Bill Text: IL HB4978 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. In provisions concerning the qualifications of applicants for dental licenses and dental hygienist licenses, provides that each applicant shall present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and has successfully completed an examination conducted by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS) or the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX). Provides that an applicant who has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination or the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, respectively, and who has, prior to January 1, 2026, successfully completed an examination conducted by the States Resources for Testing and Assessments, Inc. (SRTA) (formerly, Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), or the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB) shall be eligible to apply for licensure. In provisions concerning examinations for dental licensure, provides that both theoretical and psychomotor (rather than practical) examinations shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice dentistry. In provisions concerning expanded function dental assistants, provides that a dental assistant may perform certain services if the dental assistant has completed the training requirements for the service or services. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-04-17 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4978 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4978-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4978 Introduced , by Rep. Bob Morgan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 25/9 from Ch. 111, par. 2309
225 ILCS 25/10 from Ch. 111, par. 2310
225 ILCS 25/13 from Ch. 111, par. 2313
225 ILCS 25/16.1 from Ch. 111, par. 2316.1
225 ILCS 25/17.1
Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. In provisions concerning the qualifications of applicants for dental licenses and dental hygienist licenses, provides that each applicant shall present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and has successfully completed an examination conducted by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS) or the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX). Provides that an applicant who has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination or the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, respectively, and who has, prior to January 1, 2026, successfully completed an examination conducted by the States Resources for Testing and Assessments, Inc. (SRTA) (formerly, Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), or the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB) shall be eligible to apply for licensure. In provisions concerning examinations for dental licensure, provides that both theoretical and psychomotor (rather than practical) examinations shall be of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice dentistry. In provisions concerning expanded function dental assistants, provides that a dental assistant may perform certain services if the dental assistant has completed the training requirements for the service or services. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.
LRB104 16877 AAS 30287 b
A BILL FOR
HB4978 LRB104 16877 AAS 30287 b
AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Dental Practice Act is amended by
changing Sections 9, 10, 13, 16.1, and 17.1 as follows:
(225 ILCS 25/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 2309)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 9. Qualifications of applicants for dental licenses.
The Department shall require that each applicant for a license
to practice dentistry shall:
(a) (Blank).
(b) Be at least 21 years of age and of good moral
character.
(c) (1) Present satisfactory evidence of completion of
dental education by graduation from a dental college or
school in the United States or Canada approved by the
Department. The Department shall not approve any dental
college or school which does not require at least (A) 60
semester hours of collegiate credit or the equivalent in
acceptable subjects from a college or university before
admission, and (B) completion of at least 4 academic years
of instruction or the equivalent in an approved dental
college or school that is accredited by the Commission on

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Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;
or
(2) Present satisfactory evidence of completion of
dental education by graduation from a dental college or
school outside the United States or Canada and provide
satisfactory evidence that the applicant has: (A)
completed a minimum of 2 academic years of general dental
clinical training and obtained a doctorate of dental
surgery (DDS) or doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) at a
dental college or school in the United States or Canada
approved by the Department; or (B) met the program
requirements approved by rule by the Department.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent
either the Department or any dental college or school from
establishing higher standards than specified in this Act.
(d) (Blank).
(e) Present satisfactory evidence that the applicant
has passed the integrated National Board Dental
Examination administered by the Joint Commission on
National Dental Examinations and has successfully
completed an examination conducted by one of the following
regional testing services: the Central Regional Dental
Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS) or the American Board of
Dental Examiners (ADEX). , the Southern Regional Testing
Agency, Inc. (SRTA), the Western Regional Examining Board
(WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments

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(CDCA), or the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies
(CITA). An applicant who has passed the integrated
National Board Dental Examination and who has, prior to
January 1, 2026, successfully completed an examination
conducted by the States Resources for Testing and
Assessments, Inc. (SRTA) (formerly, Southern Regional
Testing Agency, Inc.), the Western Regional Examining
Board (WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency
Assessments (CDCA), or the North East Regional Board of
Dental Examiners (NERB) shall be eligible to apply for
licensure. For purposes of this Section, "successfully
completed" means successful completion shall mean that the
applicant has achieved a minimum passing score as
determined by the applicable regional testing service. The
Secretary may suspend a regional testing service under
this subsection (e) if, after proper notice and hearing,
it is established that (i) the integrity of the
examination has been breached so as to make future test
results unreliable or (ii) the test is fundamentally
deficient in testing clinical competency.
In determining professional capacity under this Section,
any individual who has not been actively engaged in the
practice of dentistry, has not been a dental student, or has
not been engaged in a formal program of dental education
during the 5 years immediately preceding the filing of an
application may be required to complete such additional

