(a) Any person:

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(1) Eighteen years of age or over;
(2) Who has a diploma or proper certificate of graduation from a dental hygiene school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation that requires at least a two year course and is recognized by the board of dentistry;
(3) Who has been officially certified in the administration of intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block anesthesia by an accredited dental hygiene school or by a certification program previously approved by the board; and
(4) Who has passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination; upon written application made to and filed with the board may be examined for qualification as a dental hygienist.

An application shall be accompanied by the applicant’s certificate of graduation from an accredited dental hygiene school, documentary proof of the applicant’s certification in the administration of intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block anesthesia, and documentary proof of the applicant’s passage of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. At the time of filing the application, the applicant shall pay to the board an application fee, which together with all other fees or charges in this chapter, shall be as provided in rules adopted by the director of commerce and consumer affairs pursuant to chapter 91, and shall be deposited to the credit of the compliance resolution fund established pursuant to section 26-9(o).

(b) The board shall require an applicant to take and pass the State’s examination or one of the following four regional clinical examinations given after February 1, 2005, by the:

(1) Western Regional Examining Board;
(2) Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc.;
(3) Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.; or
(4) North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Inc.
(c) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), an applicant shall take and pass a national clinical examination once a national clinical examination becomes available and neither the state examination nor any regional examination shall be accepted; provided that an applicant who has taken and passed the state or a regional examination after February 1, 2005, but prior to the availability of a national examination shall be deemed to have met the board’s examination requirement.
(d) If an applicant successfully passes the examination required by subsections (b) and (c), the applicant shall be licensed to practice as a dental hygienist in the State. Every licensed dental hygienist, before entering practice, shall pay the board a license fee. On or before December 31 of each odd-numbered year, every licensed dental hygienist beginning or continuing to practice in the State shall pay to the board a fee for biennial licensure. The failure, neglect, or refusal of any duly licensed dental hygienist to pay the biennial licensure fee shall constitute a forfeiture of the license; provided that the license may be restored upon written application and payment to the board of a restoration fee.
(e) An applicant’s or licensed dental hygienist’s competence to administer intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia shall be demonstrated by certification in the administration of intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia by an accredited dental hygiene school or by a certification program previously approved by the board. An applicant’s or licensed dental hygienist’s competence to administer intra-oral block anesthesia shall be demonstrated by proof of successful completion of a course of study in accordance with standards provided for in this chapter and the issuance of a certificate or other program documentation listing the intra-oral block anesthesia categories in which the applicant or licensed dental hygienist has acquired knowledge and proficiency.

The applicant or licensed dental hygienist shall submit documentation of course content when submitting certification in the administration of intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block anesthesia as required by subsection (a). The board shall certify that the applicant or licensed dental hygienist has met the requirements of this chapter.

(f) No person shall practice dental hygiene, either gratuitously or for pay, or shall offer or attempt so to practice, or shall advertise or announce publicly or privately as being prepared or qualified so to practice without having a license as provided in this section. The original or a copy of the certificate of licensure shall be prominently displayed at all times in the workplace where the dental hygienist is employed or practices. A dental hygienist’s pocket identification card shall be readily available for viewing upon request to ensure the license is current. A licensed dental hygienist shall practice only under the supervision of a licensed dentist as provided in this chapter; provided that a licensed dental hygienist:

(1) May administer under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist only those categories of intra-oral block anesthesia listed in the course content submitted to the board pursuant to subsection (a);
(2) May practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist and pursuant to an existing treatment plan with respect to patients of record who have had an examination by the licensed dentist; provided that a licensed dental hygienist shall not perform any irreversible procedure or administer any intra-oral block anesthesia under general supervision; and
(3) May practice under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist as provided in this chapter.
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