ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2137: dental board; licensure; renewal

Sponsor: Representative Bliss, LD 1

Committee on Health & Human Services

Overview

Reduces the amount of time that a dentist, dental hygienist, dental therapist and denturist (dental professional) must submit a completed renewal application to reinstate their expired license or certificate from two years to one year. Removes the reference of the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) for dental hygienist's examinations.

History

Licenses or certificates for dental professionals expire 30 days after their birth month every three years. By that deadline every dental professional must submit to the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners (Board) a complete renewal application and pay a licensee renewal fee of not more than $650 or $300 for a certificate, established by a formal vote of the Board. The prescribed fees do not apply to a dental professional who is retired or has a disability.

An expired dental professional license or certificate may be reinstated by submitting a complete renewal application within the 24-month period immediately following the expiration of the license with payment of the renewal fee and a $100 penalty. Whenever issued, reinstatement is as of the date of application and entitles the applicant to licensure or certification only for the remainder of the applicable three-year period. If a person does not reinstate their license or certificate, they must reapply for licensure or certification (A.R.S. §§ 32-1236, 32-1276.02, 32-1287 and 32-1297.06).

WREB is an examination agency of dentists and denturists. On August 1, 2022, WREB merged with two other examination agencies, now known as CDCA-WREB-CITA, in order to simplify the licensure process for schools, candidates and dental boards offering the universally accepted American Board of Dental Examiners licensure standard through North America (CDCA-WREB-CITA).

Provisions

1. Changes the amount of time dental professionals must submit a completed renewal application to reinstate their expired license or certificate from 24-months to 12-months immediately following the expiration of the license. (Sec. 1,2,4 and 5)

2. Permits dental hygienists to administer local anesthetics under the direct supervision of a dentist if the hygienist completes an examination in local anesthesia given by any state or regional testing agency in the U.S., rather than by WREB. (Sec. 3)

3. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 3 and 5)

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