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S2862A
2026 -- S 2862 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC005298/SUB A
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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:
Senators Vargas, Quezada, Murray, Bell, Urso, Lauria, Thompson,
DiMario, and Valverde
Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
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
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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)(1) Foreign-trained dentists are eligible for limited licenses provided the dentist:
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(i) Graduated from a reputable dental college as defined in this section;
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(ii) Practices under the direct supervision of a supervisory dentist for the first six (6) months
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of practice and then be eligible for general supervision as determined by the supervising dentist;
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and
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(iii) Has passed an examination as determined by the board of examiners in dentistry.
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(2) Foreign trained dentists with limited licenses are excluded from working in a private
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practice setting.
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(c) Foreign-trained dental hygienists are eligible for limited licenses, provided the dental
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hygienist:
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(1) Graduated from a reputable dental hygiene college as defined in this section;
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(2) Practices under the supervision of a supervising dentist; and
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(3) Has passed an examination as determined by the board of examiners in dentistry.
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(d) Limited registration or licensure under this section may be revoked at any time by the
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director of 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 said course is to be reviewed by a credentialing agency approved by the board;
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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 shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
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provisions of this section by December 1, 2027.
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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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This act would allow foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited
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licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising
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dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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