AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS (Allows foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.)

H7838

2026 -- H 7838
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LC005785
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL
HYGIENISTS

Introduced By:
Representatives Cruz, Handy, Giraldo, Stewart, Diaz, Batista, Cotter,
Sanchez, Morales, and Furtado

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 5-31.1-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-31.1 entitled "Dentists
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and Dental Hygienists" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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5-31.1-22. Limited registrations.
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(a)
An applicant for limited registration under this chapter who furnishes the board with
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satisfactory proof that the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age or older and of good moral
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character, that the applicant has graduated from a dental school accredited by the American Dental
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Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or its designated agency and approved by the
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board, and that the applicant has been appointed an intern, resident, fellow, or dental officer in a
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hospital or other institution maintained by the state, or by a city or town, or in a hospital or clinic
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that is incorporated under the laws of this state or in a clinic that is affiliated with a hospital licensed
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by the department of health, or in an outpatient clinic operated by the state, may, upon the payment
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as set forth in § 23-1-54, be registered by the board as a hospital dental officer for any time that the
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board prescribes; but that limited registration entitles the applicant to practice dentistry in the
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hospital or other institution designated on his or her certificate of limited registration, or outside
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that hospital or other institution for the treatment, under the supervision of one of its dental officers
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who is a licensed dentist, in the state of persons accepted by it as patients, or in any hospital,
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institution, clinic, or program affiliated for training purposes with the hospital, institution, or clinic
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designated on this certificate, which affiliation is approved by the board, and in any case under

1
regulations established by that hospital, institution, or clinic. Each hospital, institution, or clinic
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shall annually submit to the board a list of training programs that comply with the terms of this
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section.
Limited registration under this section may be revoked at any time by the board. The board
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and/or the director may promulgate any rules and regulations that it deems necessary to carry out
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the provisions of this section.
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(b) Foreign-trained dentists are eligible for limited licenses as described in the rules and
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regulations pertaining to dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants (216-RICR-40-05-2),
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provided they have graduated from a reputable dental college, are under the supervision of a
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supervising dentist, and have passed an examination as determined by the board of examiners in
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dentistry.
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(c) Foreign-trained dental hygienists are eligible for limited licenses as described in the
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rules and regulations pertaining to dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants (216-RICR-40-
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05-2), provided they have graduated from a reputable dental hygiene college, are under the
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supervision of a supervising dentist, and have passed an examination as determined by the board
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of examiners in dentistry.
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(d) Limited registration under this section may be revoked at any time by the director of
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the department of health or by the board.
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(e) A dental college shall be considered reputable which possesses the following
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qualifications:
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(1) It shall be incorporated and authorized by its charter to confer degrees of doctor of
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dental medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental science;
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(2) It shall have a competent faculty and corps of instructors. The teaching staff shall
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deliver a comprehensive and satisfactory course of lectures supplemented by adequate clinical and
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laboratory exercises in all subjects pertaining to modern dentistry;
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(3) It shall give a course of not less than four (4) separate academic years to matriculants
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who are graduates of accredited high schools or who present proof of equivalent training, or a
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course of not less than three (3) separate academic years to matriculants who present satisfactory
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proof of having successfully completed two (2) years of appropriate pre-dental training in a college
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or university authorized to grant degrees. Each academic year shall consist of not less than thirty-
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two (32) weeks; and
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(4) The administrative policy of the dental college shall be such as to accomplish the
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requirements of this section.
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(f) A dental hygiene college shall be considered reputable which possesses the following
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qualifications:

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(1) It shall be incorporated and authorized by its charter to confer, at a minimum, an
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associate degree in dental hygiene;
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(2) It shall have a competent faculty and corps of instructors. The teaching staff shall
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deliver a comprehensive and satisfactory course of lectures supplemented by adequate clinical and
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laboratory exercises in all subjects pertaining to modern dental hygiene;
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(3) It shall give a course of not less than two (2) separate academic years to matriculants
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who are graduates of accredited high schools or who present proof of equivalent training. Each
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academic year shall consist of not less than thirty-two (32) weeks; and
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(4) The administrative policy of the dental hygiene college shall be such as to accomplish
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the requirements of this section.
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(g) The board and/or the director shall promulgate any rules and regulations that the board
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or the director deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL
HYGIENISTS
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1
This act would allow foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited
2
licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising
3
dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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