Maryland Health Occupations Section 4-303.1

      (a)      Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board may waive the education requirements of § 4-302 of this subtitle for an applicant for a limited license to practice dentistry who does not hold a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental Medicine, or the equivalent from a college or university that is authorized by any state or any province of Canada to grant the degree and is recognized by the Board under § 4-302(d)(2) of this subtitle.

      (b)      The Board may grant a waiver under this section only if:

            (1)      The applicant:

                  (i)      Holds a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental Medicine, or an equivalent degree from a school, college, or faculty of dentistry other than one located in the United States or Canada;

                  (ii)      Has successfully completed at least a 2-year pediatric dentistry residency program at a dental school or a hospital authorized by any state and which is recognized by the Board;

                  (iii)      Either is a pediatric dental fellow, or has successfully completed a pediatric dental fellowship, at the University of Maryland Dental School;

                  (iv)      Is contractually obligated to provide pediatric dental services for at least 2 years:

                        1.      In a public health dental clinic operated by the State or a county or municipality of the State; or

                        2.      In a federally qualified health center or Maryland qualified health center only to Medicaid, uninsured, or indigent patients or patients who otherwise qualify for dental care in a public health dental clinic;

                  (v)      Limits practice to the public health dental clinic, federally qualified health center, or Maryland qualified health center for which the applicant has contractually agreed to provide pediatric dental services;

                  (vi)      Is found to be of good moral character and professionally competent; and

                  (vii)      Meets any other requirements that the Board may reasonably require; and

            (2)      The health officer of the public health program for which the applicant has contractually agreed to provide at least 2 years of pediatric dental services and the Dean of the University of Maryland Dental School request the waiver from the Board and state that circumstances exist to justify granting the waiver.

      (c)      A limited license to practice dentistry issued to an applicant for a waiver under this section shall expire and be surrendered immediately to the Board if:

            (1)      The licensee's contract with the public health dental clinic, federally qualified health center, or Maryland qualified health center expires; or

            (2)      The licensee fails, for any reason, to fully satisfy the licensee's obligations under subsection (b)(1)(iv) and (v) of this section.

      (d)      The Board may issue a general license to a limited licensee who was granted a waiver under this section if the limited licensee:

            (1)      Successfully completes at least a 2-year contractual obligation to provide pediatric dental care in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(iv) of this section;

            (2)      Submits an application for a general license to practice dentistry on a form provided by the Board;

            (3)      Passes the written and clinical examinations of the North East Regional Board;

            (4)      Passes the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence Examination;

            (5)      Passes the National Board Examinations;

            (6)      Demonstrates oral English competency by scoring 220 or better for overall comprehension and 2.0 or better for pronunciation, grammar, and fluency on the test of spoken English administered by the Educational Testing Service; and

            (7)      Is found to be of good moral character.