1. The Board shall, without a clinical examination required by NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121, issue a restricted geographical license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy to a person if the person meets the requirements of subsection 2 and:

(a) A board of county commissioners submits a request that the Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada waive the requirements of NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121 for any applicant intending to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in a rural area of a county in which dental, dental hygiene or dental therapy needs are underserved as that term is defined by the officer of rural health of the University of Nevada School of Medicine;

(b) Two or more boards of county commissioners submit a joint request that the Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada waive the requirements of NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121 for any applicant intending to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in one or more rural areas within those counties in which dental, dental hygiene or dental therapy needs are underserved as that term is defined by the officer of rural health of the University of Nevada School of Medicine; or

(c) The director of a federally qualified health center or a nonprofit clinic submits a request that the Board waive the requirements of NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121 for any applicant who has entered into a contract with a federally qualified health center or nonprofit clinic which treats underserved populations in Washoe County or Clark County.

2. A person may apply for a restricted geographical license if the person:

(a) Has a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy issued pursuant to the laws of another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;

(b) Is otherwise qualified for a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in this State;

(c) Pays the application, examination and renewal fees in the same manner as a person licensed pursuant to NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121;

(d) Submits all information required to complete an application for a license; and

(e) Satisfies the requirements of NRS 631.230, 631.290 or 631.312, as appropriate.

3. The Board shall not issue a restricted geographical license to a person:

(a) Whose license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy has been revoked or suspended;

(b) Who has been refused a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy; or

(c) Who is involved in or has pending a disciplinary action concerning a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy,

in this State, another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

4. The Board shall examine each applicant in writing on the contents and interpretation of this chapter and the regulations of the Board.

5. A person to whom a restricted geographical license is issued pursuant to this section:

(a) May practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy only in the county or counties which requested the restricted geographical licensure pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 1.

(b) Shall not, for the duration of the restricted geographical license, engage in the private practice of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in this State or accept compensation for the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy except such compensation as may be paid to the person by a federally qualified health center or nonprofit clinic pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 1.

6. Within 7 days after the termination of a contract pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 1, the holder of a restricted geographical license shall notify the Board of the termination, in writing, and surrender the restricted geographical license.

7. A person to whom a restricted geographical license was issued pursuant to this section may petition the Board for an unrestricted license without a clinical examination required by NRS 631.240, 631.300 or 631.3121 if the person:

(a) Has not had a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy revoked or suspended in this State, another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;

(b) Has not been refused a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in this State, another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;

(c) Is not involved in or does not have pending a disciplinary action concerning a license to practice dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy in this State, another state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and

(d) Has:

(1) Actively practiced dentistry, dental hygiene or dental therapy for 3 years at a minimum of 30 hours per week in the county or counties which requested the restricted geographical licensure pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 1; or

(2) Been under contract with a federally qualified health center or nonprofit clinic for a minimum of 3 years.

8. The Board may revoke a restricted geographical license at any time if the Board finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the holder of the license violated any provision of this chapter or the regulations of the Board.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 1608; A 2005, 48, 50, 279, 281, 2720; 2015, 716; 2019, 3212, effective January 1, 2020)