Licensure by Examination—Dental Hygienists

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the procedure for obtaining a dental hygiene license by examination. (1) To qualify for licensure as set out in sections 332.231 and 332.251, RSMo, each applicant shall— (A) Have satisfactorily completed a course in dental hygiene in an accredited dental hygiene school and meet the other re quirements of sections 332.231 and 332.251, RSMo; (B) Have passed the National Board Examination in accor dance with the criteria established by the sponsoring body; (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 section (3) below of this rule; (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 the 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 the 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 prac tice, each applicant shall submit the following: (A) An 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 hygiene school as defined in section 332.011, RSMo. Transcripts must be sent directly to the board from the accredited dental hygiene 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 hygiene license; (I) A completed Missouri State Highway Patrol and Federal 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 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 com pleted within one (1) year, an application becomes invalid and a new application process must begin. (3) Should an applicant fail a clinical competency examina tion twice, the board may require the applicant to complete remedial instruction in the deficient area(s) from an accredited dental hygiene school before further re-examination. 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 hygiene institution outlining the remedial instruction to be completed by the applicant and confirming the applicant’s acceptance into the program; (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 license fee as specified in 20 CSR 21102.170. (5) Effective January 1, 2023, competency examinations shall be administered by any of the following or by any future ap pellation of the following: the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS), CDCA-WREB-CITA, the Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA), or by an individual state dental board. The tested procedures are to be patient based, manikin based, or a combination of both. AUTHORITY: sections 332.031, 332.241, and 332.261, RSMo 2016, and sections 43.543, 332.231, and 332.251, RSMo Supp. 2024.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 110-2.050. Original rule filed Dec. 12, 1975, effective Jan. 12, 1976. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Oct. 13, 1983, effective Jan. 13, 1984. Amended: Filed April 16, 1985, effective Aug. 26, 1985. Amended: Filed Aug. 4, 1986, effective Oct. 27, 1986. Amended: Filed Nov. 2, 1987, effective Jan. 14, 1988. Amended: Filed Feb. 17, 1988, effective April 28, 1988. Amended: Filed Feb. 14, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Amended: Filed June 27, AND INSURANCE 1995, effective Dec. 30, 1995. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Sept. 15, 1998, effective April 30, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2110-2.050, ef fective 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 May 18, 2022, effective Nov. 30, 2022. Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 2024, ef fective April 30, 2025. *Original authority: 43.543, RSMo 1993, amended 2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018; 332.031, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1993, 1995; 332.231, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 2020; 332.241, RSMo 1969, amended 1981; 332.251, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 2020; and 332.261, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1983, 1993, 2001, 2004. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-09, 20 CSR 2110-2.050, subsection (1)(E) was suspended from April 10, 2020 through September 15, 2021.