EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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HOUSE BILL 723
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By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Dental Examiners – Applicants Licensed or Certified in Another 2
State 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Dental Examiners to issue a license or 4
certification to certain applicants licensed or certified by another state within a 5
certain amount of time; requiring that a dental radiation technologist certified in 6
another state be issued a certification by the State Board under certain 7
circumstances; and generally relating to the issuance of licenses and certifications 8
by the State Board of Dental Examiners to applicants licensed or certified in another 9
state. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Health Occupations 12
Section 4–306 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Health Occupations 17
Section 4–505 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
BY adding to 21
Article – Health Occupations 22
Section 4–505.1 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27 2 HOUSE BILL 723
Article – Health Occupations 1
4–306. 2
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(2) “ADEX” means the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., or its 4
successor organization. 5
(3) (i) “ADHLEX” means the American Dental Hygiene Licensing 6
Examination designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 7
(ii) “ADHLEX” includes a written component and a clinical 8
component. 9
(4) (i) “ADLEX” means the American Dental Licensing Examination 10
designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 11
(ii) “ADLEX” includes a wri tten component and a clinical 12
component. 13
(b) (1) A dentist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license in this 14
State if the applicant: 15
(i) 1. Has passed the ADLEX; and 16
2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 17
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 18
(ii) 1. For the 5 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 19
practicing dentistry for at least 850 hours on average per year; 20
2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 21
requirement for licensure in another state; 22
3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 23
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 24
4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 25
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 26
(2) A dental hygienist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license 27
in this State if the applicant: 28
(i) 1. Has passed the ADHLEX; and 29
HOUSE BILL 723 3
2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 1
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 2
(ii) 1. For the 3 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 3
practicing dental hygiene for at least 150 hours on average per year; 4
2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 5
requirement for licensure in another state; 6
3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 7
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 8
4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 9
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 10
(c) (1) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 11
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 12
individuals who apply for a license to practice dentistry under subsection (b)(1) of this 13
section. 14
(2) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 15
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 16
individuals who apply for a license to practice dental hygiene under subsection (b)(2) of this 17
section. 18
(d) An applicant for a general license to practice dentistry under this section shall: 19
(1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 20
(2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 21
(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 22
general license to practice dentistry; 23
(ii) Holds a license to practice dentistry in another state; 24
(iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 25
subsection (b)(1) of this section; 26
(iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 27
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 28
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 29
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 30
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 31
(v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 32
dentist in this State. 33 4 HOUSE BILL 723
(e) An applicant for a general license to practice dental hygiene under this section 1
shall: 2
(1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 3
(2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 4
(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 5
general license to practice dental hygiene; 6
(ii) Holds a license to practice dental hygiene in another state; 7
(iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 8
subsection (b)(2) of this section; 9
(iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 10
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 11
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 12
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 13
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 14
(v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 15
dental hygienist in this State. 16
(F) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE UNDER 17
THIS SECTION, THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE LICENSE WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS 18
AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLETED APPLICATIO N. 19
4–505. 20
(a) The Board of Dental Examiners shall: 21
(1) Define, for the purpose of this section, the terms “dental radiation 22
technologist” and “practice dental radiation technology”; 23
(2) Adopt rules and regulations concerning qualifications, training, 24
certification, monitoring of, and enforcement requirements for a dental radiation 25
technologist; and 26
(3) Provide for a requirement to ensure competency in new safety and 27
technological advances. 28
(b) The qualifications required of applicants for Board certification as a dental 29
radiation technologist shall include requirements established by: 30
(1) The American Dental Association; or 31 HOUSE BILL 723 5
(2) Any applicable federal standards for training and certification. 1
(c) After July 1, 1988, an individual must be certified by the Board as a dental 2
radiation technologist before a licensed dentist may employ the individual to practice 3
dental radiation technology. 4
(d) After July 1, 1988, an individual may not practice dental radiation technology 5
unless certified by the Board. 6
(e) At least 1 month before a certificate expires, the Board shall send to each 7
certificate holder, by electronic means or first–class mail to the last known electronic or 8
physical address of the certificate holder, a renewal notice that states: 9
(1) The date on which the current certificate expires; 10
(2) The date by which the renewal application must be received by the 11
Board for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the certificate expires; and 12
(3) The amount of the renewal fee. 13
(f) An individual may be simultaneously certified as a dental radiation 14
technologist under this section and as an expanded function dental assistant. 15
4–505.1. 16
(A) A DENTAL RADIATION TEC HNOLOGIST AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE IN 17
ANOTHER STATE SHALL BE ISSUED A CERTIFIC ATE IN THIS STATE IF THE 18
APPLICANT: 19
(1) PAYS THE APPLICATION FEE REQUIRED BY THE BOARD; AND 20
(2) PROVIDES ADEQUATE EVIDENCE TH AT THE APPLICANT : 21
(I) MEETS THE QUALIFICATI ONS OTHERWISE REQUIR ED 22
UNDER THIS TITLE FOR A CERTIFICATION TO P RACTICE DENTAL RADIA TION 23
TECHNOLOGY ; 24
(II) HAS SATISFIED THE EXA MINATION REQUIREMENT FOR 25
CERTIFICATION OF ANO THER STATE TH AT THE BOARD DETERMINES IS 26
COMPARABLE TO THE EX AMINATION REQUIREMEN T IN THIS STATE; 27
(III) IS NOT BEING INVESTIG ATED BY A DISCIPLINA RY 28
AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER STATE, DOES NOT HAVE CHARGE S PENDING AGAINST TH E 29
APPLICANT’S CERTIFICATION , AND HAS NOT BEEN DIS CIPLINED BY A DISCIP LINARY 30 6 HOUSE BILL 723
OR CERTIFYING AUTHOR ITY OF ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY, OR BEEN CONVICTED 1
OR DISCIPLINED BY A COURT OF ANY STATE O R COUNTRY FOR AN ACT THAT WOULD 2
BE GROUNDS FOR DISCI PLINARY ACTION UNDER § 4–315 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 3
(IV) HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY FAILED AN EXAMINATION FOR 4
CERTIFICATION AS A D ENTAL RADIATION TECH NOLOGIST IN THIS STATE. 5
(B) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION 6
UNDER THIS SECTION , THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE CERTIFICATE WITHIN 15 7
BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLE TED APPLICATION . 8
(C) THE BOARD MAY ADOPT ANY R EGULATIONS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 9
FOR THE CE RTIFICATION OF INDIV IDUALS WHO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATION TO 10
PRACTICE DENTAL RADI ATION THERAPY UNDER THIS SECTION. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2025. 13