§ 63-5-114 — Dental hygienists - Examination - Licensure - Reciprocity

(a) The board is authorized to issue a license to practice dental hygiene to applicants who are citizens of the United States or Canada or who are legally entitled to live within the United States, who have graduated and received a diploma from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, that provides a minimum of two (2) academic years of dental hygiene curriculum and that may be completed in a period of time less than two (2) years, in or through an institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the United States department of education to offer college-level programs and who have successfully passed such examinations as may be established by the board. The board may recognize a certificate granted by the joint commission of national dental examinations or accept the results of the southern regional testing agency, or either organization, in lieu of or subject to such examinations as may be required by the board. (b) (1) Each applicant for a license as a dental hygienist shall pay a nonrefundable application fee to the board, as set annually by the board. (2) Any applicant submitting to an examination conducted by the board shall, in addition to the application fee, pay a nonrefundable examination fee as set annually by the board. (3) The license shall be of the type and kind agreed upon by the board. (c) The secretary of the board shall keep a separate register showing the names and addresses of all dental hygienists so licensed by the board. (d) The board is authorized in its discretion to issue a license by criteria approval to any dental hygienist who: (1) Is licensed and has, pursuant to that license, actively engaged in practice for three (3) years or more in another state or states; (2) Is a graduate of and has received a diploma from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation that provides a minimum of two (2) academic years of dental hygiene curriculum and that may be completed in a period of time less than two (2) years, in or through an institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the United States department of education to offer college-level programs; and (3) Submits satisfactory evidence of good moral character and professional competence, including a certificate to that effect from the licensing or registration board from all states in which the applicant has held a license, upon payment of a nonrefundable fee as set by the board. (e) The board is authorized in its discretion to issue a limited license for educational purposes to any dental hygienist who is duly licensed or registered to practice in any other state, who meets the requirements of the board and who submits satisfactory evidence of good moral character and professional competence, including a certificate to that effect from the licensing or registration board from all states in which the applicant has held a license, upon payment of a nonrefundable fee as set by the board. (f) The board may in its discretion revoke a license to any person who fails to register the license with the board within ninety (90) days following notification of licensure.

Legislative History

Acts 1957, ch. 32, § 15; 1976, ch. 497, § 4; 1978, ch. 824, § 11; 1981, ch. 99, § 10; T.C.A., § 63-543; Acts 1984, ch. 608, §3; 1988, ch. 635, §§ 14-16; 1989, ch. 523, §§13-15; 1990, ch. 1031, §§ 14-18; 1999, ch. 291, §§ 1, 2.