(a) By the authority of Arkansas Code § 17-82-308, a dentist who desires to practice his or her profession in the State of Arkansas may apply in writing to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners for a license by credentials pursuant to the following requirements:
(1)
- (A) Applicant must:
(i) Be a graduate of and have received a DDS or DMD from a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation;
(ii) Be currently licensed in the state from which he or she is applying; and
- (iii) Have practiced continuously for a period of five (5) years immediately prior to applying.
- (B) To be considered as practicing “continuously”, the applicant must have actively practiced dentistry for a minimum of one thousand (1,000) hours per year for the two (2) calendar years immediately prior to the date of application.
- (C) The qualifying hours of clinical practice must have been performed in the most current jurisdiction from where the application is being made.
- (D) The applicant may have participated in a postgraduate dental/medical education program during the five (5) years in order to satisfy the five-year practice requirement;
- (2) Applicant must file with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners a completed Arkansas Dental License by Credentials Application approved by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners;
(3) Applicant must:
- (A) Request and authorize schools to provide the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners with an official transcript with school seal from the school of dentistry that issued the DDS or DMD degree; and
- (B) Have the school send same directly from the school to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners office;
(4)
- (A) Applicant must be responsible for verification forms to be submitted by the state board from every state where licensed, whether license is current or not.
- (B) Such forms should be sent directly from the state board to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners office;
(5)
- (A) Applicant must have a National Board Exam Card sent from the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations office with said exam card reflecting passage of the Integrated National Board Dental Examination.
- (B) Photocopies are not accepted;
- (6) Applicant must complete a comprehensive resume on forms furnished by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners;
(7) Applicant must have letters submitted to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners from two (2) licensed dentists, practicing in the same locale of the state from which he or she is applying, attesting to the applicant's:
- (A) Moral character;
- (B) Standing; and
- (C) Ability;
- (8) Applicant must have letters from the state and local dental association peer review committee (if there is one) submitted setting forth information of record concerning the applicant;
- (9) Drug Enforcement Administration clearance and National Practitioner Data Bank inquiry will be initiated by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners office;
- (10) Applicant must submit to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners office a copy of a certificate showing current healthcare provider-level cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate and last two (2) years’ history of continuing education;
- (11) Each applicant must supply to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners a signed letter of intention to practice in this state within one (1) year of receiving his or her license;
- (12) Applicant must pass the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination with a score of seventy-five percent (75%) as administered by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners;
- (13) Applicant must submit a fee (to be determined by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners) to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners office with the application;
(14)
- (A) Applicant must provide proof of successfully passing a clinical examination for licensure.
- (B) Results of the clinical exam must be sent directly to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners from the state or regional testing agency that administered the examination; and
- (15) Applicant must have continuing education credits at least equal to those required by current Arkansas licensees for the previous two-year period.
(b) The application, resume, and all other supporting material shall be reviewed by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners.
(c) The applicant shall present himself or herself before the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners at a time and place designated by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners for a jurisprudence examination and a personal interview.
- (d) The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners will:
- (1) Review the application, resume, and all supporting material, as well as the result of the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination; and
- (2) Approve or deny the application for licensure.
Codification Notes: "DDS" refers to Doctor of Dental Surgery. "DMD" refers to Doctor of Dental Medicine.