THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2448
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to dental licensure.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the current law requiring passage of the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination for licensure as a dentist in the State was originally enacted to allow Hawaii to participate in a standardized national examination process. The first ADEX dental examination was administered in Hawaii in December 2005. However, since that time, limiting the approved examination to only the ADEX examination has created many difficulties for dentists seeking to obtain licensure in Hawaii. For example, experienced, qualified, and competent dentists who have been practicing licensed dentistry in other states prior to 2005 and who desire to relocate and practice dentistry in Hawaii have been unable to do so because they did not take and pass the ADEX examination.

Permitting successful passage of other nationally recognized clinical dental examinations recommended by the American Dental Association or meeting certain professional qualifications as part of the licensure process will allow more dentists, whose professional competency has been clearly demonstrated in other states, to practice within the State, thereby increasing access to dental services for Hawaii residents.

The purpose of this Act is to increase access to high-quality dental care in the State by allowing the board of dental examiners to accept other nationally recognized clinical dental examinations recommended by the American Dental Association or certain professional qualifications to meet licensure requirements.

SECTION 2. Section 448-9.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§448-9.4 [American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination; regional examinations.] Dental licensure examination; other licensing qualifications. An applicant shall [take]:

(1) Take and pass the ADEX examination[, and neither the state examination nor any regional examination shall be accepted.] or any other nationally recognized clinical dental examination recommended by the American Dental Association; or

(2) Be a practicing dentist who:

(A) Graduated from an accredited school of dentistry;

(B) Holds a license to practice dentistry in another state whose licensing requirements include passage of the ADEX examination, its predecessor examination, or another nationally recognized, substantially equivalent examination recommended by the American Dental Association;

(C) Is in good standing in the state of licensure; and

(D) Has a least five years of experience in the practice of dentistry."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Dental Licensure; Examination; Nationally Recognized Examination; Qualifications

Description:

Expands the required qualifications that applicants may fulfill as part of the requirements for dental licensure to include passage of any other nationally recognized clinical dental examination recommended by the American Dental Association and dental licensure in another state; provided that the applicant meets specific qualifications.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.