STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Allows graduates of foreign dental schools to take examination and become licensed as dental hygienists.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the licensure of dental hygienists and amending P.L.1979, c.46.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1979, c.46 (C.45:6-52) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. The board shall adopt rules for the examination of candidates for licenses to practice dental hygiene. Every applicant shall present to the secretary of the board a written application for admission to the examination on a form provided by the board. No person shall be examined by the board unless he has satisfactorily completed such course on dental hygiene as may be required by the board, except as provided in subsection c. of this section. Any rule altering the nature or increasing the severity of the examination or subjects to be included therein shall not be enforced until 6 months after its public promulgation and adoption. The examination of applicants shall be confined to written or oral, or both written and oral, examination upon subjects properly relating to the science of dental hygiene, the knowledge of which is necessary to the proper and skillful practice of said science. The board shall also require from applicants, as part of the examination, demonstration of their clinical skill in dental hygiene.
b. The fee for the examination for license to practice dental hygiene shall be determined by the board from time to time and shall accompany every application. Such fee shall not be refunded, unless for sickness or other good cause appearing to the satisfaction of the board such applicant was prevented from attending and completing such examination. Upon the approval of the application for examination, such applicant shall thereupon be entitled to admission to such examination. If said applicant fails to pass the examination, he may be re-examined at the next regular examination.
c. The board shall adopt rules for the examination of candidates for licenses to practice dental hygiene who hold a degree from a foreign dental school, college or university. No such applicant shall be examined by the board unless, in addition to the requirements specified in subsections a. and b. of this section, the applicant submits to the board:
(1) Transcripts totaling four academic years of postsecondary dental education; and
(2) A dental degree from a foreign dental school, college or university which, as determined by the board, is comparable to a dental degree from a dental school, college or university approved by the board.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.46, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect on the 90th day next following enactment.
STATEMENT
Under current law, all persons who pass the required examination by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry shall be registered by the board as licensed dental hygienists and issued licenses to practice dental hygiene. Current law also provides that a person may not practice dental hygiene in New Jersey without first attending an educational program for dental hygienists. This bill requires that the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry adopt rules for the examination of candidates for licenses to practice dental hygiene who hold a degree from a foreign dental school, college or university.
This bill requires that candidates for licenses to practice dental hygiene who hold a degree from a foreign dental school, college or university submit to the board transcripts totaling four academic years of postsecondary dental education and a dental degree which, as determined by the board, is comparable to a dental degree from a dental school, college or university approved by the board.