44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO DENTISTRY; PERMITTING THE LICENSING OF DENTISTS BY CREDENTIAL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 61-5A-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 55, Section 12) is amended to read:

"61-5A-12. DENTISTS--REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE--SPECIALTY LICENSE.--

A. All applicants for licensure as a dentist [must] shall have graduated and received a diploma from an accredited dental college or school of dentistry of a university that is accredited by the American dental association commission on dental accreditation and have passed the written portion of the dental examination administered by the joint commission on national dental examinations of the American dental association or, if the test is not available, [then] another written examination determined by the board.

B. Applicants for general dentistry licensure by examination shall be required, in addition to the requirements set forth in Subsection A of this section, to pass a test covering the laws and regulations for the practice of dentistry in New Mexico. Written examinations shall be supplemented by the board or its agents administering to each applicant a practical or clinical examination that reasonably tests the applicant's qualifications to practice general dentistry. Upon an applicant [successfully] passing the written and clinical examinations and payment in advance of the necessary fees, the board shall issue a license to practice dentistry.

C. The board [may] shall issue a general dentistry license by credentials without a practical or clinical examination to an applicant who has had a uniform service practice in the United States military or public health service for three years immediately preceding the application or who is duly licensed by examination as a dentist under the laws of another state or territory of the United States; provided there are no proceedings pending against the applicant's license and the license is in good standing under that jurisdiction or authority. The applicant [must] shall otherwise meet the [same] requirements [necessary to sit for such examination by the board or its examining agents along with other qualifications as deemed necessary by regulation of the board] of the Dental Health Care Act, including [appropriate fees] payment of a fee of no more than five hundred dollars ($500) and passing an examination covering the laws and [regulations] rules of the practice of dentistry in New Mexico.

D. The board may issue a general dentistry license by credentials to an applicant who has maintained a uniform service practice in the United States military or public health service for three years immediately preceding the application, or who is duly licensed by examination as a dentist under the laws of another state or territory of the United States; provided the license is in good standing under that jurisdiction or authority. The applicant shall otherwise meet the requirements of the Dental Health Care Act and rules adopted pursuant to that act, including payment of a fee of no more than five-hundred-dollars ($500) and passing an examination covering the laws and rules of the practice of dentistry in New Mexico.

[D.] E. The board may issue a specialty license by examination to an applicant who has [successfully] passed a clinical and written examination given by the board or its examining agents that covers the applicant's specialty. The applicant [must] shall have a postgraduate degree or certificate from an accredited dental college, school of dentistry of a university or other residency program that is accredited by the American dental association commission on dental accreditation in one of the specialty areas of dentistry recognized by the American dental association. The applicant [must] shall also meet all other requirements as established by rules of the board, which shall include an examination covering the laws and regulations of the practice of dentistry in New Mexico. A specialty license limits the licensee to practice only in that specialty area.

[E.] F. The board may issue a specialty license by credentials to an applicant who is duly licensed by examination as a dentist under the laws of another state or territory of the United States and has a postgraduate degree or certificate from an accredited dental college, school of dentistry of a university or other residency program that is accredited by the American dental association commission on dental accreditation in one of the specialty areas of dentistry recognized by the American dental association. The applicant [must] shall also meet all other qualifications as deemed necessary by [regulation] rules of the board, which shall include an examination covering the laws and [regulations] rules of the practice of dentistry in New Mexico. A specialty license limits the licensee to practice only in that specialty area."

Section 2. Section 61-5A-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 55, Section 20) is amended to read:

"61-5A-20. FEES.--The board [and] or the committee shall establish a schedule of reasonable fees not to exceed the following:

Dentists Dental Hygienists

A. licensure by examination $1,500 $1,000

B. licensure by credential [$3,000] $500 $1,500

C. specialty license by

examination $1,500

D. specialty license by

credential $3,000

E. temporary license

48 [hour] hours $ 50 $ 50

six months $ 300 $ 200

12 months $ 450 $ 300

F. application for

certification in local

anesthesia $ 40

G. examination in local

anesthesia $ 150

H. triennial license renewal $ 450 $ 300

I. late renewal $ 100 $ 100

J. reinstatement of license $ 450 $ 300

K. administrative fees $ 200 $ 200

L. impaired dentist or

dental hygienist $ 150 $ 75

M. assistant certificate $ 100."