SLS 22RS-518 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 324
BY SENATOR CARTER
DENTISTRY. Provides relative to qualifications for licensure by the Louisiana State Board
of Dentistry. (8/1/22)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:761(A)(4) and (C) and 764(A)(2) and (5) and (D) and to
3 repeal R.S. 37:761(D) and 764(E), relative to qualifications for licensure by the
4 Louisiana State Board of Dentistry; to provide for licensing examinations for
5 dentists; to provide for citizenship requirements for dental hygienists; to provide for
6 licensing examinations for dental hygienists; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:761(A)(4) and (C) and 764(A)(2) and (5) and (D) are hereby
9 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §761. Requirements of applicants for dental license
11 A. The board shall require that every applicant for a dental license shall:
12 * * *
13 (4) Present satisfactory evidence of having taken and passed an examination
14 in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint
15 Commission on National Dental Examinations. before being accepted for the regular
16 examination given by the board, or pass an examination given by the board in the
17 theory and practice of the science of dentistry in addition to the regular examination
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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SLS 22RS-518 ORIGINAL
1 given by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Upon receipt of information that the
2 applicant has passed the examination in the theory and practice of the science of the
3 profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he may
4 be awarded a dental license, but only when all other requirements for licensure have
5 been met. If the applicant fails the examination given by the Joint Commission on
6 National Dental Examinations, he must successfully retake the Louisiana clinical
7 licensing examination after providing satisfactory evidence of subsequently passing
8 the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
9 * * *
10 C. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or
11 independent third-party clinical dental licensing examination approved by the board
12 that shall include procedures performed on human subjects as part of the assessment
13 of restorative clinical competencies and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for
14 a dental license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in
15 jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by
16 applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful
17 completion of such clinical licensing examination.
18 * * *
19 §764. Dental hygienist; application for license
20 A. Every applicant to be licensed as a dental hygienist shall:
21 * * *
22 (2) Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States unless otherwise
23 prohibited by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Be a citizen or possess
24 valid and current legal authority to reside and work in the United States duly
25 issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or its
26 successor.
27 * * *
28 (5) Present satisfactory evidence of having taken and passed an examination
29 in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 324
SLS 22RS-518 ORIGINAL
1 Commission on National Dental Examinations. before being accepted for the regular
2 examination given by the board or pass an examination given by the board in the
3 theory and practice of the science of dental hygiene in addition to the regular
4 examination given by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Upon receipt of
5 information that the applicant has passed the examination in the theory and practice
6 of the science of the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental
7 Examinations, he may be awarded a dental hygiene license, but only when all other
8 requirements for licensure have been met. If the applicant fails the examination given
9 by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he must successfully
10 retake the Louisiana clinical licensing examination after providing satisfactory
11 evidence of subsequently passing the examination given by the Joint Commission
12 on National Dental Examinations.
13 * * *
14 D. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or
15 independent third-party clinical dental hygiene licensing examination approved by
16 the board that shall include procedures performed on human subjects as part of the
17 assessment of clinical competencies and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for
18 a dental hygiene license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in
19 jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by
20 applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful
21 completion of such clinical licensing examination.
22 Section 2. R.S. 37:761(D) and 764(E) are hereby repealed.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 324 Original 2022 Regular Session Carter
Present law provides for licensure of dentists and dental hygienists by the La. State Board
of Dentistry (LSBD).
Present law provides that applicants for licensure as a dentist or dental hygienist shall
present satisfactory evidence of having taken an examination in the theory and practice of
the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations before being
accepted for the regular examination given by the LSBD, or pass an examination given by
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 324
SLS 22RS-518 ORIGINAL
the LSBD in the theory and practice of the science of profession in addition to the regular
examination given by the LSBD. Proposed law removes the requirement for the applicant
to be examined by the LSBD and provides for the applicant to present satisfactory evidence
of having taken and passed an examination in the theory and practice of the profession given
by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
Present law provides for the licensure of an applicant who has successfully completed any
national, regional, or independent third-party clinical dental or dental hygienist licensing
examination approved by the LSBD that includes procedures performed on human subjects
as part of the assessment of restorative clinical competencies and who satisfies all other
requirements. Proposed law removes the requirement for the examination to include
procedures performed on human subjects.
Present law requires an applicant for licensure as a dental hygienist to be a citizen or a
permanent resident of the United States unless otherwise prohibited by the North American
Free Trade Agreement. Proposed law updates the requirement to be consistent with present
law requirements for applicants for licensure as a dentist by requiring the dental hygienist
be a citizen or possess valid and current legal authority to reside and work in the United
States duly issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or its
successor.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 37:761(A)(4) and (C) and 764(A)(2) and (5) and (D); repeals R.S. 37:761(D)
and 764(E))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.