§764. Dental hygienist; application for license

            A. Every applicant to be licensed as a dental hygienist shall:

            (1) Be not less than eighteen years of age.

            (2) Be a citizen or possess valid and current legal authority to reside and work in the United States duly issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or its successor.

            (3) File with the board a written application upon the form prescribed by the board, verified by oaths, and accompanied by the required fee and a recent unmounted autographed photograph of the applicant.

            (4) Present satisfactory evidence of graduation from a training school of dental hygienists approved by the board, according to its rules and regulations.

            (5) Present satisfactory evidence of having taken and passed an examination in the theory and practice of the science of the profession given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.

            (6) Possess a current certificate in the American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation health care provider course, the American Red Cross Professional Rescue Course, or their equivalent.

            B. In addition to these requirements, the board may decline to issue or renew a dental hygienist's license for any of the causes listed in R.S. 37:777.

            C. Any person who has graduated from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and who has successfully completed the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations for either the profession of dentistry or dental hygiene may apply for a dental hygiene license.

            D. An applicant who has successfully completed any national, regional, or independent third-party clinical dental hygiene licensing examination approved by the board and who otherwise satisfies all requirements for a dental hygiene license, including satisfactory completion of an examination in jurisprudence and a background check, may be granted a license by examination by applying for licensure in Louisiana within three years following the successful completion of such clinical licensing examination.

            E. Repealed by Acts 2022, No. 312, §2.

            Amended by Acts 1966, No. 227, §2; Acts 1970, No. 355, §6; Acts 1972, No. 209, §5; Acts 1982, No. 278, §1; Acts 1991, No. 727, §1; Acts 1995, No. 920, §1; Acts 1997, No. 83, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1358, §1; Acts 2001, No. 712, §1; Acts 2006, No. 329, §1; Acts 2008, No. 906, §1; Acts 2020, No. 331, §1, eff. June 12, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 271, §2; Acts 2022, No. 312, §§1, 2.