The State Board of Dental Examiners (Board) adopts this amendment to 22 TAC §101.3, concerning dental licensure by credentials. The amendment updates the language to clarify that clinical examinations must use live patients or hands-on simulations. This rule is adopted with no changes to the proposed text published in the September 30, 2022 issue of the Texas Register (47 TexReg 6379), and will not be republished.

The Texas Dental Association (TDA) provided a written comment in support of adoption of the rule as proposed. TDA states the rule is consistent with TDA policy supporting clinical dental licensure examination formats that are manikin-based, computer-based, or live-patient based. All examination formats must be psychometrically valid and reliable measurements of a dentist licensure applicant's clinical skills in general dentistry. No changes to the proposed rule were made as a result of the comment.

This rule is adopted under Texas Occupations Code §254.001(a), which gives the Board authority to adopt rules necessary to perform its duties and ensure compliance with state laws relating to the practice of dentistry to protect the public health and safety.