EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0723*
HOUSE BILL 723
J2 5lr2379
CF SB 749
By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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 2 HOUSE BILL 723
Section 4–505.1 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
Article – Health Occupations 6
4–306. 7
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 8
(2) “ADEX” means the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., or its 9
successor organization. 10
(3) (i) “ADHLEX” means the American Dental Hygiene Licensing 11
Examination designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 12
(ii) “ADHLEX” includes a written component and a clinical 13
component. 14
(4) (i) “ADLEX” means the American Dental Licensing Examination 15
designed and developed by ADEX, or its successor examination. 16
(ii) “ADLEX” includes a written component and a clinical 17
component. 18
(b) (1) A dentist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license in this 19
State if the applicant: 20
(i) 1. Has passed the ADLEX; and 21
2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 22
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 23
(ii) 1. For the 5 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 24
practicing dentistry for at least 850 hours on average per year; 25
2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 26
requirement for licensure in another state; 27
3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 28
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 29
4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Jurisprudence 30
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 31 HOUSE BILL 723 3
(2) A dental hygienist licensed in any other state shall be issued a license 1
in this State if the applicant: 2
(i) 1. Has passed the ADHLEX; and 3
2. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 4
Examination given by the Board or its designee; or 5
(ii) 1. For the 3 preceding years, has been actively engaged in 6
practicing dental hygiene for at least 150 hours on average per year; 7
2. Has passed an examination with a clinical component as a 8
requirement for licensure in another state; 9
3. Has passed a comprehensive written examination on 10
applied clinical diagnosis and treatment planning administered by ADEX; and 11
4. Has passed the Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence 12
Examination given by the Board or its designee. 13
(c) (1) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 14
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 15
individuals who apply for a license to practice dentistry under subsection (b)(1) of this 16
section. 17
(2) The Board may adopt regulations for the content and administration of 18
examinations and any other regulations necessary to provide for the licensure of 19
individuals who apply for a license to practice dental hygiene under subsection (b)(2) of this 20
section. 21
(d) An applicant for a general license to practice dentistry under this section shall: 22
(1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 23
(2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 24
(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 25
general license to practice dentistry; 26
(ii) Holds a license to practice dentistry in another state; 27
(iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 28
subsection (b)(1) of this section; 29
(iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 30
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 31 4 HOUSE BILL 723
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 1
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 2
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 3
(v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 4
dentist in this State. 5
(e) An applicant for a general license to practice dental hygiene under this section 6
shall: 7
(1) Pay the application fee required by § 4–304 of this subtitle; and 8
(2) Provide adequate evidence that the applicant: 9
(i) Meets the qualifications otherwise required by this title for a 10
general license to practice dental hygiene; 11
(ii) Holds a license to practice dental hygiene in another state; 12
(iii) Has satisfied the examination requirements provided in 13
subsection (b)(2) of this section; 14
(iv) Is not being investigated by a disciplinary authority of another 15
state, does not have charges pending against the applicant’s license, and has not been 16
disciplined by a disciplinary or licensing authority of any other state or country, or been 17
convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds 18
for disciplinary action under § 4–315 of this subtitle; and 19
(v) Has not previously failed an examination for licensure as a 20
dental hygienist in this State. 21
(F) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE UNDER 22
THIS SECTION, THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE LICENSE WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS 23
AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLETED APPLICATIO N. 24
4–505. 25
(a) The Board of Dental Examiners shall: 26
(1) Define, for the purpose of this section, the terms “dental radiation 27
technologist” and “practice dental radiation technology”; 28
(2) Adopt rules and regulations concerning qualifications, training, 29
certification, monitoring of, and enforcement requirements for a dental radiation 30
technologist; and 31
HOUSE BILL 723 5
(3) Provide for a requirement to ensure competency in new safety and 1
technological advances. 2
(b) The qualifications required of applicants for Board certification as a dental 3
radiation technologist shall include requirements established by: 4
(1) The American Dental Association; or 5
(2) Any applicable federal standards for training and certification. 6
(c) After July 1, 1988, an individual must be certified by the Board as a dental 7
radiation technologist before a licensed dentist may employ the individual to practice 8
dental radiation technology. 9
(d) After July 1, 1988, an individual may not practice dental radiation technology 10
unless certified by the Board. 11
(e) At least 1 month before a certificate expires, the Board shall send to each 12
certificate holder, by electronic means or first–class mail to the last known electronic or 13
physical address of the certificate holder, a renewal notice that states: 14
(1) The date on which the current certificate expires; 15
(2) The date by which the renewal application must be received by the 16
Board for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the certificate expires; and 17
(3) The amount of the renewal fee. 18
(f) An individual may be simultaneously certified as a dental radiation 19
technologist under this section and as an expanded function dental assistant. 20
4–505.1. 21
(A) A DENTAL RADIATION TEC HNOLOGIST AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE IN 22
ANOTHER STATE SHALL BE ISSUED A CERTIFIC ATE IN THIS STATE IF THE 23
APPLICANT: 24
(1) PAYS THE APPLICATION FEE REQUIRED BY THE BOARD; AND 25
(2) PROVIDES ADEQUATE EVI DENCE THAT THE APPLI CANT: 26
(I) MEETS THE QUALIFICATI ONS OTHERWISE REQUIR ED 27
UNDER THIS TITLE FOR A CERTIFICATION TO P RACTICE DENTAL RADIA TION 28
TECHNOLOGY ; 29
6 HOUSE BILL 723
(II) HAS SATISFIED THE EXA MINATION REQUIREMENT FOR 1
CERTIFICATION OF ANO THER STATE THAT THE BOARD DETERMINES IS 2
COMPARABLE TO THE EX AMINATION REQUIREMEN T IN THIS STATE; 3
(III) IS NOT BEING INVESTIG ATED BY A DISCIPLINA RY 4
AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER STATE, DOES NOT HAVE CHARGES PEN DING AGAINST THE 5
APPLICANT’S CERTIFICATION , AND HAS NOT BEEN DIS CIPLINED BY A DISCIP LINARY 6
OR CERTIFYING AUTHOR ITY OF ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY, OR BEEN CONVICTED 7
OR DISCIPLINED BY A COURT OF ANY STATE O R COUNTRY FOR AN ACT THAT WOULD 8
BE GROUNDS FOR DISCIP LINARY ACTION UNDER § 4–315 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 9
(IV) HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY FA ILED AN EXAMINATION FOR 10
CERTIFICATION AS A D ENTAL RADIATION TECH NOLOGIST IN THIS STATE. 11
(B) IF AN APPLICANT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION 12
UNDER THIS SECTION , THE BOARD SHALL ISSUE THE CERTIFICATE WITHIN 15 13
BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE COMPLE TED APPLICATION . 14
(C) THE BOARD MAY ADOPT ANY R EGULATIONS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 15
FOR THE CE RTIFICATION OF INDIV IDUALS WHO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATION TO 16
PRACTICE DENTAL RADI ATION THERAPY UNDER THIS SECTION. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2025. 19
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.