216-40-05 R.I. Code R. § 2.7

Current through June 20, 2024

Section 216-RICR-40-05-2.7 - Dental Hygienists Licensing Requirements

2.7.1License Requirements

A. No person shall perform any act which constitutes the practice of dental hygiene or public health dental hygiene in Rhode Island unless such person is duly licensed in accordance with the Act and this Part as a dentist, dental hygienist, or a public health dental hygienist.

1. Furthermore, dental hygienists, dental assistants and DANB-certified assistants, DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistants or dental assistants, shall perform only those auxiliary dental services, procedures/duties, and under the specified type of supervision, as set forth in § 2.10.2 of this Part. Exempt from these requirements, are those persons listed in R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-37.

2.7.2Qualifications for Licensure for Dental Hygienists

A. An applicant seeking licensure to practice dental hygiene in Rhode Island shall:

1. Be of good moral character;

2. Be eighteen (18) years of age or over;

3. Have graduated from a program for dental hygienists accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its designated agency and approved by the Board;

4. Have passed to the satisfaction of the Board the required examinations in accordance with § 2.5 of this Part or met the requirements for endorsement stipulated in § 2.5(A)(1)(c) ((3)) of this Part; and

5. Be in good standing in each state in which he/she holds a license.

2.7.3Application for Licensure and Fee

A. Application for licensure must be made on forms provided by the Board which shall be completed and submitted to the Board thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date of the Board meeting. Such application shall be accompanied by the following documents (non-returnable):

1. A copy of the applicant's state driver's license, a state-issued identification card or other such identification papers acceptable to the Director that include birthdate and a picture.

2. Supporting official transcript of education credentials signed by the dean or registrar of the program of dental hygiene;

3. National board results in accordance with § 2.5(A)(1)(a) of this Part, (submitted either with the application or submitted by the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination to the Board);

4. The results of the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination (formerly Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., examination (NERB)) or other dental examination organizations (as required in § 2.5(A) of this Part) submitted directly by the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment (CDCA) (formerly the Board of Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Inc.) or by the board of the other dental examination organizations;

5. Verification that the licensee is in good standing in state(s) where licensed [if licensed in another state(s)]; and

6. The application fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title) in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6.

2.7.4Examination for Licensure as a Dental Hygienist

A. By Examination: Applicants shall be required to pass such examination(s) as the Board deems most practical and expeditious to test the applicant's knowledge and skills to practice dental hygiene in Rhode Island pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6, and:

B. The Board requires each applicant to:

1. Have graduated from an accredited program for dental hygienists in accordance with § 2.4.6(A)(3) of this Part; and

2. Have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination; and

3. Have passed ADEX examination given by the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment (CDCA) on Dental Hygiene (formerly the Northeast Regional Board Examination in Dental Hygiene (NERB)) including the computer simulation Northeast Regional Board Examination in Dental Hygiene within five (5) years prior to from the date of application for licensure in Rhode Island; or

4. Have passed an examination, approved by the Board, other than a regional board that is similar to the examination for which the applicant is seeking waiver, with an earned score of seventy-five percent (75%) using the internal weighting and scoring methods that the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment (CDCA, formerly NERB) uses to score the ADEX Examination in Dental Hygiene, and

5. Have passed a simulated patient clinical exercise (CDCA Computer Simulated Clinical Examination {CSCE} written) with an earned score of seventy-five percent (75%); or

6. Hold a current license in good standing to practice dental hygiene in another state for five (5) years that required the successful completion of a clinical board examination in order to be eligible for licensure;

C. Applicants shall submit to the Board, the application accompanied with the appropriate documentation as set forth in § 2.7.3 of this Part.

