Licensure by Examination—Dentists

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the procedure for obtaining a dental license by examination. (1) To qualify for licensure as set out in sections 332.131 and 332.151, RSMo, each applicant shall— (A) Be a graduate of and hold a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental school as defined in section 332.011, RSMo, and meet the other requirements of sections 332.131 and 332.151, RSMo; and (B) Have passed the National Board Examination in accor dance with the criteria established by the sponsoring body; and (C) Have passed a state or regional entry-level competency examination (hereinafter referred to as a competency exam ination) within the previous five (5) years, subject to sections (3) and (5) below of this rule; and (D) Have passed a written examination given by the board on the Missouri dental laws and rules (hereinafter referred to as the jurisprudence examination) with a grade of at least eighty percent (80%). In order to sit for the jurisprudence examination, the applicant must— 1. Have passed the National Board Examination, prepare to take a competency examination, and submit an application form for licensure to the board thirty (30) days prior to the juris prudence examination; or 2. Have passed a competency examination within the previous five (5) years and have passed the National Board Examination, and submit an application form for licensure to the board. Applicants will be scheduled to take the jurispru dence examination at the board office, at the office of one (1) of the members of the board, or at such times deemed necessary by the board; and (E) Hold current certification in the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider (BLS) or an equivalent certification approved by the Missouri Dental Board. Board-approved courses shall meet the American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resusci tation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) and provide written and manikin testing on the course material by an instructor who is physically present with the students. Online-only courses will not be accepted to satisfy the BLS requirement. (2) To apply for a certificate of registration and a license to practice, each applicant shall submit the following: (A) A completed application form provided by the board; (B) A nonrefundable application/examination fee payable to the Missouri Dental Board; (C) A two-inch by three-inch (2" × 3") photograph or passport photograph taken no more than six (6) months prior to the application date; (D) An official copy of his/her educational transcript from an accredited dental school as defined in section 332.011, RSMo. Transcripts must be sent directly to the board from the accredited dental school; (E) A copy of his/her current certification in the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider (BLS) or an equivalent certification approved by the Missouri Dental Board; (F) Certification of passage of the National Board Examination sent directly to the board from the sponsoring body; (G) A copy of his/her competency examination scores sent directly to the board from the testing agent(s); (H) A form provided by the board verifying licensure in other state(s), if applicable. Verification forms must be sent directly to the board from the licensure board(s) from which the applicant currently holds or has ever held a dental license; (I) A completed Missouri State Highway Patrol and Federal AND INSURANCE Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background check. Proof shall consist of any documentation acceptable to the board. Any fees due shall be paid by the applicant directly to the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its approved vendor; and (J) Each application form and documentation must be completed within one (1) year from the date of submission to the board, including the taking and passing of the jurisprudence examination. If not completed within one (1) year, an application becomes invalid and a new application process must begin. (3) Should an applicant fail any individual section of a clinical competency examination twice, the board may require the applicant to complete remedial instruction in the deficient area(s) from an accredited dental school before further re-ex amination. After failing an individual section of a clinical com petency examination twice, the candidate/applicant shall con tact the board for permission to take the examination again. If the applicant fails a third examination, the board may deny the application pursuant to section 332.321.2(5), RSMo. Before en tering a program of remedial instruction, the applicant shall— (A) Have a statement sent to the board from the program director of the accredited dental school outlining the remedial instruction to be completed by the applicant and confirming the applicant’s acceptance into the program; and (B) Receive board approval of the remedial instruction; and (C) Upon completion, have a written statement submitted to the board from the program director verifying the applicant’s successful completion of the remedial instruction. (4) In order to receive a certificate of registration and license to practice, each applicant shall— (A) Meet all licensure requirements as specified in sections (1), (2), and (3); and (B) Submit the initial licensure fee as specified in 20 CSR 21102.170. (5) Effective January 1, 2021, competency examinations shall be administered by any of the following: the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA), the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA), or by an individual state dental board. The tested proce dures are to be patient based, manikin based, or a combination of both. (A) Applicants for licensure shall obtain a passing score of seventy-five percent (75%) or above in each of the following areas: 1. Periodontics clinical skills testing; 2. Endodontics clinical skills testing; 3. Posterior class II amalgam or posterior class II composite preparation and restoration clinical skills testing; 4. Anterior class III composite preparation and restoration clinical skills testing; 5. Anterior tooth preparation for a single unit crown; and 6. Posterior tooth preparations for use as abutments for a three unit bridge. (B) In addition to the foregoing requirements an applicant for licensure shall successfully complete written or didactic competency testing from any of the following: the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA), the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA), or from an individual state dental board on the follow ing: 1. Removable prosthetics; 2. Diagnosis and treatment planning; and 3. Oral surgery. (C) Competency examinations administered by one of the foregoing clinical competency testing entities or a state dental board shall provide the following elements: 1. Anonymity between candidates and examination raters; 2. Standardization and calibration of raters; and 3. A mechanism for post-exam analysis. AUTHORITY: sections 332.031, 332.141, 332.151, and 332.181, RSMo 2016, and section 43.543, RSMo Supp. 2024.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 110-2.010. Original rule filed Dec. 12, 1975, effective Jan. 12, 1976. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Oct. 13, 1983, effec tive Jan. 13, 1984. Amended: Filed April 16, 1985, effective Aug. 26, 1985. Amended: Filed Aug. 4, 1986, effective Oct. 27, 1986. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Emergency amendment filed April 16, 1992, effective April 26, 1992, expired Aug. 24, 1992. Amended: Filed May 4, 1992, effective Sept. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed June 27, 1995, effective Dec. 30, 1995. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Sept. 15, 1998, effective April 30, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2110-2.010, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Dec. 12, 2008, effective June 30, 2009. Amended: Filed March 8, 2012, effective Sept. 30, 2012. Amended: Filed March 8, 2013, effective Aug. 30, 2013. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2016, effective Feb. 28, 2017. Amended: Filed Feb. 28, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. ** Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 2024, effective April 30, 2025. *Original authority: 43.543, RSMo 1993, amended 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018; 332.031, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1993, 1995; 332.141, RSMo 1969, amended 1981; 332.151, RSMo 1969, amended 1981; and 332.181, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1983, 1993, 2001, 2004. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-09, 20 CSR 2110-2.010, subsection (1)(E) was suspended from April 10, 2020 through September 15, 2021. Missouri Dental Board v. Riney, 429 S.W.2d 803 (Mo. App. 1968). The board was without authority to adopt arbitrary rule in which application for specialist’s certificate pursuant to statute, which became effective August 29, 1959, must be received by board prior to January 1, 1960. Op. Atty. Gen. No. 150, Bild (10-6-76). A graduate of a foreign dental school is qualified for examination and registration as a dentist in the state of Missouri under the provisions of section 332.131, RSMo, only if the school is certified by the American Dental Association.