Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-11-206 - Dental Therapist Licensure by Credential; Application

A. A dental therapist applying under A.R.S. § 32-1276.07 shall comply with all other applicable requirements in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 11 and this Article.

B. A dental therapist applying under A.R.S. § 32-1276.07 shall:

1. Have a current dental therapy license in another state, territory or district of the United States with substantially the same scope of practice as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1276.03;

2. Submit a written affidavit affirming that the applicant has practiced as a dental therapist for a minimum of 3000 hours during the five years immediately before applying for licensure by credential. For purposes of this subsection, dental therapy practice includes experience as a dental therapy educator at a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or another post-secondary dental education program accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or employment as a dental therapist in a public health setting;

3. Submit a written affidavit affirming that the applicant has complied with the continuing dental therapy education requirement of the state in which the applicant is currently licensed; and

4. Provide evidence showing that five years or more before applying for licensure under this section, the applicant completed the clinical examination by complying with R4-11-201(A);

5. Submit official transcripts to the Board directly from a recognized dental therapy school as defined by A.R.S. § 32-1201(21) or an approved third party showing a degree was conferred to the applicant; and

6. Not be required to obtain an Arizona dental hygienist license, if the dental therapist submits one of the following:

a. Certified documentation of a current or past dental hygiene license sent directly from the applicable state, United States territory, District of Columbia to the Board; or

b. Official transcripts sent to the Board directly from a recognized dental hygiene school as defined by A.R.S. § 32-1201(19) or an approved third party showing a degree was conferred to the applicant; or

c. A written affidavit from a recognized dental therapy school as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1201(21) affirming that all dental hygiene procedures defined in A.R.S. § 32-1281 were part of the education the applicant received.

C. For any application submitted under A.R.S. § 32-1276.07, the Board may request additional clarifying evidence required under R4-11-201(A).

D. If an applicant meets all the requirements set forth in this rule except that their current dental therapy license is from a state, territory, or district of the United States that does not include one or more of the following procedures in its legally defined scope, then the applicant must provide evidence of competency before being granted a dental therapy license by credential:

1. Fabricating soft occlusal guards;

2. Administering Nitrous Oxide Analgesia;

3. Performing nonsurgical extractions of periodontally diseased permanent teeth that exhibit plus or grade three mobility and that are not impacted, fractured, unerupted or in need of sectioning for removal;

4. Suturing; or

5. Placing space maintainers.

E. The board will accept the any of following as evidence of competency in the aforementioned procedures:

1. A certificate or credential in the procedure(s) issued by a state licensing jurisdiction; or

2. A signed affidavit from a recognized dental therapy school, recognized dental hygiene school, or recognized dental school, affirming that the applicant successfully completed academic coursework that included both theory and supervised clinical practice in the procedure(s).

F. Subject to A.R.S. § 32-1276.04, an applicant for licensure under this section shall pay the fee prescribed in A.R.S. § 32-1276.07, except the fee is reduced by 50% for applicants who will be employed or working under contract in:

1. Underserved areas, such as declared or eligible Health Professional Shortage Areas; or

2. Other facilities caring for underserved populations as recognized by the Arizona Department of Health Services and approved by the Board.

G. An applicant for dental therapist licensure by credential who works in areas or facilities described in subsection (F) shall:

1. Commit to a three-year, exclusive service period,

2. File a copy of a contract or employment verification statement with the Board, and

3. As a Licensee, submit an annual contract or employment verification statement to the Board by December 31 of each year.

H. A Licensee's failure to comply with the requirements in subsection (G) is considered unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary action based on the circumstances of the case.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-11-206

Former Rule 2f; Amended as an emergency effective July 7, 1978, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1003, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 78-4). Former emergency adoption now adopted and amended effective September 7, 1979 (Supp. 79-5). Former Section R4-11-16 renumbered as Section R4-11-206 and amended effective July 29, 1981 (Supp. 81-4). Former Section R4-11-206 repealed by final rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 580, effective February 4, 1999 (Supp. 99-1). New Section made by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 1330, effective 7/10/2023.