45:6-50. Additional powers, duties of board

3. The board shall have the following additional powers and duties, under this act:

a. To examine, admit, and deny persons applying for admission to the practice of dental hygiene;

b. To issue licenses to practice dental hygiene;

c. To certify academic and clinical institutions and hospitals which educate and train persons for the practice of dental hygiene or dental assisting in accordance with standards substantially similar to those of the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation of Dental and Dental Auxiliary Educational Programs and Council on Hospital Dental Service and taking into consideration the advice of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the New Jersey Department of Education;

d. To issue certificates of good standing to dental hygienists who hold a valid subsisting license to practice in this State;

e. To establish by rule or regulation, standards for the training and utilization of registered dental assistants and limited registered dental assistants;

f. To establish and recognize councils and committees which may advise and make recommendations to the board on various aspects of the education and practice for dental hygienists, registered dental assistants, limited registered dental assistants or dental assistants;

g. To prescribe expanded functions to be performed solely by dental hygienists and to be performed by dental hygienists, registered dental assistants and limited registered dental assistants under a single standard of proficiency necessary and proper to protect and promote the public health and welfare of the citizens of this State, and impose such restrictions and requirements, including the setting of educational prerequisites to the performance of such functions and the administration of examinations, as are necessary to insure adherence to the adopted standard of proficiency. Expansion and assignment of such functions, training and examination procedures shall be developed in consultation with the relevant advisory councils;

h. To adopt rules and regulations to achieve the objectives contemplated by this act, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.);

i. To do any and all other things which may be appropriate to achieve the objectives contemplated by this act, or which may be useful in executing any of the duties, powers or functions of the board.

L.1979,c.46,s.3; amended 1995,c.367,s.2.