1. (1) A person acting as a dental assistant shall be exempt from licensure as a radiologic technologist when operating the following equipment under the supervision of a dentist for the sole purpose of routine oral radiography in which the X-ray beam is limited to the patient’s head:

   1. (i) conventional radiographic dental equipment in which the diameter of the X-ray beam at the patient’s face is limited to not more than three inches;
   2. (ii) panoramic radiographic dental equipment; and
   3. (iii) conebeam computed tomography equipment after demonstrating satisfactory completion of a training program approved by the department or one provided by the equipment manufacturer. Conebeam computed tomography equipment must be performed under the direct supervision of a dentist.

2. (2) Nothing in this Part shall be construed to apply to the practice of the profession of dental hygiene, including the use of X-ray, by persons duly licensed as dental hygienists by the State Education Department or by students enrolled in and under the supervision of the faculty of an educational program in dental hygiene registered by the State Education Department.

   (b) Podiatry assistants.

   A person authorized to provide supportive services to a licensed podiatrist pursuant to section 7006(4) of the State Education Law is exempt from licensure as a radiologic technologist when operating a podiatry X-ray unit under the direct supervision of the podiatrist for the sole purpose of routine radiography of the podiatrist’s patient’s foot.

3. (c) A person employed at a local correctional facility, as defined by Correction Law section 2(16), is exempt from licensure as a radiologic technologist when operating body imaging scanning equipment that applies ionizing radiation to humans for purposes of screening inmates committed to such facility, in connection with the implementation of such facility’s security program.

(a) Dental assistants.