1. (1) “Active Employment” is defined as being employed at the time of application and remaining employed through issuance of an award pursuant to Rule 64W-6.005, F.A.C.
2. (2) “Dentist” and “dental hygenist” means any person licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene pursuant to Chapter 466, F.S.
3. (3) “Dental services” means services provided by dentists pursuant to section 466.003(3), F.S., and by dental hygienists pursuant to section 466.003(4), F.S. For the purpose of fulfilling the 25 hours of volunteer dental services required by paragraph 64W-6.002(1)(g), F.A.C., dental services include related services which contribute to the provision of dental care at a qualified clinic or program.
4. (4) “Direct patient care” means face-to-face care with patients. Hours spent on-call or traveling are not considered direct patient care. Telehealth services provided to established patients may constitute direct patient care hours for no more than 50% of the applicant’s weekly direct patient care hours.
5. (5) “Federally funded health center” means a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alike designated by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
6. (6) “FRAMEdental” means the Dental Student Loan Repayment Program established pursuant to section 381.4019, F.S.
7. (7) “Free clinic” means a clinic that delivers only medical diagnostic services or nonsurgical medical treatment free of charge to all low-income recipients. Dental services are included as part of such medical treatment or services.
8. (8) “Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)” means a geographic area, an area having a special population, or a facility, as designated by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This definition includes sections 381.4019(1)(a) and (e), F.S.
9. (9) “Lender” means any entity involved in making, holding, consolidating, originating, servicing, or guaranteeing any loan to students to finance higher education expenses. This includes lenders who provide private educational loans as well as lenders who provide loans that are made, insured, or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education.

10. (10) “Public health program” means a county health department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally funded community health center (a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alike designated by the HRSA) or a federally funded migrant health center, any publicly funded health care program, or a nonprofit health care program.

    1. (a) A publicly funded health care program is an organization or business that provides healthcare and is funded by either the federal government, the State of Florida, or a local government. Acceptance of Medicare and Medicaid does not render a program publicly funded.
    2. (b) A nonprofit health care program is an organization or business that provides healthcare and is registered as a nonprofit with the Florida Department of State or approved for 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.
11. (11) “Qualified loan” means a federal and/or private student loan with a U.S.-based financial institution that has a verified principal balance remaining which loan proceeds were used to pay educational expenses enumerated in section 381.4019(3)(b), F.S., incurred by students for studies leading to dental licensure. Loans whose proceeds were used for any educational expenses that did not directly lead to dental licensure are not qualified loans. Loans from an individual or entity that does not meet the definition of lender are not qualified loans.
12. (12) “Recertification” means an application submitted by an applicant that was awarded a loan in the immediately preceding application calendar year.
13. (13) “Recruitment Factor” means an additional 2.5 points added to an applicant’s prioritization score set forth in paragraph 64W-6.005(2)(a), F.A.C., if the applicant was hired within the same state fiscal year as the application cycle.
14. (14) “State fiscal year” means the period of time from July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year.
15. (15) “U.S.-based financial institution” means any financial institution headquartered within the United States. Financial institutions headquartered outside of the U.S., even if they have branches in the U.S., are not U.S.-based financial institutions.
16. (16) “Volunteer” means to perform services willingly and without being required or paid by the employer to do so.
17. (17) This rule will be reviewed and repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process 5 years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 381.4019 FS. Law Implemented 381.4019 FS. History – New 2-15-24, Amended 5-21-25.