HB4978 - 4 - LRB104 16877 AAS 30287 b
testing, training, or remedial education as the Board may deem
necessary in order to establish the applicant's present
capacity to practice dentistry with reasonable judgment,
skill, and safety.
(Source: P.A. 102-93, eff. 1-1-22.)
(225 ILCS 25/10) (from Ch. 111, par. 2310)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 10. Examinations for dental licensure. Examination
shall be made in writing in all theoretical subjects. Both
theoretical and psychomotor practical examinations shall be of
a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the
applicant to practice dentistry. The examination papers and
all grading thereon, and the grading of the practical work,
shall be deemed public documents, and preserved for a period
of not less than 2 years after the Department shall have made
and published its decisions thereon. All examinations shall be
conducted or authorized under fair and wholly impartial
methods.
(Source: P.A. 84-365.)
(225 ILCS 25/13) (from Ch. 111, par. 2313)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 13. Qualifications of applicants for dental hygienist
licenses hygienists. Every person who desires to obtain a
license as a dental hygienist shall apply to the Department in

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writing, upon forms prepared and furnished by the Department.
Each application shall contain proof of the particular
qualifications required of the applicant, shall be verified by
the applicant, under oath, and shall be accompanied by the
required examination fee.
The Department shall require that every applicant for a
license as a dental hygienist shall:
(1) (Blank).
(2) Be a graduate of high school or its equivalent.
(3) Present satisfactory evidence of having
successfully completed 2 academic years of credit at a
dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on
Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
(4) Submit evidence that the applicant holds a
currently valid certification to perform cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. The Department shall adopt rules
establishing criteria for certification in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. The rules of the Department shall provide
for variances only in instances where the applicant is a
person with a physical disability and therefore unable to
secure such certification.
(5) (Blank).
(6) Present satisfactory evidence that the applicant
has passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental
Examinations and has successfully completed an examination

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conducted by one of the following regional testing
services: the Central Regional Dental Testing Service,
Inc. (CRDTS) or the American Board of Dental Examiners
(ADEX). , the Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.
(SRTA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), or
the North East Regional Board (NERB). An applicant who has
passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental
Examinations and who has, prior to January 1, 2026,
successfully completed an examination conducted by the
States Resources for Testing and Assessments, Inc. (SRTA)
(formerly, Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc.), the
Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Commission on
Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), or the North East
Regional Board (NERB) shall be eligible to apply for
licensure. For the purposes of this Section, "successfully
completed" means successful completion shall mean that the
applicant has achieved a minimum passing score as
determined by the applicable regional testing service. The
Secretary may suspend a regional testing service under
this item (6) if, after proper notice and hearing, it is
established that (i) the integrity of the examination has
been breached so as to make future test results unreliable
or (ii) the examination is fundamentally deficient in
testing clinical competency.
(Source: P.A. 104-151, eff. 1-1-26.)

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(225 ILCS 25/16.1) (from Ch. 111, par. 2316.1)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 16.1. Continuing education. The Department shall
promulgate rules of continuing education for persons licensed
under this Act. In establishing rules, the Department shall
require a minimum of 48 hours of study in approved courses for
dentists during each 3-year licensing period and a minimum of
36 hours of study in approved courses for dental hygienists
during each 3-year licensing period.
The Department shall approve only courses that are
relevant to the treatment and care of patients, including, but
not limited to, clinical courses in dentistry and dental
hygiene and nonclinical courses such as patient management,
legal and ethical responsibilities, and stress management. The
Department shall allow up to 4 hours of continuing education
credit hours per license renewal period for volunteer hours
spent providing clinical services at, or sponsored by, a
nonprofit community clinic, local or state health department,
or a charity event. Courses shall not be approved in such
subjects as estate and personal financial planning, personal
investments, or personal health. Approved courses may include,
but shall not be limited to, courses that are offered or
sponsored by approved colleges, universities, and hospitals
and by recognized national, State, and local dental and dental
hygiene organizations, such as the Illinois State Dental

