Dr. Hicks received his Doctorate of Dentistry from the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry. He served a one year fellowship in Oral& Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He returned to the University of Iowa to complete his four year hospital based residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Hicks is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Hicks maintains many professional memberships including Fellowship in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Idaho Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, International Team for Implantology, Academy of Osseointegration, American Dental Association, Idaho State Dental Association, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon the National Honorary Dental Society.