HF3516

Purpose

• The bill makes wide-ranging changes to Minnesota’s regulation of dental professions. It updates licensure processes, adds new license types (for faculty, guests, residents, and emeritus practitioners), expands pathways for non-traditional graduates, and adds waivers and volunteer options, all while clarifying what counts as practicing dentistry and how the Board of Dentistry ensures public safety.

Key Provisions and What They Do

• Faculty dentists (Sec. 1, 5)

  • Creates licensed statuses for faculty members of dental schools (limited faculty license and full faculty license).
  • Deans or program directors certify which faculty practice dentistry; some practice within the school or in affiliated facilities, with special rules.
  • A dean or program director must certify faculty who practice dentistry but aren’t Minnesota-licensed; licenses can be issued with specific renewal schedules and fees.
  • Distinguishes when a faculty member may practice outside the school (full vs. limited scope) and sets conditions tied to teaching, research, and time commitments.

• What counts as practicing dentistry (Sec. 2)

  • Defines practice to include using a dental degree/designation to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or operate on tooth-related conditions; operating a place where dental work is done; performing certain dental operations; and other activities connected to dental care and prosthetics.

• Exemptions and special settings (Sec. 3)

  • Keeps exemptions for military, CODA-accredited education programs, and clinicians from other states under certain circumstances (e.g., examiners, clinical exams, or teaching settings).
  • Allows certain activities of students and faculty in accredited programs to proceed under indirect supervision.

• Licensure by examination and pathways (Sec. 4–7)

  • Maintains standard licensure by examination but adds alternatives for nontraditional routes.
  • Foreign-trained graduates may be tested and licensed if their training is equivalent or higher than Minnesota’s accredited programs; exam must cover Minnesota law and board rules.
  • If a candidate fails the clinical exam twice, further education and training are required before retaking (board rules).
  • Specialty licenses can be granted for recognized dental specialty areas after meeting postdoctoral education, board certification, or equivalent experience; applicants may need English proficiency, National Board exam components, jurisprudence, and record/ethics requirements. Specialty license holders are limited to their specialty areas unless the board approves broader practice.

• Resident dentists (Sec. 6)

  • Creates a resident dentist license allowing graduates to practice under supervision; includes eligibility for medical assistance programs and annual renewals.
  • This license does not by itself qualify someone for full licensure; it’s a supervised pathway.

• Licensure by credentials and credentials-based pathways (Sec. 9, 13)

  • Allows licensure by credentials for dental assistants based on education, experience, and performance, potentially waiving some formal education requirements if minimum knowledge and board-approved criteria are met.
  • The board can waive some licensure prerequisites and may require English proficiency testing or other demonstrations of knowledge when using a credentials path.

• Guest licenses for public health and volunteer work (Sec. 10)

  • Creates guest licenses to practice in Minnesota for professionals licensed elsewhere if they work in public health settings or volunteer in designated nonprofit clinics serving underserved populations.
  • Conditions include not receiving compensation (for certain volunteer arrangements), limits on the practice, and annual renewal. Disciplinary actions in other jurisdictions must be reported.
  • A separate volunteer guest license can be issued for up to 10 days per calendar year for volunteer services; no fee for volunteer licenses in that scenario.

• Public health volunteer waiver for continuing education (Sec. 11)

  • Grants a CE waiver for retirees who volunteer in public health/indigent care settings, provided they meet certain activity limits.
  • Requires documentation of infection control and CPR/medical emergency training as part of the waiver process.

• Waiver and examination flexibility (Sec. 12)

  • Allows waiving some examination components for applicants who have passed NBDE/National Board components or who have demonstrated strong scholastic standing.
  • For certain pathways, waivers apply to clinical or law-related exam components if other criteria are met.

• Graduates of nonaccredited programs (Sec. 14)

  • Creates a pathway for graduates from nonaccredited dental programs to obtain a limited general dentist license after a three-year supervised practice period with a Minnesota-licensed dentist.
  • After the three-year period, if supervising dentists recommend unlimited licensure and no disciplinary action exists, a full unrestricted license may be granted.

• Emeritus active licensure (Sec. 15)

  • Establishes an emeritus active license for retirees who are out of active practice but want limited, supervised, or nonclinical roles.
  • Allowed activities include pro bono or volunteer work, paid practice limited to supervision for licensing purposes (up to 500 hours per year), or paid consulting (up to 500 hours per year).
  • Emeritus licensees cannot present themselves as full licensees and are subject to board oversight and possible disciplinary action.

Significant Changes from Current Law

• New license types:
  • Limited and full faculty licenses for dental school faculty.
  • Resident dentist licenses for supervised practice.
  • Specialty licenses with explicit areas and rigorous board/education requirements.
  • Guest licenses for practicing in public health or volunteer contexts.
  • Emeritus active licensure for retirees with limited activity options.
• Expanded pathways for nontraditional graduates:
  • Licensure by credentials for dental assistants.
  • Three-year supervised pathway for nonaccredited dental school graduates to achieve a full general license.
• Expanded exemptions and exemptions-related activities:
  • More explicit exemptions for teaching, exams, and licensure activities to support education and licensure processes.
• Continuing education and waivers:
  • Opportunities for CE waivers for retirees who volunteer, with specific training requirements (infection control, emergencies, CPR).
  • Waivers for certain examination components under defined conditions.
• Public health and volunteer emphasis:
  • Guest licenses and volunteer-related provisions to support care access for indigent or underserved populations.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

• Access to care: Public health guest licenses and volunteer waivers may increase the availability of dental care for underserved populations and provide pathways for qualified professionals to contribute.
• Workforce flexibility: New license types (faculty, resident, emeritus, credentials-based) give the Board of Dentistry more tools to manage education, teaching, and workforce needs.
• Public safety and standards: Retention of NBDE components, CODA alignment, and ethics/law examinations aims to maintain professional standards while expanding access.
• Training and oversight: Expanded pathways require clear oversight and ongoing coordination with CODA-accredited programs and the Board to ensure consistency and public protection.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Board of Dentistry - Minnesota Statutes 150A (various subdivisions) - Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) - National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE) - General Practice Residency (GPR) / Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) - Faculty license (limited vs full) - Guest license - Resident dentist license - Specialty licenses (multiple recognized specialties) - Dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental assistant - Licensure by credentials - Nonaccredited dental education programs - Indigent/public health clinics - Volunteering and pro bono practice - Emeritus active licensure - Continuing education (CE) waivers - Infection control and CPR requirements - Jurisprudence examination and board rules