(A) The board may issue a license by credentials to an applicant who has been licensed to practice dentistry in any state or territory of the United States if the applicant complies with the provisions of Regulation 39-1 B. and produces evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has:

(1) satisfactorily passed a state or regional clinical board examination approved by the board and a jurisprudence examination on the laws of this State and regulations as they relate to the practice of dentistry as approved by the board and administered in the English language;

(2) a current license to practice dentistry issued by another state or United States territory that is not revoked, suspended, or restricted;

(3) been actively practicing dentistry for a minimum of five years immediately preceding the date of application. "Actively practicing" means working a minimum of twelve hundred hours a year in a private practice or public health or military clinical setting or the combination of twelve hundred hours a year of clinical instructing at a Commission on Dental Accreditation approved dental school and private practice;

(4) completed seventy hours of continuing education over the past five years;

(5) not been the subject of any final or pending disciplinary action in the military or in any state or territory in which the applicant has held any other professional license;

(6) no felony convictions and no other criminal convictions that would affect the applicant's ability to render competent dental care;

(7) signed a release allowing the disclosure of information from the National Practitioner Data Bank and the verification of registration status with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration;

(8) agreed to submit to substance abuse testing if requested by the board;

(9) agreed, upon request of the board, to provide proof that the applicant has no physical or psychological impairment that would adversely affect his or her ability to practice dentistry with reasonable skill and safety.

(B) The board may conduct examinations and interviews to test the qualifications of an applicant and may require additional information to ascertain the applicant's ability to render competent dental care including, but not limited to, requiring substance abuse testing or proof that no physical or psychological impairment exists that would adversely affect the applicant's ability to practice dentistry with reasonable skill and safety. The board may refuse to issue a license by credentials to an applicant who the board determines is unfit to practice dentistry.

(C) If a licensee has not established an active practice in this State within two years of receiving a license by credentials, the license is automatically revoked.

(D) In order to provide the means of carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this section and the duties of the board, the board is authorized to charge and collect fees as established in regulation.

HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 92, Section 1.