Licensure Requirements for Dental Hygiene Applicants from Unaccredited Dental Schools or Colleges

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Dentistry

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
64B5-2.0144: Licensure Requirements for Dental Hygiene Applicants from Unaccredited Dental Schools or Colleges

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 31 No. 9, March 4, 2005 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

The change is in response to concerns stated in letters from the Joint Administrative Procedure Committee dated March 31, 2005, April 8, 2005, May 19, 2005, June 5, 2005, March 8, 2006, and May 19, 2006. The change is as follows:

The rule shall read as:

64B5-2.0144 Licensure Requirements for Dental Hygiene Applicants from Unaccredited Dental Schools or Colleges.

Applicants for licensure as dental hygienists who have graduated from an unaccredited dental school or college shall submit the following:

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) A certified photocopy of the dental school diploma and a certified translation if the diploma is in a language other than English, which diploma shall be comparable to a D.D.S. or a D.M.D.;

(4) A grade report or a Final final official transcripts received directly from the schools where post-secondary dental predental education was received and from the dental school which reflects the applicant’s matriculation and graduation dates and degree earned; the transcript shall be authenticated by the official school stamp or seal as well as the signature of an authorized school official and shall be accompanied with a certified translation if the documents are in a language other than English;

(5) Proof which establishes successful completion of 4 5 academic years of post-secondary dental education., which shall include 4 academic years of dental education. Proof of the 4 5 years of required education shall include a report from an Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) approved evaluating service which evaluation includes a year by year evaluation of the applicant’s credentials. Said report shall not be conclusive, but shall only be advisory to the Board;

(6) Any graduate of a foreign dental college or school not accredited or approved in accordance with Section 466.007(2)(b), F.S., and not accredited in accordance with 466.006(2)(b), F.S., who seeks licensure as a dental hygienist pursuant to Section 466.007(2)(b)2., F.S., but is unable to supply proper educational credentials due to the political or other conditions of the country in which the education was received, shall submit any and all documents which would tend to support the applicant’s claim of proper credentials and shall submit with the application:

(a) A written statement which shall include:

1. A complete chronological account of all schools attended during the candidate’s entire education, including dates of attendance and graduation, the addresses of all schools attended:

2. The date that the applicant received any license to practice dentistry, including the name and address of the issuing authority and any license number assigned;

3. A description of all dental school courses which the applicant successfully completed;

(b) At least five (5) written statements concerning the applicant’s dental education from persons who are directly acquainted with the candidate’s educational credentials. If the applicant relies on these written statements to establish qualifications for licensure, then at least three (3) of the written statements must be from dentists who are not related to the applicant;

(c) Any applicant who provides false information to the Florida Board of Dentistry on his or her licensure application and/or written statements as required by this rule will be referred for criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 456.067, Florida Statutes.

(d) Unless the Board is otherwise satisfied that the credentials required by subsections (3) through (5) above cannot be obtained, the Board will not accept such other evidence as described in this Section until the applicant has demonstrated to the Board that he or she has made a reasonable attempt to obtain the credentials.

(7) Proof received directly from the American Dental Association, that the National Board of Dental Examiners Written Examination has been successfully completed within 10 years prior to application; or that the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination has been successfully completed within 10 years prior to application. Applicants who successfully completed the dental examination more than 10 years prior to application shall submit proof of having successfully completed Part II of the examination within 10 years prior to application and in no more than three attempts to successfully complete it, prior to application;

(8) If the applicants name has changed since initiation of dental education, a certified copy of the legal document changing the name or an affidavit sworn before a notary public or other person authorized to administer oaths that the person named in credentials submitted and the applicant are the same person;

(9) Two 2 inch by 2 inch photographs of the applicant which are suitable for identification; and

(10) Proof of having completed an HIV course that meets the requirements of Rule 64B5-12.019, F.A.C.; proof of having completed a medical errors course that meets the requirements of subsection 64B5-12.019(11), F.A.C.; and proof of having completed a domestic violence course that meets the requirements of subsection 64B5-12.019(8), F.A.C.;

(11) Applicants applying for licensure under Section 466.007(2)(b)2., F.S., whose applications do not indicate they have obtained Dental Hygiene clinical education to the level of the clinical experience required by an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited Dental Hygiene program in the areas set forth in paragraph (11)(a) below, shall be required to obtain remedial coursework in those designated areas that would meet the ADA clinical requirements at an ADA accredited dental hygiene school. Such additional coursework shall be obtained from a program accredited by the ADA, only after the applicant satisfies and the Board approves the education and testing requirements of subsections (3) through (10) above. Such additional coursework must be obtained by the applicant and approved by the Board prior to the applicant being allowed to sit for the Florida Dental Hygiene examination.

(a) The accredited clinical coursework above shall be in the following areas:

1. Radiology: 15 hours didactic and 10 hours lab/clinical;

2. Prophylaxis performance: 25 hours didactic and 100 hours clinical;

3. Infection control: 10 hours didactic and 10 hours clinical;

4. Periodontal therapy: 20 hours didactic and 30 hours clinical;

5. Pharmacology: 15 hours didactic and 10 hours clinical;

6. Biomedical sciences: 10 hours didactic;

7. Clinical history management: 10 hours didactic;

8. Special patient care: 5 hours didactic and 10 hours clinical; and

9. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the basic support level, including one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants; the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED); and the use of ambu-bags. All such training shall be sufficient for and shall result in current certification or re-certification by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or an entity with equivalent requirements;

(b) The additional coursework required by this sub-section must be obtained and approved by the Board prior to the applicant being allowed to sit for the Florida Dental Hygiene examination.

Specific Authority 466.004, 466.007, 456.067 FS. Law Implemented 466.007 FS. History–New 1-18-95, Formerly 59Q-2.0144, Amended 8-19-97, 8-20-97, 5-20-01, ________.