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Society. When offering a continuing education course, whether
at no cost or for a fee, the course provider shall explicitly
disclose that the course is an approved course for continuing
education in the State of Illinois, as provided in this
Section or by the rules adopted by the Department.
No license shall be renewed unless the renewal application
is accompanied by an affidavit indicating that the applicant
has completed the required minimum number of hours of
continuing education in approved courses as required by this
Section. The affidavit shall not require a listing of courses.
The affidavit shall be a prima facie evidence that the
applicant has obtained the minimum number of required
continuing education hours in approved courses. The Department
shall not be obligated to conduct random audits or otherwise
independently verify that an applicant has met the continuing
education requirement. The Department, however, may not
conduct random audits of more than 10% of the licensed
dentists and dental hygienists in any one licensing cycle to
verify compliance with continuing education requirements. If
the Department, however, receives a complaint that a licensee
has not completed the required continuing education or if the
Department is investigating another alleged violation of this
Act by a licensee, the Department may demand and shall be
entitled to receive evidence from any licensee of completion
of required continuing education courses for the most recently
completed 3-year licensing period. Evidence of continuing

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education may include, but is not limited to, canceled checks,
official verification forms of attendance, and continuing
education recording forms, that demonstrate a reasonable
record of attendance. The Board shall determine, in accordance
with rules adopted by the Department, whether a licensee or
applicant has met the continuing education requirements. Any
dentist who holds more than one license under this Act shall be
required to complete only the minimum number of hours of
continuing education required for renewal of a single license.
The Department may provide exemptions from continuing
education requirements.
(Source: P.A. 103-425, eff. 1-1-24.)
(225 ILCS 25/17.1)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
Sec. 17.1. Expanded function dental assistants.
(a) A dental assistant who has completed training as
provided in subsection (b) of this Section in all of the
following areas may hold himself or herself out as an expanded
function dental assistant:
(1) Taking material or digital scans for final
impressions after completing a training program that
includes either didactic objectives or clinical skills and
functions that demonstrate competency.
(2) Performing pulp vitality test after completing a
training program that includes either didactic objectives

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or clinical skills and functions that demonstrate
competency.
(3) Placing, carving, and finishing of amalgam
restorations and placing, packing, and finishing composite
restorations as allowed under Section 17.
(3.5) Coronal scaling as allowed under Section 17.
(4) Starting the flow of oxygen and monitoring of
nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia as allowed under Section
17.
(5) Coronal polishing and pit and fissure sealants as
allowed under Section 17.
(6) Intracoronal temporization of a tooth.
All procedures listed in paragraphs (1) through (6) for
dental assistants must be performed under the supervision of a
dentist, requiring the dentist authorizes the procedure,
remains in the dental facility while the procedure is
performed, and approves the work performed by the dental
assistant before dismissal of the patient, but the dentist is
not required to be present at all times in the treatment room.
A dental assistant may perform any of the services listed
in paragraphs (1) through (6) if the dental assistant has
completed the training requirements for the service or
services.
After the completion of training as provided in subsection
(b) of this Section, an expanded function dental assistant may
perform any of the services listed in this subsection (a)

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pursuant to the limitations of this Act.
(b) Certification and training as an expanded function
dental assistant must be obtained from one of the following
sources: (i) an approved continuing education sponsor; (ii) a
dental assistant training program approved by the Commission
on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association; or
(iii) a training program approved by the Department.
Training required under this subsection (b) must also
include Basic Life Support certification, as described in
Section 16 of this Act. Proof of current certification shall
be kept on file with the supervising dentist.
(c) Any procedures listed in subsection (a) that are
performed by an expanded function dental assistant must be
approved by the supervising dentist and examined prior to
dismissal of the patient. The supervising dentist shall be
responsible for all dental services or procedures performed by
the dental assistant.
(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter
the number of dental assistants that a dentist may supervise
under paragraph (g) of Section 17 of this Act.
(e) Nothing in this Act shall: (1) require a dental
assistant to be certified as an expanded function dental
assistant or (2) prevent a dentist from training dental
assistants in accordance with the provisions of Section 17 or
17.1 of this Act or rules pertaining to dental assistant
duties.

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(Source: P.A. 101-162, eff. 7-26-19; 102-936, eff. 1-1-23.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July
1, 2026.