§ 5-31.1-6. License to practice - Qualifications of applicants - Fee - Reexamination. (a) Authority to practice dentistry or dental hygiene under this chapter is by a license, issued by the director of the department of health, to any reputable dentist, dental hygienist, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant who intends to practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting in this state, and who meets the requirements for licensure prescribed in this chapter and regulations established by the board or the director.

(b) Applicants for licensure as dentists shall:

(1) Present satisfactory evidence of graduation from a school of dentistry accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its designated agency, and approved by the board;

(2) Meet any other requirements that the board or director by regulation establishes; and

(3) Pass in a satisfactory manner any examinations that the board requires.

(c) Applicants for licensure as dental hygienists shall:

(1) Present satisfactory evidence of graduation from a school for dental hygiene accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Auxiliary Accreditation or its designated agency and approved by the board;

(2) Meet any other requirements that the board or director by regulation establishes; and

(3) Pass in a satisfactory manner any examination that the board requires.

(d) Any dentist and any dental hygienist or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant applying for licensure shall pay an application fee as set forth in § 23-1-54. Application fees shall in no case be returned. Applicants requiring reexamination for dentistry, for dental hygiene, or for DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting shall submit fees as set forth in § 23-1-54 for each reexamination.

(e)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board of dental examiners may issue a special license to qualifying dentists and dental hygienists under the terms and conditions set forth in this section and pursuant to requirements that may be set forth in the rules and regulations of the board. The special license may only be issued to a person who is retired from the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and not currently engaged in such practice either full-time or part-time and has, prior to retirement, maintained full licensure in good standing in dentistry or dental hygiene in any state.

(2) The special licensee shall be permitted to practice dentistry or dental hygiene only in the noncompensated employ of public agencies or institutions, not-for-profit agencies, not-for-profit institutions, nonprofit corporations, or not-for-profit associations that provide dentistry or dental hygiene services only to indigent patients in areas underserved by dentists or dental hygienists or critical need population areas of the state.

(3) The person applying for the special license under this section shall submit to the board a notarized statement from the employing agency, institution, corporation, association, or healthcare program, on a form prescribed by the board, whereby he or she agrees unequivocally not to receive compensation for any dentistry or dental hygiene services he or she may render while in possession of the special license.

(4) Any application fees and all licensure and renewal fees shall be waived for the holder of the special license under this section.

(5) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed pursuant to this section shall comply with the continuing education requirements established by the board of dental examiners in this state.

(f) Applicants for licensure as certified maxillofacial surgical assistants shall:

(1) Present satisfactory evidence of completion of the DAANCE oral surgery assistant training course prepared and administered by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or its designated agency and approved by the board;

(2) Meet any other requirements that the board or director by regulation establishes;

(3) Pass, in a satisfactory manner, any examination that the board requires; and

(4) Complete a board of examiners in dentistry-approved advanced cardiac life support course and current certification.

History of Section. (P.L. 1987, ch. 358, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 14, § 6; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 39, § 5; P.L. 2007, ch. 181, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 204, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 9, § 5; P.L. 2014, ch. 95, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 163, § 1.)