| (a) Any person desiring to practice dental hygiene in the State of Texas must possess a license issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) as required by law. (b) Any applicant for licensure under this chapter must meet the requirements of this section. (c) To be eligible for licensure, an applicant must present on or accompanying a form approved by the SBDE proof satisfactory to the SBDE that the applicant: (1) Is at least 18 years of age; (2) Has graduated from an accredited high school or holds a certificate of high school equivalency, General Equivalency Diploma (GED); (3) Has graduated from a recognized dental school or college of dentistry accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and approved by the SBDE with a degree in dentistry or a degree or certificate in dental hygiene, or has graduated from a recognized school or college of dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and approved by the Board with a degree in dental hygiene; (4) Has taken and passed the examination for dental hygienists in its entirety given by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; (5) Has successfully completed a current course in basic life support; (6) Has taken and passed the jurisprudence examination administered by the SBDE or an entity designated by the SBDE within one year immediately prior to application; and, (7) Has paid all application, examination and licensing fees required by law and SBDE rules and regulations. (d) Applications for licensure must be delivered to the office of the State Board of Dental Examiners. (e) An application for licensure is filed with the SBDE when it is actually received, date-stamped, and logged-in by the SBDE along with all required documentation and fees. An incomplete application for licensure and fee will be returned to applicant within three working days with an explanation of additional documentation or information needed. (f) In the event an applicant is uncertain whether he/she is qualified according to rule and law for licensure as a dental hygienist, prior to taking the clinical examination a written request may be submitted by the applicant with all proof required other than clinical examination scores. The SBDE will review the information and advise the applicant whether he or she is qualified for licensure pending successful completion of the clinical examination. The qualifying clinical examination must be taken within one year of the date of being so advised by the SBDE. |
| Source Note: The provisions of this §103.1 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective March 9, 1984, 9 TexReg 1217; amended to be effective February 20, 1992, 17 TexReg 1090; amended to be effective December 24, 1992, 17 TexReg 8730; amended to be effective December 14, 1993, 18 TexReg 8901; amended to be effective December 3, 1997, 22 TexReg 11674; amended to be effective September 21, 2004, 29 TexReg 9003; amended to be effective February 20, 2005, 30 TexReg 716 |
