1. (a) Any person who desires to provide dental assistant services requiring registration or certification must obtain the proper registration or certification issued by the Board before providing the services, except as provided in Texas Occupations Code §265.001(d) and §114.11 of this chapter.
2. (b) Any applicant for registration or certification must meet the requirements of this chapter.

3. (c) To be eligible for registration or certification, an applicant must provide with an application form approved by the Board satisfactory proof to the Board that the applicant:

   1. (1) has fulfilled all requirements for registration or certification outlined in this chapter;

   2. (2) has submitted documentation of proof of United States citizenship, legal permanent residency in the United States, or federal work authorization. This requirement applies for initial and renewal applications. The applicant must submit one of the following:

      1. (A) a valid, unexpired driver's license or state identification certificate issued by a state or territory of the United States that complies with the minimum document requirements and issuance standards for federal recognition under the REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, unless the driver's license is marked "Limited Term" or "Temporary";
      2. (B) a valid, unexpired driver's license or state identification certificate that does not comply with REAL ID issued by one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming;

      3. (C) a valid passport. Valid passport is defined as:

         1. (i) an unexpired passport or passport card issued by the United States government; or
         2. (ii) an unexpired passport issued by the government of another country accompanied by a current permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;
      4. (D) a valid, unexpired license to carry a handgun issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety under Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H;
      5. (E) a United States Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); or
      6. (F) a United States Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561);
   3. (3) has met the requirements of §101.8 of this title (relating to Persons with Criminal Backgrounds);
   4. (4) has not had any disciplinary action taken in this state or any other jurisdiction;
   5. (5) has successfully completed a current course in basic life support;
   6. (6) has taken and passed the jurisprudence assessment administered by the Board or an entity designated by the Board within one year immediately prior to application;
   7. (7) has paid all application, examination and registration or certification fees required by the Dental Practice Act and Board rules;
   8. (8) has completed a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission; and
   9. (9) has submitted a National Practitioner Data Bank self-query report upon initial registration or certification. The report results must remain in the original sealed envelope.
4. (d) Applications for dental assistant registration and certification must be delivered to the office of the State Board of Dental Examiners.
5. (e) An application for dental assistant registration or certification is filed with the Board when it is actually received, date-stamped, and logged-in by the Board along with all required documentation and fees. An incomplete application will be returned to the applicant with an explanation of additional documentation or information needed.

6. (f) The Board may refuse to issue a registration or certificate or may issue a conditional registration or certificate to any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)(3) or (4) of this section, or who:

   1. (1) presents to the Board fraudulent or false evidence of the person's qualification for registration or certification;
   2. (2) is guilty of any illegality, fraud, or deception during the process to secure a registration or certification;
   3. (3) is habitually intoxicated or is addicted to drugs;
   4. (4) commits a dishonest or illegal practice in or connected to dentistry;
   5. (5) is convicted of a felony under federal law or law of this state; or
   6. (6) is found to have violated a law of this state relating to the practice of dentistry within the 12 months preceding the date the person filed an application for a registration or certification.

7. (g) If the Board chooses to issue a conditional registration or certificate, the individual may be required to enter into an agreed settlement order with the Board at the time the registration or certificate is issued.

   1. (1) The order may include limitations including, but not limited to, practice limitations, stipulations, compliance with court ordered conditions, notification to employer or any other requirements the Board recommends to ensure public safety.
   2. (2) In the event an applicant is uncertain whether he or she is qualified to obtain a dental assistant registration or certification due to criminal conduct, the applicant may request a Criminal History Evaluation Letter in accordance with §114.9 of this chapter, prior to application.
   3. (3) Should the individual violate the terms of his or her conditional registration or certificate, the Board may take additional disciplinary action against the individual.
8. (h) An applicant whose application is denied by the Board may appeal the decision to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
9. (i) An individual whose application for dental assistant registration/certification is denied is not eligible to file another application for registration/certification until the expiration of one year from the date of denial or the date of the Board's order denying the application for registration/certification, whichever date is later.

Source Note:The provisions of this §114.6 adopted to be effective December 22, 2010, 35 TexReg 11255; amended to be effective December 28, 2014, 39 TexReg 10016; amended to be effective September 30, 2021, 46 TexReg 6405; amended to be effective March 16, 2023, 48 TexReg 1449; amended to be effective August 28, 2025, 50 TexReg 5470; amended to be effective March 15, 2026, 51 TexReg 1654.