1. (a) To qualify for a certificate to be an expanded function dental assistant, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.
2. (b) The applicant must be of good moral character.
3. (c) The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

4. (d) The applicant must:

   1. (1) Be a high school graduate or have attained a high school equivalency;
   2. (2) Have successfully completed a course of study approved, subject to subsection (e) of this section, by the Board related to the intraoral procedure for which the applicant has applied for a certificate;
   3. (3) Have the appropriate certification from the Dental Assisting National Board;
   4. (4) Have passed any examination provided for in a regulation adopted by the Board; and
   5. (5) Submit to a State criminal history records check.

5. (e) The Board may not approve a course of study under subsection (d)(2) of this section unless the course of study is part of:

   1. (1) A U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps dental assisting program;
   2. (2) A dental assisting program located within an institution of postsecondary education that is accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education;
   3. (3) A dental assisting program that is located within a high school and is recognized by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the high school accrediting body of a state;
   4. (4) A dental assisting program that is accredited by the Council on Dental Accreditation, or a successor organization;
   5. (5) A dental assisting course or program offered by the Dale Foundation, an affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board, or any successor entity; or
   6. (6) An orthodontic dental assisting course or program offered by the Trapezio Orthodontic Assistant Training Solutions, or any successor entity.

6. (f)

   1. (1) A course of study for initial certification under this section shall include at least 35 hours of instruction consisting of both online and in-person instruction.
   2. (2) The Board shall adopt regulations specifying the required number of hours for in-person instruction, online instruction, and clinical hands-on training.

Added by Acts 2022, c. 364, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022. Amended by Acts 2025, c. 23, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 24, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.