1     
DENTIST LICENSING AMENDMENTS

2     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Marie H. Poulson

5     
Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     changes provisions related to an examination required for licensure as a dentist
13     under the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          58-69-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 337
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 58-69-302 is amended to read:
24          58-69-302. Qualifications -- Licensure as a dentist -- Licensure as a dental
25     hygienist.
26          (1) An applicant for licensure as a dentist, except as provided in Subsection (2), shall:
27          (a) submit an application in a form as prescribed by the division;

28          (b) pay a fee as determined by the department under Section 63J-1-504;
29          (c) be of good moral character;
30          (d) provide satisfactory documentation of having successfully completed a program of
31     professional education preparing an individual as a dentist as evidenced by having received an
32     earned doctor's degree in dentistry from a dental school accredited by the Commission on
33     Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;
34          (e) pass the National Board Dental Examinations as administered by the Joint
35     Commission on National Dental Examinations of the American Dental Association;
36          [(f) pass any one of the regional dental clinical licensure examinations unless the
37     division, in collaboration with the board, determines that:]
38          [(i) the examination is clearly inferior to the Western Regional Examination Board;
39     and]
40          [(ii) reliance upon the examination poses an unjustifiable threat to public health and
41     safety;]
42          (f) pass any regional dental clinical licensure examination approved by division rule
43     made in collaboration with the board and in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
44     Administrative Rulemaking Act;
45          (g) pass any other examinations regarding applicable law, rules, or ethics as established
46     by division rule made in collaboration with the board and in accordance with Title 63G,
47     Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
48          (h) be able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in the English language
49     and demonstrate proficiency to the satisfaction of the board if requested by the board; and
50          (i) meet with the board if requested by the board or division for the purpose of
51     examining the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
52          (2) An applicant for licensure as a dentist qualifying under the endorsement provision
53     of Section 58-1-302 shall:
54          (a) be currently licensed in good standing with an unrestricted license in another
55     jurisdiction described in Section 58-1-302;
56          (b) document having met all requirements for licensure under Subsection (1) except
57     Subsection (1)(d); and
58          (c) document having been successfully engaged in clinical practice as a dentist for not

59     less than 6,000 hours in the five years immediately preceding the date of application for
60     licensure.
61          (3) An applicant for licensure as a dental hygienist, except as set forth in Subsection
62     (4), shall:
63          (a) submit an application in a form as prescribed by the division;
64          (b) pay a fee as determined by the department pursuant to Section 63J-1-504;
65          (c) be of good moral character;
66          (d) be a graduate holding a certificate or degree in dental hygiene from a school
67     accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;
68          (e) pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination as administered by the Joint
69     Commission on National Dental Examinations of the American Dental Association;
70          (f) pass an examination consisting of practical demonstrations in the practice of dental
71     hygiene and written or oral examination in the theory and practice of dental hygiene as
72     established by division rule made in collaboration with the board;
73          (g) pass any other examinations regarding applicable law, rules, and ethics as
74     established by rule by division rule made in collaboration with the board;
75          (h) be able to read, write, speak, understand, and be understood in the English language
76     and demonstrate proficiency to the satisfaction of the board if requested by the board; and
77          (i) meet with the board if requested by the board or division for the purpose of
78     examining the applicant's qualifications for licensure.
79          (4) An applicant for licensure as a dental hygienist qualifying under the endorsement
80     provision of Section 58-1-302 shall:
81          (a) be currently licensed in another jurisdiction set forth in Section 58-1-302;
82          (b) (i) document having met all requirements for licensure under Subsection (3) except,
83     an applicant having received licensure in another state or jurisdiction prior to 1962, the year
84     when the National Board Dental Hygiene Examinations were first administered, shall
85     document having passed a state administered examination acceptable to the division in
86     collaboration with the board; or
87          (ii) document having obtained licensure in another state or jurisdiction upon which
88     licensure by endorsement is based by meeting requirements which were equal to licensure
89     requirements in Utah at the time the applicant obtained licensure in the other state or

90     jurisdiction; and
91          (c) document having been successfully engaged in practice as a dental hygienist for not
92     less than 2,000 hours in the two years immediately preceding the date of application for
93     licensure.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel