WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 24
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Chapter 24
(Senate Bill 792)
AN ACT concerning
State Board of Dental Examiners – Expanded Function Dental Assistants –
Education and Reinstatement
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Board of Dental Examiners to approve a certain
course of study for expanded function dental assistant certification; requiring that a
course of study for initial dental assistant certification include an option for an a
certain number of hours of in–person and online course of study when appropriate
instruction; requiring the Board to reinstate an expired expanded function dental
assistant certification only under certain circumstances; requiring the Board to
adopt certain regulations relating to continuing education for expanded function
dental assistants; and generally relating to expanded function dental assistants.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Health Occupations
Section 4–302.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Health Occupations
Section 4–311.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEM BLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health Occupations
4–302.1.
(a) To qualify for a certificate to be an expanded function dental assistant, an
applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.
(b) The applicant must be of good moral character.
(c) The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
(d) The applicant must:
(1) Be a high school graduate or have attained a high school equivalency; Ch. 24 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) Have successfully completed a course of study approved, subject to
subsection (e) of this section, by the Board related to the intraoral procedure for which the
applicant has applied for a certificate;
(3) Have the appropriate certification from the Dental Assisting National
Board;
(4) Have passed any examination provided for in a regulation adopted by
the Board; and
(5) Submit to a State criminal history records check.
(e) The Board may not approve a course of study under subsection (d)(2) of this
section unless the course of study is part of:
(1) A U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps dental assisting program;
(2) A dental assisting program located within an institution of
postsecondary education that is accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education;
(3) A dental assisting program that is located within a high school and is
recognized by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the
high school accrediting body of a state; [or]
(4) A dental assisting program that is accredited by the Council on Dental
Accreditation, or a successor organization;
(5) A DENTAL ASSISTING COU RSE OR PROGRAM OFFER ED BY THE
DALE FOUNDATION, AN AFFILIATE OF THE DENTAL ASSISTING NATIONAL BOARD,
OR ANY SUCCESSOR ENT ITY; OR
(6) AN ORTHODONTIC DENTAL ASSISTING COURSE OR PROGRAM
OFFERED BY THE TRAPEZIO ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT TRAINING SOLUTIONS, OR
ANY SUCCESSOR ENTITY .
(F) (1) A COURSE OF STUDY FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATIO N UNDER THIS
SECTION SHALL INCLUD E, WHEN APPROPRIATE , AN OPTION FOR AN ONLINE COUR SE
OF STUDY AT LEAST 35 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION CONSISTING OF BOTH O NLINE AND
IN–PERSON INSTRUCTION .
(2) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS SPECIFYING THE
REQUIRED NUMBER OF H OURS FOR IN –PERSON INSTRUCTION , ONLINE
INSTRUCTION, AND CLINICAL HANDS–ON TRAINING. WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 24
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4–311.1.
(A) THE BOARD SHALL REINSTATE AN EXPANDED FUNCTION DENTAL
ASSISTANT CERTIFICAT E THAT IS EXPIRED ON LY IF THE HOLDER :
(1) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, HAS COMPLETED
THE CONTINUING EDUCA TION REQUIREMENTS SE T BY RULE AND REGULATI ON OF
THE BOARD;
(2) HAS SUBMITTED A RENEW AL APPLICATION TO TH E BOARD
BEFORE THE DEADLINE SET BY THE BOARD; AND
(3) PAYS TO THE BOARD A RENEWAL FEE S ET BY THE BOARD.
(B) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS REQUIRING C ONTINUING
EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLINICAL H ANDS–ON TRAINING, FOR EXPANDED FUNCTIO N
DENTAL ASSISTANTS TO :
(1) INCLUDE AN OPTION FOR AN ONLINE COURSE OF STUDY; AND
(2) BE BE OFFERED BY:
(I) (1) DENTAL STATE–BASED DENTAL PROFESSIONAL SOCIETI ES
AFFILIATED WITH NATIONAL DENTAL ORGA NIZATIONS; AND
(II) (2) ENTITIES LISTED IN § 4–302.1(E) OF THIS SUBTITLE.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2025.
Approved by the Governor, April 8, 2025.