EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0573*
HOUSE BILL 573
J2 5lr2887
CF 5lr2894
By: Delegate Kipke
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Dental Examiners – Expanded Function Dental Assistants – 2
Education and Reinstatement 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Board of Dental Examiners to approve a certain 4
course of study for expanded function dental assistant certification; requiring that a 5
course of study for initial dental assistant certification include an option for an online 6
course of study when appropriate; requiring the Board to reinstate an expired 7
expanded function dental assistant certification only under certain circumstances; 8
requiring the Board to adopt certain regulations relating to continuing education for 9
expanded function dental assistants; and generally relating to expanded function 10
dental assistants. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Health Occupations 13
Section 4–302.1 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Health Occupations 18
Section 4–311.1 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
Article – Health Occupations 24
4–302.1. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 573
(a) To qualify for a certificate to be an expanded function dental assistant, an 1
applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section. 2
(b) The applicant must be of good moral character. 3
(c) The applicant must be at least 18 years old. 4
(d) The applicant must: 5
(1) Be a high school graduate or have attained a high school equivalency; 6
(2) Have successfully completed a course of study approved, subject to 7
subsection (e) of this section, by the Board related to the intraoral procedure for which the 8
applicant has applied for a certificate; 9
(3) Have the appropriate certification from the Dental Assisting National 10
Board; 11
(4) Have passed any examination provided for in a regulation adopted by 12
the Board; and 13
(5) Submit to a State criminal history records check. 14
(e) The Board may not approve a course of study under subsection (d)(2) of this 15
section unless the course of study is part of: 16
(1) A U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps dental assisting program; 17
(2) A dental assisting program located within an institution of 18
postsecondary education that is accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the 19
U.S. Department of Education; 20
(3) A dental assisting program that is located within a high school and is 21
recognized by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the 22
high school accrediting body of a state; [or] 23
(4) A dental assisting program that is accredited by the Council on Dental 24
Accreditation, or a successor organization; 25
(5) A DENTAL ASSISTING COU RSE OR PROGRAM OFFER ED BY THE 26
DALE FOUNDATION, AN AFFILIATE OF THE DENTAL ASSISTING NATIONAL BOARD, 27
OR ANY SUCCESSOR ENTITY ; OR 28
(6) AN ORTHODONTIC DENTAL ASSISTING COURSE OR PROGRAM 29
OFFERED BY THE TRAPEZIO ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT TRAINING SOLUTIONS, OR 30
ANY SUCCESSOR ENTITY . 31 HOUSE BILL 573 3
(F) A COURSE OF STUDY FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATIO N UNDER THIS SECTION 1
SHALL INCLUDE , WHEN APPROPRIATE , AN OPTION FOR AN ONLINE COURSE OF 2
STUDY. 3
4–311.1. 4
(A) THE BOARD SHALL REINSTATE AN EXPANDED FUNCTION DENTAL 5
ASSISTANT CERTIFICAT E THAT IS EXPIRED ON LY IF THE HOLDER : 6
(1) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, HAS COMPLETED 7
THE CONTINUING EDUCA TION REQUIREMENTS SE T BY RULE AND REGULA TION OF 8
THE BOARD; 9
(2) HAS SUBMITTED A RENEWAL APPLICATION TO THE BOARD 10
BEFORE THE DEADLINE SET BY THE BOARD; AND 11
(3) PAYS TO THE BOARD A RENEWAL FEE S ET BY THE BOARD. 12
(B) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS REQUIRING CONTINUING 13
EDUCATION FOR EXPANDED FUNCTIO N DENTAL ASSISTANTS TO: 14
(1) INCLUDE AN OPTION FOR AN O NLINE COURSE OF STUDY ; AND 15
(2) BE OFFERED BY: 16
(I) DENTAL PROFESSIONAL S OCIETIES AFFILIATED WITH 17
NATIONAL DENTAL ORGA NIZATIONS; AND 18
(II) ENTITIES LISTED IN § 4–302.1(E) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2025. 21