(a) An applicant who is applying for licensure as a dentist under this chapter shall submit evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board, that such person:
(1) Has received a degree in dentistry from an accredited dental college or university accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
(2) Before matriculating in a dental college or university, has completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study in an accredited college or university.
(3) Has acquired 1 year's experience as a dental intern within a general practice residency accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) or has completed a CODA approved specialty residency with those specific rotations identified in the Board's rules and regulations, or if applying by reciprocity has had 3 years of active dental practice in another state or territory of the United States.
(4) Has achieved the passing score on all examinations prescribed by the Board.
(b) An applicant who is applying for licensure as a dental hygienist under this chapter shall submit evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board, that such person has:
(1) Graduated from high school or has received a general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.).
(2) Graduated from a dental hygiene college or university program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association of at least 2 academic years' duration; or
(3) Graduated, prior to 1953, from a dental hygiene program of at least 1 year's duration, which program had been approved by the Board at the time of the person's graduation; and
(4) Achieved the passing score on all examinations prescribed by the Board.
(c) All applicants shall have complied with the following conditions:
(1) Shall submit proof of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board.
(2) Shall not have been the recipient of any administrative penalties regarding the applicant's practice of dentistry or dental hygiene, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspension or revocation (except for license revocations for nonpayment of license renewal fees), or probationary limitations, or have entered into any “consent agreements” which contain conditions placed by a Board on the applicant's professional conduct and practice, including any voluntary surrender of a license while under investigation the Board may determine, after a hearing or based on the documentation submitted, whether such administrative penalty is grounds to deny licensure.
(3) Shall not have any impairment related to drugs or alcohol that would limit the applicant's ability to undertake the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene in a manner consistent with the safety of the public.
(4) Shall not have a criminal conviction for a crime substantially related to the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene. After a hearing or review of documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets the specified criteria for a waiver, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may waive this paragraph (c)(4), if it finds all of the following:
a. For waiver of a felony conviction, more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the conviction. At the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
b. For waiver of a misdemeanor conviction or violation, at the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.
c. The applicant is capable of practicing dentistry or dental hygiene in a competent and professional manner.
d. The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
e. The applicant has not been convicted of a felony sexual offense.
(5) Shall not have engaged in any of the acts or offenses that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter, and shall not have been the recipient of any administrative penalties regarding that applicant's practice as a dentist or dental hygienist, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspensions or revocation, (except for license revocations for nonpayment of license renewal fees), probationary limitations, nor entered into any consent agreements which contain conditions placed by a Board on that applicant's professional conduct and practice, including any voluntary surrender of a license. The Board may determine after a hearing or review of documentation whether such administrative penalty is grounds to deny licensure.
(6) Submit, at the applicant's expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain the following:
a. A report of the applicant's entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.
b. A report of the applicant's entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. § 534). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records.
An applicant may not be certified to practice dentistry or dental hygiene until the applicant's criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction may not be certified by the Board unless a waiver is granted pursuant to paragraphs (c)(4)a., b. and c. of this section;
(7) Shall submit to the Board a sworn or affirmed statement that the applicant is, at the time of application, physically and mentally capable of engaging in the practice of medicine according to generally accepted standards, and submit to such examination as the Board may deem necessary to determine the applicant's capability.
(d) Where the Board has found to its satisfaction that an applicant has been intentionally fraudulent, or that false information has been intentionally supplied, the Board shall deny the application and report its findings to the Attorney General for further action.
(e) All individuals licensed to practice dentistry and dental hygiene in this State shall be required to be fingerprinted by the State Bureau of Identification, at the licensee's expense, for the purposes of performing subsequent criminal background checks. Licensees shall submit by January 1, 2016, at the applicant's expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain a criminal background check.