36-6A-47.1. Criteria for license to practice as dental hygienist for person licensed in another state.

Any person licensed in another state desiring to practice as a dental hygienist may obtain a license to practice as a dental hygienist if the applicant satisfies each of the following criteria:

(1)    The application for a license to practice as a dental hygienist is in writing and signed by the applicant;

(2)    The applicant has graduated from an American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited United States dental hygiene school, having obtained a dental hygiene degree;

(3)    The applicant is currently an active, competent practitioner, having completed a minimum of three thousand dental hygiene clinical practice hours within the five years immediately preceding the date of application;

(4)    The applicant has passed a standardized national comprehensive examination approved by the board;

(5)    The applicant has passed a clinical regional or national examination approved by the board or a state examination or examinations that the board deems equivalent;

(6)    The applicant currently holds a valid license in another state;

(7)    The applicant has no disciplinary proceeding or unresolved disciplinary complaint pending before a dental board at the time a license is to be issued by the board;

(8)    The licensure requirements in the other state are in the judgment of the board the same as or higher than those required by this state;

(9)    The applicant provides references that indicate the applicant is of good moral character; and

(10)    The applicant has passed an examination concerning the state laws and rules relating to dentistry.

The board may require a laboratory or clinical examination of an applicant if it has reason to believe the applicant cannot practice safely.

Any foreign-trained or any other graduate from a dental hygiene program not accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation may apply for a license to practice as a dental hygienist. The board, by rule promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26, shall establish requirements to reasonably ensure that an applicant's training and education are sufficient for licensure.

Source: SL 2015, ch 199, § 53.