Licensure Exemption Process

Any person who pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-5-109, may be eligible to practice dentistry in Tennessee without a Tennessee dental license or with a Board issued exemption from licensure may practice or secure an exemption upon compliance with any of the following which apply to the person’s circumstances: (1) Dentists licensed in Tennessee who intend to call into Tennessee, a dentist licensed in another state for consultative or operative purposes, must obtain prior or advance approval by submitting a letter of request to the Board Administrative Office. In emergency situations, telephone requests for prior approval may be utilized. (2) The director of any special project not affiliated with a state supported institution or public health agency who intends to employ dentists licensed in another state must obtain approval of the special project by submitting a letter of request to the Board Administrative Office which sets forth all particulars of the special project. Dentists employed in the approved special projects may practice only until the next Board-approved examination as provided in Rule 0460-02-.05(1)(a). However, dentists employed in such projects who are under the RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 sponsorship of a dentist licensed in Tennessee and are under the auspices of a local dental society may only be employed for a period of six (6) months. (3) The Director or Owner of any agency other than a licensed hospital which intends to employ dental interns, externs or graduates of dental schools when such individuals are not licensed in any state must obtain approval of the agency by submitting a written request for approval to the Board Administrative Office which sets forth the particulars of the agency and justification for employing such individuals. (4) The Director of any research or development project employing personnel who will be performing dental procedures must obtain approval of the project by submitting a written request for approval to the Board Administrative Office which sets forth the particulars of the project and contains evidence that the project is under the auspices and direction of a recognized educational institution or the Tennessee Department of Health. (5) The Dean of the dental teaching institution which intends to employ or utilize unlicensed graduates of dental schools, colleges or universities as clinical instructors must submit a written application for exemption to the Board Administrative Office which contains the following: (a) The duties to be performed by the graduates, and (b) The method of supervision imposed by the institution over the graduates, and (c) A list of all graduates requiring exemption, and (d) The student clinical instructor exemption fee as provided in Rule 0460-01-.02(1) for each graduate requiring exemption. (6) Exemptions granted pursuant to paragraph (5) of this rule shall be effective only until the next scheduled applicable examination of the Board and shall not be extended. (7) Application review and decisions required by this rule are governed by Rule 0460-01-.04.