Clinical Edge Shortcut: By joining us as an Affiliate Campus, you operate under our established approvals. We can have your academy "Live and Enrolling" in 30–60 days.

Scaling in 2026: We are currently aggressively securing state-level licensure in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Our goal is to hand you the keys to a compliant, legal academy while your competitors are still stuck in the "application pending" phase.

Yes, you may downgrade or upgrader once per year.  Our partnership model is built for the reality of a growing practice.  We understand that a dentist’s needs in "Month 2" might look very different from their needs in "Year 2." Our goal is to be your backend partner, not your landlord. We want your plan to match the current rhythm of your practice, whether that’s a sprint or a steady walk.

We offer two distinct ways to launch your school, depending on your desire for brand autonomy versus clinical standardization.

The Starter Plan: The "Build Your Own" Model

The Starter Plan is designed for the dentist who wants to "dip their toes in" while maintaining full control over their school’s identity and instructional style. 

Brand Independence: You name your own school and operate under your own local brand.

Your License, Your Way: You handle your own state licensure. To make this easier, we provide state-specific templates and expert guidance to help you navigate the bureaucracy.

Curriculum Flexibility: You utilize our Traditional Legacy Academic Curriculum. Because you manage your own standards, you have the freedom to adapt this "academic-style" content as you see fit.

Marketing: You handle all school marketing and student recruitment independently. However, you may opt to utilize our done-for-you-marketing experts at an additional monthly marketing management cost.

The Clinical Edge Academy: The "Gold Standard" Partnership

"Growth" is our most popular startup plan. If starting on the the "Starter" plan, once you recognize the massive demand for "Day-1 Ready" graduates, you can upgrade to the Clinical Edge Academy model. This is our "Gold Standard" turnkey solution that focuses on high-production clinical results.

The 12-Week Clinical Readiness Program: All Clinical Edge Academies must utilize this specific program. It is our core engine, designed to eliminate the "onboarding gap" through strict standardization.

Instructor Certification: To ensure quality across the country, your lead instructor must become Clinical Edge Certified to teach this high-velocity course.

Brand Authority: You leverage the Clinical Edge Dental Assisting Academy brand. In the coming years in the dental community, this name will signifiy a graduate who requires zero onboarding—making your school the "Ivy League" of local dental training.

Standardized Excellence: By using our specific validation methods, you ensure that every student graduating from your facility meets the clinical benchmarks that dentists in your area are desperate for.

The "Plug-and-Play" Revenue Model: This tier is built for the dentist who wants to move away from traditional "academic" teaching and toward a high-production, high-efficiency training business.

Subscription keeps your capital inside the practice while you build cohorts and systems. You pay for ongoing infrastructure and support instead of a one-time sunk cost.

Implementation is spread across three payments: $3,000 buildout kickoff, $2,500 licensure start, and $2,000 completion buildout (months 1–3). Month 4 onward you choose Starter ($850/mo) or Growth ($1,200/mo).

No. Government fees are paid directly to the state or applicable agency.

It confirms your state pathway, facility fit, and recommended next steps. You’ll get an immediate “Likely Eligible” or “Needs Review” result—then you’ll be prompted to watch a required 12-minute program explainer video. After the video, you’ll receive a direct link to book the correct call.

No. Compensation and placement depend on local market conditions and employer decisions. We provide systems and pathways that improve the probability and employer confidence.

Growth includes Demo Day campaign systems, marketing, and enrollment/admissions services options. Starter does not include DFY Demo Days, marketing, and admissions—you run marketing internally using your own approach.

Demo Day is our own Clinical Edge proprietary enrollment event framework that reduces lead leakage and increases show rate by moving prospects into a scheduled experience with structured on-site enrollments and follow-up.

For Growth, it's a role-based system aligned to our Clinical Readiness program: Student LMS, Instructor Certification Portal, Staff Training Portal, and Campus CRM/Pipeline (Demo Day + applications + enrollment tracking).

The starter includes the Student LMS for the legacy 12-week academic-based program, instructor guides, and a self-managed CRM system.  Growth expands portals and automations across the campus ecosystem.

Both plans include LMS and automation support (business-hours LMS support + 24/7 automation support where applicable). Growth includes priority support and preferred phone access.

Growth includes territory protection in line with the partner agreement and market conditions - meaning no other Clinical Edge Academy is nearby and meets minimum population size.

The model is designed to operate during non-patient hours using structured systems so practices can build a campus without compromising production.

Baseline requirements typically include access during non-patient hours and adequate space to support training operations (a minimum of one to two operatories). Eligibility confirms your specific fit.

Start with Check State Eligibility. You’ll get an immediate result and a direct link to book the correct call—either the 45-minute presentation or an eligibility review.

No. Clinical Edge brand authority is reserved for standardized, Clinical Edge–branded campuses operating under our unified program requirements—strict curriculum usage, validated delivery standards, and proprietary marketing/enrollment systems aligned across the network.

The Starter Plan is designed for dentists who want to operate independently: you use your own school name, deliver a more traditional academic model that can be customized to your preferences, and run your campus outside the Clinical Edge national network and brand system.