2019 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 59. Professions and Occupations
§59-328.21. Application for license – Qualifications - Examination.

A. No person shall practice dentistry or dental hygiene without first applying for and obtaining a license from the Board of Dentistry.

B. Application shall be made to the Board in writing and shall be accompanied by the fee established by the rules of the Board, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant:

1. Is of good moral character;

2. Is twenty-one (21) years of age, or over, at the time of making application to practice dentistry or eighteen (18) years of age, or over, if the applicant is to practice dental hygiene;

3. Has passed a written theoretical examination and a clinical examination approved by the Board; and

4. Has passed a written jurisprudence examination over the rules and laws affecting dentistry in this state.

C. An application from a candidate who desires to secure a license from the Board to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in this state shall be accompanied by satisfactory proof that the applicant:

1. Is a graduate of an accredited dental college, if the applicant is to practice dentistry;

2. Is a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program, if the applicant is to practice dental hygiene; and

3. Has passed all portions of the National Board Dental Examination or the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

D. Pursuant to Section 328.15 of this title, the Board may affiliate as a member state, and accept regional exams including, but not limited to, the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB), Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) or another regional exam that includes the following requirements:

a.for dental licensing the following components:

(1)a fixed prosthetic component of the preparation of an anterior all porcelain crown and the preparation of a three-unit posterior bridge,

(2)a periodontal component on a live patient,

(3)an endodontic component,

(4)an anterior class III and posterior class II restorative component on a live patient,

(5)a diagnosis and treatment planning section as approved by the Board, as specified in Section 328.15 of this title, and

(6)the Board may determine equivalencies based on components of other exams for the purpose of credentialing, or

b.for dental hygienists licensing the following components:

(1)clinical patient treatments with an evaluation of specific clinical skills as well as the candidate's compliance with professional standards during the treatment as approved by the Board in Section 325.15 of this title and shall include:

(a)extra/intra oral assessment,

(b)periodontal probing, and

(c)scaling/subgingival calculus removal and supragingival deposit removal.

E. When the applicant and the accompanying proof are found satisfactory, the Board shall notify the applicant to appear for the jurisprudence examination at the time and place to be fixed by the Board. A dental student or a dental hygiene student in their last semester of a dental or dental hygiene program, having met all other requirements, may make application and take the jurisprudence examination with a letter from the dean of the dental school or director of the hygiene program stating that the applicant is a candidate for graduation within the next six (6) months.

F. The Board shall require every applicant for a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene to submit, for the files of the Board, a copy of a dental degree or dental hygiene degree, an official transcript, a recent photograph duly identified and attested, and any other information as required by the Board.

G. Any applicant who fails to pass the jurisprudence examination may apply for a second examination, in which case the applicant shall pay a reexamination fee as established by the statutes or rules of the State Dental Act.

H. Any applicant who fails to pass the clinical examination as described in paragraph 4 of subsection C of this section may be given credit for such subjects as the Board may allow, but such credits shall be extended only to the succeeding examinations. If the applicant fails to pass a second examination, before further re-examination, the Board may require evidence of additional education, as specified by the Board. After a third examination, the Board may deny the applicant another examination.

I. A dentist or dental hygienist currently licensed in another state having met the qualifications in paragraphs 1 through 3 of subsections B and C of this section may apply for a license by credentials upon meeting the following:

1. A dentist holding a general dentist license in good standing and having practiced for at least five hundred (500) hours within the previous five (5) years immediately prior to application and having passed a regional examination substantially equivalent to the requirements for this state may apply for licensure by credentials;

2. A dental hygienist holding a dental hygiene license in good standing and having practiced for at least four hundred twenty (420) hours within the previous five (5) years immediately prior to application and having passed a regional examination substantially equivalent to the requirements for Oklahoma may apply for licensure by credentials. Applicants for credentialing must include:

a.a letter of good standing from all states ever licensed, and

b.any other requirements as set forth by the rules;

3. An applicant applying for a dental or dental hygiene license by credentials shall only be required to pass the jurisprudence portion of the examination requirements as set forth in paragraph 4 of subsection C of this section; or

4. A dental hygienist applying for credentialing for advanced procedures by providing proof of passage of the advanced procedure in a WREB or CRDTS exam.

J. There shall be two types of advanced procedure available for dental hygienists upon completion of a CODA approved program or course that has been approved by the Board:

1. Administration of nitrous oxide; and

2. Administration of local anesthesia.

K. All licensees and permit holders shall display their current permit or license in a visible place within the dental office or treatment facility.

Added by Laws 1970, c. 173, § 21, eff. July 1, 1970. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 216, § 2; Laws 1999, c. 280, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 172, § 5, emerg. eff. May 5, 2003; Laws 2013, c. 405, § 5, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2015, c. 229, § 7, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2019, c. 397, § 3.