§764. Dental hygienist; application for license

A. Every applicant to be licensed as a dental hygienist shall:

(1) Be not less than eighteen years of age.

(2) Be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States unless otherwise prohibited by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

(3) File with the board a written application upon the form prescribed by the board, verified by oaths, and accompanied by the required fee and a recent unmounted autographed photograph of the applicant.

(4) Present satisfactory evidence of graduation from a training school of dental hygienists approved by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, according to its rules and regulations.

(5) Present satisfactory evidence of having taken an examination in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations before being accepted for the regular examination given by the board or pass an examination given by the board in the theory and practice of the science of dental hygiene in addition to the regular examination given by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Upon receipt of information that the applicant has passed the examination in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he may be awarded a dental hygiene license, but only when all other requirements for licensure have been met. If the applicant fails the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, he must successfully retake the Louisiana clinical licensing examination after providing satisfactory evidence of subsequently passing the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.

(6) Possess a current certificate in the American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation health care provider course, the American Red Cross Professional Rescue Course, or their equivalent.

B. In addition to these requirements, the board may decline to issue or renew a dental hygienist's license for any of the causes listed in R.S. 37:777.

C. Any person who has graduated from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and who has successfully completed the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations for either the profession of dentistry or dental hygiene may apply for a dental hygiene license.

D. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or independent third-party clinical dental hygiene licensing examination approved by the board that shall include procedures performed on human subjects as part of the assessment of clinical competencies and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for a dental hygiene license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful completion of such clinical licensing examination.

Amended by Acts 1966, No. 227, §2; Acts 1970, No. 355, §6; Acts 1972, No. 209, §5; Acts 1982, No. 278, §1; Acts 1991, No. 727, §1; Acts 1995, No. 920, §1; Acts 1997, No. 83, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1358, §1; Acts 2001, No. 712, §1; Acts 2006, No. 329, §1; Acts 2008, No. 906, §1.