Part IV. Requirements for Licensure
18VAC60-25-130. General application requirements.
A. All applications for licensure by examination or credentials, temporary permits, or faculty licenses shall include:
1. Verification of completion of a dental hygiene degree or certificate from a CODA or CDAC accredited program;
2. Verifiable evidence of a passing score from the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination issued by 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 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; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 8, eff. January 28, 2015; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-25-140. Licensure by examination.
A. An applicant for licensure by examination shall have:
1. Graduated from or have been issued a certificate by a CODA or CDAC accredited program of dental hygiene;
2. Successfully completed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; and
3. Successfully completed a board-approved clinical competency examination in dental hygiene.
B. If the candidate has failed any section of a board-approved examination three times, the candidate shall complete a minimum of seven 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.
C. Applicants who successfully completed a board-approved examination five or more years prior to the date of receipt of their applications for licensure by the board may be required to retake a board-approved examination or take board-approved continuing education that meets the requirements of 18VAC60-25-190, unless they demonstrate that they have maintained clinical, unrestricted, and active practice in a jurisdiction of the United States for 48 of the past 60 months immediately prior to submission of an application 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; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 8, eff. January 28, 2015.
18VAC60-25-150. Licensure by credentials.
An applicant for dental hygiene licensure by credentials shall:
1. Have graduated from or have been issued a certificate by a CODA or CDAC accredited program of dental hygiene;
2. Be currently licensed to practice dental hygiene in another jurisdiction of the United States and have active clinical practice for 24 of the past 48 months immediately preceding application for licensure;
3. Be certified to be in good standing from each state in which the applicant is currently licensed or has ever held a license;
4. Have successfully completed a clinical competency examination substantially equivalent to that required for licensure by examination; and
5. Have successfully completed the dental hygiene examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations prior to making application to the board.
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; Volume 41, Issue 2, eff. October 24, 2024.
18VAC60-25-160. Temporary permit; faculty license.
A. Issuance of a temporary permit.
1. A temporary permit shall be issued only for the purpose of allowing dental hygiene practice as limited by § 54.1-2726 of the Code. An applicant for a temporary permit shall submit a completed application and verification of graduation from the program from which the applicant received the dental hygiene degree or certificate.
2. A temporary permit will not be renewed unless the permittee shows that extraordinary circumstances prevented the permittee from taking a board-approved clinical competency examination during the term of the temporary permit.
B. The board may issue a faculty license pursuant to the provisions of § 54.1-2725 of the Code.
C. A dental hygienist holding a temporary permit or a faculty 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.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 5, eff. December 2, 2015.
18VAC60-25-170. Voluntary practice.
Registration for voluntary practice by out-of-state licensees. Any dental hygienist 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, all volunteer, 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 15 days prior to engaging in such practice;
2. Provide a copy of a current license or certificate to practice dental hygiene;
3. Provide a complete record of professional licensure in each jurisdiction in the United States in which the applicant has held a license or certificate;
4. Provide the name of the nonprofit organization and the dates and location of the voluntary provision of services; and
5. Provide a notarized statement from a representative of the nonprofit organization attesting to its compliance with provisions of subdivision 5 of § 54.1-2701 of the Code of Virginia.
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.