Criteria Approval Licensure Process (Reciprocity)

Dental hygienists who are licensed in other states may obtain a license to practice in Tennessee by the following process: (1) An applicant shall obtain a Board application form from the Board’s Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Board’s Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that all activities necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing a licensure application. (2) An applicant shall cause to be submitted directly, from a dental hygiene school, college or university approved or provisionally approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, to the Board Administrative Office, a certificate of graduation containing the institution’s Official Seal and which shows the following: (a) The applicant’s transcript; and (b) The degree and diploma conferred. (3) An applicant shall cause to be submitted directly from the American Dental Association, to the Board Administrative Office, proof of successful completion of the National Board examination if the person graduated from a dental hygiene college, school or university after 1972. (4) An applicant shall submit: (a) Proof of having attained at least eighteen (18) years of age; and (b) A signed “passport” style photograph taken within the preceding twelve (12) months. (5) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include at least two (2) letters attesting to the applicant’s character, standing and ability from dentists on the signator’s letterhead. (6) An applicant shall submit proof of United States or Canadian citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live in the United States. Such evidence may include copies of birth certificates, naturalization papers, or current visa status. (7) An applicant shall submit the licensure application fee and state regulatory fee as provided in Rule 0460-01-.02(2). Also, if licensure is granted, the new licensee must submit the criteria approval licensure fee provided in Rule 0460-01-.02(2) before a license will be issued. (8) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following: (a) Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations. (b) The denial of licensure application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any state. (c) Any other civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under any country’s or state’s statutory, common, or case law. (d) Failure of any dental or dental hygiene licensure examination. RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS CHAPTER 0460-03 (9) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check. (10) An applicant shall submit evidence of current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which is defined as successful completion of a BLS for Healthcare Providers, or CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, or an equivalent course, which provides training for healthcare professionals in CPR and the use of an AED by a Board-approved training organization. The course must be conducted in person and include a skills examination on a manikin with a certified instructor. (11) The applicant shall submit or cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement from each licensing board of each State in which licensure is or was ever held which indicates the applicant either holds a current active license and whether it is in good standing, or held a license which is currently inactive and whether it was in good standing at the time it became inactive. An applicant must possess an active, current license which is in good standing in at least one other state. (12) An applicant must submit a personal or professional resume on a form provided by the Board. (13) An applicant must submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of all the following: (a) Active, licensed practice of dental hygiene in a private office setting, or in post-graduate dental hygiene study or in service as a dental hygiene faculty member for three (3) of the five (5) years immediately preceding application. Temporary absences from employment during the three (3) year period may under individual circumstances not be considered as a disqualifying factor at the discretion of the Board. (b) If requested, ability to provide patient care on a continuing basis. (14) Unless an applicant subsequently retakes and passes a failed examination, an applicant must never have failed any Board-approved examination as provided in Rule 0460-03-.05 to be eligible for licensure under the criteria approval process described in this rule. (15) An applicant must successfully complete the Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination. (16) Application review and licensure decisions required by this rule shall be governed by Rule 0460-01-.04.