Licensure Exemption Process

Any person who, pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-5-109, may be eligible to practice in Tennessee without a Tennessee 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 dental hygienist 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 dental hygienists licensed in other states 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. Dental hygienists employed in the RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS CHAPTER 0460-03 approved special projects may practice only until the next Board-approved examination as provided in Rule 0460-03-.05(1)(a), or their licensure by criteria approval, whichever comes first. However, dental hygienists employed in such projects who are under the sponsorship of a dentist licensed in Tennessee and are under the auspices of a local 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 pursuant to this type exemption. (3) The director or owner of any agency other than a licensed hospital which intends to employ graduates of dental hygiene 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 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 hygiene 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 hygienist teaching institution which intends to employ or utilize unlicensed graduates of dental hygiene schools, college 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(2) 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 shall be governed by Rules 0460-01- .03 and 0460-01-.04.