WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 902
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Chapter 902
(Senate Bill 799)
AN ACT concerning
Health Occupations – Limited License to Practice Dentistry – Services for
Adults
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Board of Dental Examiners to waive certain
education requirements for certain applicants for a limited license to practice
dentistry who provide dental services for adults; and generally relating to a limited
license to practice dentistry.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Health Occupations
Section 4–303.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Health Occupations
Section 4–308(b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health Occupations
4–303.1.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Board may waive the education
requirements of § 4–302 of this subtitle for an applicant for a limited license to practice
dentistry who does not hold a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental
Medicine, or the equivalent from a college or university that is authorized by any state or
any province of Canada to grant the degree and is recognized by the Board under §
4–302(d)(2) of this subtitle.
(b) The Board may grant a waiver under this section only if:
(1) The applicant:
(i) Holds a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental
Medicine, or an equivalent degree from a school, college, or faculty of dentistry other than
one located in the United States or Canada; Ch. 902 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(ii) Has successfully completed at least a 2–year [pediatric]
dentistry residency program at a dental school or a hospital authorized by any state and
which is recognized by the Board;
(iii) Either is a [pediatric] dental fellow, or has successfully
completed a [pediatric] dental fellowship, at the University of Maryland Dental School OF
DENTISTRY OR ANOTHER DENTAL SCHOOL RECOGN IZED BY THE BOARD;
(iv) Is contractually obligated to provide [pediatric] dental services
for at least 2 years:
1. In a public health dental clinic operated by the State or a
county or municipality of the State; or
2. In a federally qualified health center or Maryland
qualified health center only to Medicaid, uninsured, or indigent patients or patients who
otherwise qualify for dental care in a public health dental clinic;
(v) Limits practice to the public health dental clinic, federally
qualified health center, or Maryland qualified health center for which the applicant has
contractually agreed to provide [pediatric] dental services;
(vi) Is found to be of good moral character and professionally
competent; and
(vii) Meets any other requirements that the Board may reasonably
require; and
(2) The health officer of the public health program OR DENTAL DIRECTOR
OF THE FEDERALLY QUA LIFIED HEALTH CENTER OR MARYLAND QUALIFIED
HEALTH CENTER for which the applicant has contractually agreed to provide at least 2
years of [pediatric] dental services and the Dean of the University of Maryland Dental
School request REQUESTS the waiver from the Board and state STATES that circumstances
exist to justify granting the waiver.
(c) A limited license to practice dentistry issued to an applicant for a waiver under
this section shall expire and be surrendered immediately to the Board if:
(1) The licensee’s contract with the public health dental clinic, federally
qualified health center, or Maryland qualified health center expires; or
(2) The licensee fails, for any reason, to fully satisfy the licensee’s
obligations under subsection (b)(1)(iv) and (v) of this section.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 902
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(d) The Board may issue a general license to a limited licensee who was granted
a waiver under this section if the limited licensee:
(1) Successfully completes at least a 2–year contractual obligation to
provide [pediatric] dental care in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(iv) of this section;
(2) Submits an application for a general license to practice dentistry on a
form provided by the Board;
(3) Passes the ADLEX as defined in § 4–306(a)(4) of this subtitle;
(4) Passes the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence Examination given by the
Board or its designee;
(5) Passes the National Board Examinations;
(6) Demonstrates oral English competency by scoring 220 or better for
overall comprehension and 2.0 or better for pronunciation, grammar, and fluency on the
test of spoken English administered by the Educational Testing Service; and
(7) Is found to be of good moral character.
4–308.
(b) While it is effective, a limited license to practice dentistry issued under this
title authorizes the licensee to practice dentistry, including as an intern or a resident:
(1) Only for the institution or public health program named on the license;
and
(2) Only on patients of the institution or public health program named on
the license.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.