Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) No
persons shall be issued a license to practice as a dental hygienist unless such
person is a graduate of a school or college for dental hygienists recognized by
the board and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the
American Dental Association or its successor agency. Such school or college
must conduct a course consisting of not less than two (2) academic years for
dental hygiene graduation.
(2) All
applicants must show passage of all sections with a score of 75 or higher on a
psychomotor, patient-based or simulated patient-based clinical examination
administered by the board or a testing agency designated and approved by the
board. Regional examinations must include evaluations in the following areas:
(a) Pocket depth detection;
(b) Calculus detection and removal;
(c) Intra oral and extra oral
assessment.
(3) The board
will only consider exam results from:
(a) The
Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) that were attained between February 22,
1993 and December 31, 2005. SRTA retake examination results will be accepted
until December 31, 2006.
(b) After
December 31, 2005, the dental hygiene examinations uniformly administered by
the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS).
(c) Notwithstanding the acceptance of
simulated patient-based examinations provided in Rule
150-5-.02(2), after
January 1, 2015 the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) dental hygiene
examinations as uniformly administered by the Commission on Dental Competency
Assessments (CDCA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), or the Council
of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA), provided such examination was taken with
a human patient.
(d) After January
1, 2021, the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) dental hygiene
examinations as uniformly administered by the Commission on Dental Competency
Assessments (CDCA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), or the Council
of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA).
(e) After January 1, 2021, the dental hygiene
examinations as uniformly administered by Southern Regional Testing Agency
(SRTA).
(f) The Board may hold
other examinations as may be required and necessary.
(4) All applicants must pass a jurisprudence
examination on the laws and rules governing the practice of dental hygiene in
the State of Georgia. Such examinations shall be administered in the English
language.
(5) Any candidate who
fails any clinical examination three times must take a remedial course of study
designated and pre-approved by the board.
(a)
Once the candidate shows written proof of successful completion of the approved
course of study, the Board will grant the candidate one additional attempt at
successful passage of a clinical licensing examination approved by the
board.
(b) After a fourth failure
of any clinical examination, no further attempts will be authorized or scores
recognized by the board for licensure in Georgia.
(6) The applicant must provide the board with
a copy of his or her score showing passage of all sections with a score of 75
or higher on the National Board Examination.
(7) An applicant for dental hygiene licensure
must provide the board with the following items:
(a) An official transcript under seal showing
the date of graduation and degree awarded from an accredited dental hygiene
school certified by the appropriate officials;
(b) A certified copy of the results of the
clinical examination given by the board or a testing agency designated and
approved by the board;
(c) Copies
of score of the National Board Examination;
(d) Proof of current CPR
certification;
(e) Copies of any
and all National Practitioner's Data Bank reports pertaining to the
applicant;
(f) Furnish a criminal
background check. The applicant shall be responsible for all fees associated
with the performance of a background check;
(g) Verification of licensure from all states
where the applicant has ever held or currently holds a license to practice
dental hygiene. All such licenses shall be unencumbered by any past or present
disciplinary action; and
(h) In
accordance with O.C.G.A. §
50-36-1, all applicants applying
for licensure must submit an Affidavit Regarding Citizenship and submit a copy
of secure and verifiable documentation supporting the Affidavit with his or her
application.
O.C.G.A.
§§
43-1-2,
43-11-7,
43-11-9,
43-11-70,
43-11-71,
43-11-71.1,
43-11-73.
