Licensure and Certification Requirements for Dental Staff
The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry (SBOD) sets standard requirements
for individuals wishing to obtain or renew a license or certificate to practice
in the dental profession. The requirements include standards for education,
examination, biennial renewal and continuing education.
Education and Examination
Dental Hygienists
Candidates for
licensure as a dental hygienist must:
-
Submit certification of graduation from a dental hygiene
school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Dental
Association (ADA).
-
Pass the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
and the clinical North East Regional Board (NERB) Dental Hygiene
Examination.
Please refer to the PA Code for more education and examination regulations.
Expanded Function Dental
Assistants
Candidates for certification as expanded function dental
assistants (EFDAs) must submit verification for one of the following:
-
Graduation with an Associate Degree from an EFDA program at
a two-year college or institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency
approved by the U.S. Department of Education Council on Postsecondary
Accreditation.
-
Graduation from a dental hygiene school accredited by the
ADA Commission on Accreditation, at which a minimum of 75 hours of clinical and
didactic instruction in restorative functions were completed.
-
Completion of an EFDA certification program, including at
least 200 hours of clinical and didactic instruction, from a program accredited
by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation or an agency approved by the U.S.
Department of Education Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.
Candidates also must pass an
examination containing both written and clinical components acceptable to the
SBOD. Please refer to the PA Code for more education and examination regulations.
Dental
Assistants
The SBOD does not set any requirements or standards
regarding the education or examination of dental assistants; however,
radiological certification is necessary.
License and Certificate Renewal
Licenses and certificates are renewable biennially beginning
April 1 of every odd-numbered year, for a fee charged by the SBOD. Dental
hygienists and EFDAs who fail to renew their licenses and certificates are
prohibited from practicing their profession in Pennsylvania. For more
information on license and certificate renewal, please refer to section 33.105 of the PA Code.
Online
Licensing
Dental Professionals must apply for and all licenses and certificates online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).
Continuing Education Requirements
The following CE requirements must be met to be eligible for
license or certificate renewal:
At least 50 percent of the required credit hours must be taken
in lecture or clinical presentation, and a maximum of 50 percent of the
required credit hours may be taken through individual study. CE subject areas
must be approved by the SBOD. For a full list of subject areas please refer
to section 33.402 of the PA Code. For specific details regarding
continuing education requirements for dental hygienists and EFDAs, please refer
to section 33.401 of the PA Code.
Related Links
Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry
The Pennsylvania Code – Chapter 33 State Board of
Dentistry
National
Board Dental Hygiene Exam Information
The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments