Effective 28 Aug 1981

332.251. Dental hygienist applicant, examination, how conducted — failure, reexamination, additional education, when. — 1. Each applicant for examination as a dental hygienist shall, after the board has determined that he is a person of good moral character and reputation, appear before the board at the time and place specified by the board in a written notice to each such applicant. The fee accompanying the application as provided in section 332.241 shall not be refunded to any applicant who fails to appear at the time and place so specified, but the board for good cause shown, as defined by rule, may permit any applicant to take the examination or examinations at a later time without paying an additional fee.

2. The board shall determine and specify by rule whether dental hygienist examinations shall be written or oral or clinical or all three, but in any event the examination shall be of such form and of such content and character as to thoroughly test the qualifications of the applicant to practice as a dental hygienist in Missouri. Completion of the national board theoretical examination with scores acceptable to the board, as promulgated by rule, is a prerequisite to taking the dental hygienist examinations.

3. Any applicant who passes the dental hygienist examination or examinations with the average grade specified in a rule promulgated by the board shall be entitled to registration as a dental hygienist in Missouri, and shall receive a certificate of registration. Irrespective of the fact that an applicant may have made passing grades on his examinations, he shall not be entitled to a certificate of registration as a dental hygienist if the board finds that at any time prior to the issuance of the certificate the applicant has cheated on his examination or examinations, or has made false or misleading statements in any application filed for such examination with intent to deceive the board, or that he is not a person of good moral character and reputation.

4. The board shall determine and specify by rule the number of times an applicant may fail all or a portion of the dental hygiene examinations without completing additional education in an accredited dental hygiene school, and shall specify by rule the type and amount of additional education which shall be required of an applicant, which type and amount may vary depending upon the failed portions of the dental hygiene examinations. However, no applicant shall be refused permission to take the dental hygiene examinations twice without completing additional education, nor shall additional education be required if the applicant only fails an examination over Missouri laws.

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(L. 1969 S.B. 97, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16)