Part V. Entry, Licensure, and Registration Requirements
18VAC60-21-190. General application provisions.
A. Applications for any dental license, registration, or permit issued by the board, other than for a volunteer exemption or for a restricted volunteer license, shall include:
1. A final certified transcript from the college from which the applicant received the dental degree or post-doctoral degree or certificate as specified in 18VAC60-21-200;
2. Verifiable evidence documenting passage of all parts of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; and
3. A current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
B. If a transcript or other documentation required for licensure cannot be produced by the entity from which it is required, the board, in its discretion, may accept other evidence of qualification for licensure.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; Errata, 32:7 VA.R. 1330 November 30, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-200. Education.
An applicant for unrestricted dental licensure shall be a graduate of and a holder of a diploma or a certificate from a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, which consists of either a pre-doctoral dental education program or at least a 12-month post-doctoral advanced general dentistry program or a post-doctoral dental program of at least 24 months in any other specialty that includes a clinical component.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 8, eff. January 28, 2015.
18VAC60-21-210. Qualifications for an unrestricted license.
A. Dental licensure by examination.
1. All applicants for licensure by examination shall have:
a. Successfully completed all parts of the National Board Dental Examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; and
b. Passed a dental clinical competency examination that is accepted by the board.
2. If a candidate has failed any section of a clinical competency examination three times, the candidate shall complete a minimum of 14 hours of additional clinical training in each section of the examination to be retested in order to be approved by the board to sit for the examination a fourth time.
3. An applicant who successfully completed a clinical competency examination five or more years prior to the date of receipt of the applicant's application for licensure by the board may be required to retake an examination or complete clinical training as required by the board unless the applicant demonstrates that the applicant has maintained clinical, ethical, and legal practice in another jurisdiction of the United States or in federal civil or military service for 48 of the past 60 months immediately prior to submission of an application for licensure.
B. Dental licensure by credentials. All applicants for licensure by credentials shall:
1. Have passed all parts of the National Board Dental Examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations;
2. Have successfully completed a clinical competency examination acceptable to the board;
3. Hold a current, unrestricted license to practice dentistry in another jurisdiction of the United States and be certified to be in good standing by each jurisdiction in which a license is currently held or has been held; and
4. Have been in continuous clinical practice in another jurisdiction of the United States or in federal civil or military service for five out of the six years immediately preceding application for licensure pursuant to this section. Active patient care in another jurisdiction of the United States (i) as a volunteer in a public health clinic, (ii) as an intern, or (iii) in a residency program may be accepted by the board to satisfy this requirement. One year of clinical practice shall consist of a minimum of 600 hours of practice in a calendar year as attested by the applicant.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-220. Inactive license.
A. Any dentist who holds a current, unrestricted license in Virginia may, upon a request on the renewal application and submission of the required fee, be issued an inactive license. With the exception of practice with a current restricted volunteer license as provided in § 54.1-2712.1 of the Code of Virginia, the holder of an inactive license shall not be entitled to perform any act requiring a license to practice dentistry in Virginia.
B. Any dentist who holds an inactive license may reactivate the license upon submission of the required application, which includes evidence of continuing clinical competence and payment of the difference between the current renewal fee for inactive licensure and the current renewal fee for active licensure. To evaluate continuing clinical competence, the board shall consider (i) hours of continuing education that meet the requirements of 18VAC60-21-250; (ii) evidence of active practice in another state or in federal service; (iii) current specialty board certification; (iv) recent passage of a clinical competency examination that is accepted by the board; or (v) a refresher program offered by a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
1. Continuing education hours equal to the requirement for the number of years in which the license has been inactive, not to exceed a total of 45 hours, must be included with the application. Of the required hours, at least 15 must be earned in the most recent 12 months and the remainder within the 36 months immediately preceding the application for activation.
