2022 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO. 324 BY SENATOR CARTER 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 18 given by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Upon receipt of information that the 19 applicant has passed the examination in the theory and practice of the science of the 20 profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he may 21 be awarded a dental license, but only when all other requirements for licensure have 22 been met. If the applicant fails the examination given by the Joint Commission on 23 National Dental Examinations, he must successfully retake the Louisiana clinical 24 licensing examination after providing satisfactory evidence of subsequently passing 25 the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. ACT No. 312 Page 1 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 324 ENROLLED 1 * * * 2 C. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or 3 independent third-party clinical dental licensing examination approved by the board 4 that shall include procedures performed on human subjects as part of the assessment 5 of restorative clinical competencies and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for 6 a dental license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in 7 jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by 8 applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful 9 completion of such clinical licensing examination. 10 * * * 11 §764. Dental hygienist; application for license 12 A. Every applicant to be licensed as a dental hygienist shall: 13 * * * 14 (2) Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States unless otherwise 15 prohibited by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Be a citizen or possess 16 valid and current legal authority to reside and work in the United States duly 17 issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or its 18 successor. 19 * * * 20 (5) Present satisfactory evidence of having taken and passed an examination 21 in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint 22 Commission on National Dental Examinations. before being accepted for the regular 23 examination given by the board or pass an examination given by the board in the 24 theory and practice of the science of dental hygiene in addition to the regular 25 examination given by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Upon receipt of 26 information that the applicant has passed the examination in the theory and practice 27 of the science of the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental 28 Examinations, he may be awarded a dental hygiene license, but only when all other 29 requirements for licensure have been met. If the applicant fails the examination given 30 by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he must successfully Page 2 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 324 ENROLLED 1 retake the Louisiana clinical licensing examination after providing satisfactory 2 evidence of subsequently passing the examination given by the Joint Commission 3 on National Dental Examinations. 4 * * * 5 D. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or 6 independent third-party clinical dental hygiene licensing examination approved by 7 the board that shall include procedures performed on human subjects as part of the 8 assessment of clinical competencies and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for 9 a dental hygiene license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in 10 jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by 11 applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful 12 completion of such clinical licensing examination. 13 Section 2. R.S. 37:761(D) and 764(E) are hereby repealed. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED: Page 3 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions.