90-231. Opportunity for licensee or applicant to have hearing.

(a) With the exception of applicants for reinstatement after revocation, every applicant for a license or provisional license to practice dental hygiene or licensee or provisional licensee to practice dental hygiene shall after notice have an opportunity to be heard before the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners shall take any action the effect of which would be:

(1) To deny permission to take an examination for licensing for which application has been duly made; or

(2) To deny a license after examination for any cause other than failure to pass an examination; or

(3) To withhold the renewal of a license for any cause other than failure to pay a statutory renewal fee; or

(4) To suspend a license; or

(5) To revoke a license; or

(6) To revoke or suspend a provisional license; or

(7) To invoke any other disciplinary measures, censure or probative terms against a licensee or provisional licensee,

(b) In lieu of or as a part of such hearing and subsequent proceedings the Board is authorized and empowered to enter any consent order relative to the discipline, censure, or probation of a licensee, provisional licensee or an applicant for a license or provisional license, or relative to the revocation or suspension of a license or provisional license.

(c) Following the service of the notice of hearing as required by Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Board and the person upon whom such notice is served shall have the right to conduct adverse examinations, take depositions, and engage in such further discovery proceedings as are permitted by the laws of this State in civil matters. The Board is hereby authorized and empowered to issue such orders, commissions, notices, subpoenas, or other process as might be necessary or proper to effect the purposes of this subsection; provided, however, that no member of the Board shall be subject to examination hereunder.