2. The board reserves the right to deny a request for reactivation to any licensee who has been determined to have committed an act in violation of § 54.1-2706 of the Code of Virginia or who is unable to demonstrate continuing competence.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-21-230. Qualifications for a restricted license; temporary permit or license.
A. Temporary permit for public health settings. A temporary permit shall be issued only for the purpose of allowing dental practice in a dental clinic operated by a state agency or a Virginia charitable organization as limited by § 54.1-2715 of the Code of Virginia.
1. Passage of a clinical competency examination is not required, but the applicant cannot have failed a clinical competency examination accepted by the board.
2. A temporary permit will not be renewed unless the holder shows that extraordinary circumstances prevented the holder from taking the licensure examination during the term of the temporary permit.
B. Faculty license. A faculty license shall be issued for the purpose of allowing dental practice as a faculty member of an accredited dental program when the applicant meets the entry requirements of § 54.1-2713 of the Code of Virginia.
1. A faculty license shall remain valid only while the holder is serving on the faculty of an accredited dental program in the Commonwealth. When any such license holder ceases to continue serving on the faculty of the dental school for which the license was issued, the licensee shall surrender the license, which shall be null and void upon termination of employment.
2. The dean of the dental school shall notify the board within five working days of such termination of employment.
C. Restricted license to teach for foreign dentists. The board may issue a restricted license to a foreign dentist to teach in an accredited dental program in the Commonwealth in accordance with provisions of § 54.1-2714 of the Code of Virginia.
D. Temporary licenses to persons enrolled in advanced dental education programs. A dental intern, resident, or post-doctoral certificate or degree candidate shall obtain a temporary license to practice in Virginia in accordance with provisions of § 54.1-2711.1 of the Code of Virginia.
1. The applicant shall submit a recommendation from the dean of the dental school or the director of the accredited advanced dental education program specifying the applicant's acceptance as an intern, resident, or post-doctoral certificate or degree candidate. The beginning and ending dates of the internship, residency, or post-doctoral program shall be specified.
2. The temporary license permits the holder to practice only in the hospital or outpatient clinics that are recognized parts of an advanced dental education program.
3. The temporary license may be renewed annually by June 30, for up to five times, upon the recommendation of the dean of the dental school or director of the accredited advanced dental education program.
4. The temporary license holder shall be responsible and accountable at all times to a licensed dentist, who is a member of the staff where the internship, residency, or post-doctoral program is taken. The holder is prohibited from practicing outside of the advanced dental education program.
5. The temporary license holder shall abide by the accrediting requirements for an advanced dental education program as approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
E. Restricted volunteer license.
1. Any restricted volunteer license issued pursuant to § 54.1-2712.1 of the Code of Virginia shall specify whether supervision is required, and if not, the date by which it will be required. If a dentist with a restricted volunteer license issued under this section has not held an active, unrestricted license and has been engaged in active practice within the past five years, the dentist shall only practice dentistry and perform dental procedures if a dentist with an unrestricted Virginia license, volunteering at the clinic, reviews the quality of care rendered by the dentist with the restricted volunteer license at least every 30 days. If supervision is required, the supervising dentist shall directly observe patient care being provided by the restricted volunteer dentist and review all patient charts at least quarterly. Such supervision shall be noted in patient charts and maintained in accordance with 18VAC60-21-90.
2. A dentist holding a restricted volunteer license issued pursuant to this section is subject to the provisions of this chapter and the disciplinary regulations that apply to all licensees practicing in Virginia.
F. Registration for voluntary practice by out-of-state licensees. Any dentist who does not hold a license to practice in Virginia and who seeks registration to practice on a voluntary basis under the auspices of a publicly supported, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people shall:
1. File a complete application for registration on a form provided by the board at least five days prior to engaging in such practice;
2. Provide a complete record of professional licensure in each state in which the dentist has held a license and a copy of any current license; and
3. Provide the name of the nonprofit organization and the dates and location of the voluntary provision of services.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2016; Volume 35, Issue 25, eff. September 4, 2019; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.