D. Sites and schedules of examinations may be obtained directly from the examination service(s) referred to above.

2.7.5Continuing Education--Dental Hygienists

A. Continuing education for dental hygienists requires those professionals to maintain a systematic course of continual learning as a condition to maintain their professional license. In addition, continuing education is an effective way for dental professionals to obtain knowledge of current and evolving tools, techniques, technology, innovative medications and in-depth information on emerging topics that will enhance their professional skills and abilities. Pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-7, all dental hygienists licensed to practice in Rhode Island under the provisions of the Act and this Part, shall, on or before the first (1st) day of May of each even- numbered year maintain evidence that in the preceding two (2) years he or she has satisfactorily completed at least twenty (20) hours of continuing education courses relevant to the practice of dental hygiene, according to the criteria in § 2.16 of this Part and approved by the Board. Continuing education requirements cited in this Part shall be prorated for a licensee whose license is in effect for a period of less than two (2) years (i.e., an average of ten (10) hours of continuing education shall be required each year the license is in effect).

B. All dental hygienists practicing in a dental setting shall receive a minimum of one (1) hour per year of training on the CDC Infection Control Guidelines.

C. All dental hygienists practicing in a dental setting shall hold a current certificate of completion in Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Healthcare Provider that includes a hands-on skill component and conforms to the current American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) offered by any accredited agency approved by the Board.

D. If the applicant attests to completion of prescribed course(s) of continuing education and is in compliance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6, the Board shall issue the applicant a license registration for a two (2) year period in accordance with the requirements of this Part.

E. It shall be the sole responsibility of the individual dental hygienist to obtain documentation from the approved sponsoring or co-sponsoring organization, agency or other, of his or her participation in the learning experience, including the date and number of hours earned.

1. These documents shall be safeguarded by the dental hygienist for a minimum of five (5) years for random audit by the Board, if requested. At the time of license renewal, each licensee shall be required to attest that he/she has complied with the continuing education requirements stated in this Part. Failure to produce satisfactory documentation of completion of continuing education requirements upon request by the Board may constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

F. Licensure renewal shall be denied to any applicant who fails to attest to completion of continuing education courses relevant to the practice of dental hygiene as required by this Part.

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 2.6(G) of this Part, no license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in Rhode Island shall be refused, nor shall any license be suspended or revoked, except as:

a. provided for in the Act; and

b. failure to attest to completion of continuing education as provided by this Part.

G. The Board may, however, extend for only one (1) six (6) month period such educational requirements, if the Board is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship which prevented the applicant from meeting the requirements of this Part.

2.7.6Issuance and Renewal of License - Dental Hygienists

A. A license shall be issued by the Board to an applicant found to have satisfactorily met all the requirements of this Part. Said license unless sooner suspended or revoked shall expire biennially on the 30th of June of each even-numbered year.

B. Every person so licensed who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the Board by the 1st of May in each even-numbered year, a renewal application duly executed together with attestation to completion of continuing education requirements and the renewal fee as determined biennially by the Director of Health in consultation with the Board, and as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title). Upon receipt of such application and payment of said fee, a license renewal shall be granted effective for the biennial licensure period unless sooner suspended or revoked.

1. For those licensees who shall have attained the age of not less than seventy (70) years ("emeritus active") as of June 30th of the year of licensure, the renewal fee (non- refundable) shall be as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title).

C. Pursuant to the provisions of section R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-21 of the Act, the registration certificate of all dental hygienists whose renewals accompanied by the prescribed fee are not filed on or before the first day of July of each even numbered year, shall be automatically revoked. The Board may in its discretion and upon the payment by the dental hygienist of the current licensure (registration) fee plus an additional fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title), reinstate any license (certificate) revoked under the provisions of the Act and this Part.

2.7.7Inactive Status

A. Dental hygienists not intending to practice in this state may request on a biennial basis to be placed on inactive status. Such requests shall be made in writing to the dental administrator and shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title).

B. Persons on inactive status may be reinstated by paying the current annual registration fee and shall meet such requirements established by the Act and as prescribed in this Part, including attesting to completion of the required continuing dental education courses relevant to the practice of dental hygiene as specified in § 2.8.2 of this Part.

2.7.8Continuing Education and Training of Dental Assistants

All dental assistants practicing in a dental setting shall hold a current certificate of completion. Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Healthcare Provider that includes a hands-on skill component and conforms to the current American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) offered by any accredited agency approved by the Board. Additionally, all dental assistants practicing in a dental setting shall receive a minimum of one (1) hour per year of training on the CDC Infection Control Guidelines.

216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-40-05-2.7

Amended effective 4/4/2019