Ala. Admin. Code r. 270-X-2-.19

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 270-X-2-.19 - Licensure By Credentials

(1) Definitions: The following definitions shall apply to these rules:

(a) LICENSURE BY CREDENTIALS. Licensure by credentials is to be used to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and clinical skill of a dentist/dental hygienist when an applicant holds a dental/dental hygienist license in another state,

(b) BOARD. Board shall mean the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama.

(c) ACT. Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-9-1et seq.

(2) To be eligible for licensure by credentials in the State of Alabama, the applicant shall meet the provisions of Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-9-10 and this Rule, which are as follows:

(a) The dentist/dental hygienist must have been engaged in the active practice of clinical dentistry/clinical dental hygiene or in full time dental/dental hygiene education for the five (5) years or five thousand (5,000) hours immediately preceding their application.

(b) The applicant must hold a current, valid, unrevoked, and unexpired license in a state having examination standards regarded by the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama as an equivalent to the Alabama standards. For purposes of this requirement, these exam standards shall include passing the National Board Dental Examination Parts one (1) and two (2), or the Integrated National Board Dental Examination, administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.

(c) The Board of Examiners in the state of current practice shall verify or endorse that the applicant's license is in good standing without any restrictions.

(d) The dentist/dental hygienist must not be the subject of a pending disciplinary action in any state in which the individual has been licensed which shall be verified through inquiry to the National Practitioner Data Bank, the health Integrity Protection Data Bank, the American Association of Dental Boards Clearing House for Disciplinary Information, or any other pertinent Bank currently existing or which may exist in the future.

(e) The applicant shall provide a written statement agreeing to be interviewed at the request of the Board.

(f) The applicant must successfully pass a written jurisprudence examination.

(g) There shall be certification from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and from the State board of any state in which the applicant is or has been licensed that the DEA registration is not the subject of any pending disciplinary action or enforcement of any kind, or that any state controlled substances permit has not been revoked, suspended, modified restricted or limited in any way.

(h) The applicant must submit affidavits from two (2) licensed dentists/dental hygienists practicing in the same geographical area where the applicant currently is practicing or teaching attesting to the applicant's moral character, standing, and ability.

(i) The applicant must provide the Board with and official transcript with school seal from the school of dentistry/dental hygiene which issued the applicant's professional degree or execute a request and authorization allowing the board to obtain the transcript.

(j) The applicant must be a graduate of a dental/dental hygiene school, college or educational program approved by the board.

(k) The applicant must not be the subject of any pending or final action from any hospital revoking, suspending, limiting, modifying, or interfering with any clinical or staff privileges.

(l) The applicant must not have been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or of any law dealing with the administering or dispensing of legend drugs, including controlled substances.

(m) The Board may consider or require other criteria including, but not limited to, any of the following:

1. Questioning.

2. Results of peer review reports from constituent dental societies or federal dental services.

3. Substance abuse testing or treatment.

4. Background checks for criminal or fraudulent activities.

5. Participation in continuing education.

6. A current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

7. Recent case reports or oral defense of diagnosis and treatment plans.

8. Proof of no physical or psychological impairment that would adversely affect the ability to practice dentistry/dental hygiene with reasonable skill and safety.

9. Proof of professional liability coverage and that coverage has not been refused, declined, cancelled, non-renewed, or modified.

10. Whether the applicant has been subject to any final disciplinary action in any state in which the individual has been licensed which shall be verified by a query in the National Practitioner Data Bank, the Health Integrity Protection Databank, the American Association of Dental Examiners Clearing House for Disciplinary Information, any state where the applicant has been licensed, or any other pertinent bank currently existing or which may exist in the future.

11. Whether the applicant's DEA registration or any state controlled substances permit has ever been revoked, suspended, modified, restricted, or limited in any way. Provided, however, that any discipline that results only from a failure to timely renew a registration or permit shall not prevent an applicant from being eligible for this method of licensure.

12. Denial of any professional license or denial of the opportunity to take a dental/dental hygiene exam.

(n) If all criteria and requirements are satisfied and the Board determines, after notice and hearing, that the individual committed fraud or in any way falsified any information in the application process, the Board may impose disciplinary sanctions allowed by the provisions of the Act.

(3) In addition to the requirements for applicants seeking licensure by credentials, an applicant desiring to practice a specialty only, must meet the following requirements:

(a) The specialty must be one in a branch of dentistry approved by the American Dental Association.

(b) The applicant shall meet the existing educational requirements, and standards set forth by the American Dental Association for that approved specialty.

(c) An applicant who chooses to announce or practice a specialty must limit his/her practice exclusively to the announced special area or areas of dental practice.

(4) An applicant shall submit to the board with the application, a non-refundable fee to be determined by the Board.

If an applicant is granted a license, this fee includes the licensing fee for the remaining portion of the first licensing year.

(5) Regardless of the applicant's compliance with the foregoing requirements, the Board may refuse to issue a license by credentials based on any conduct which would be a ground for discipline pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-9-19.

(6) An applicant granted a license by credentialing will be subject to the Act and all Board rules.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 270-X-2-.19

New Rule: Filed February 18, 2003; effective March 25, 2003. Amended: Filed March 15, 2006; effective April 19, 2006. Amended: Filed July 29, 2008; effective September 2, 2008. Amended: Filed December 18, 2009; effective January 22, 2010. Amended: Filed September 20, 2010; effective October 25, 2010. Amended: Filed February 22, 2012; effective March 28, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 02, November 29, 2019, eff. 1/13/2020.

Author: James S. Ward

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, 34-9-10, 34-9-43.