When you receive your NYSDA plate, you will have a new license plate number, different form the one you have maintained in the past. There is no way to "carry over" your current plate number to the NYSDA license plate.
Record Keeping
Every year, NYSDA will send a letter to DMV verifying that each individual who has a NYSDA plate is currently licensed as a DMD or DDS. NYSDA will notify the DMV when and if someone is not longer licensed or is no longer a member of NYSDA. In that event, sometime prior to the plate/registration expiration, the individual must surrender the NYSDA plate.
My plate expires next month - What should I do?
You should renew your registration first, and then apply for the NYSDA plate. Otherwise, it will cost you more money. As a rule of thumb, if the registration expires in 60 days or less, you must renew your registration before ordering the custom plates.