Registration of dental assistants.

20-03-01-05. Registration of dental assistants. An individual seeking registration as a dental assistant shall apply on forms prescribed by the board. The application must be notarized and include the application fee. 1. The board may grant registration as a registered dental assistant to an applicant meeting all the following requirements: a. The applicant meets any of the following requirements: (1) The applicant successfully completed a dental assisting program, accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association or approved by the board, within one year of application. (2) The applicant earned the dental assisting national board's certified dental assistant designation: a. Within one year of application; or b. More than one year prior to application, and within two years before application, earned sixteen hours of continuing education in accordance with section 20-03-01-06, and provides evidence the applicant was gainfully and relevantly employed in the time prior to application. Proof of gainful and relevant employment may include letters of recommendation, payroll documentation, or other materials requested by the board. 8 (3) The applicant successfully completed a dental assisting program, accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association or approved by the board, and completed, within two years before application, sixteen hours of continuing education in accordance with section 20-03-01-06. (4) The applicant is licensed in good standing under the laws of another jurisdiction and possesses qualifications, education, or experience substantially similar to the requirements for licensure set forth in this section. Applicants shall submit evidence of at least one year of gainful and relevant employment in the practice prior to application. Proof of gainful and relevant employment may include letters of recommendation, payroll documentation, or other materials requested by the board. Applicants shall submit evidence of earning sixteen hours of continuing education in accordance with section 20-03-01-06 and meet other criteria as may be required by the board. b. The applicant passed a written examination on the laws and rules governing the practice of dentistry in North Dakota within one year of application. c. The applicant successfully completed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course within two years of application. d. Grounds for denial of the application under North Dakota Century Code section 43-20-05 do not exist. 2. The board may grant registration as a qualified dental assistant to an applicant meeting all the following requirements: a. The applicant meets any of the following requirements: (1) Within one year of application, the applicant passed the national entry level dental assistant certification administered by the dental assisting national board or another board-approved equivalent program, and completed three hundred hours of on-the-job clinical training. (2) More than one year before application, the applicant passed the national entry level dental assistant certification administered by the dental assisting national board or another board-approved equivalent program, completed three hundred hours of on-the-job clinical training, and within two years of application completed sixteen hours of continuing education in accordance with section 20-03-01-06. (3) The applicant successfully completed the national entry level dental assistant certification administered by the dental assisting national board or another board- approved equivalent course, and within two years of application successfully completed the North Dakota department of career and technical education dental assisting education program association. (4) The applicant has been practicing under the laws of another jurisdiction in a role and under laws substantially equivalent to that of a qualified dental assistant and possesses qualifications, education, or experience substantially similar to the requirements for licensure set forth in this section. Applicants shall submit evidence of at least one year of gainful and relevant employment in the practice prior to application. Proof of gainful and relevant employment may include letters of recommendation, payroll documentation, or other materials requested by the board. Applicants shall submit evidence of earning sixteen hours of continuing education in accordance with section 20-03-01-06 and meet other criteria as may be required by the board. 9 b. The applicant passed a written examination on the laws and rules governing the practice of dentistry in North Dakota within one year of application. c. The applicant successfully completed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course within two years of application. d. Grounds for denial of the application under North Dakota Century Code section 43-20-05 do not exist. 3. The board may grant registration as a qualified dental assistant-limited radiology registrant to an applicant meeting all the following requirements: a. (1) Within two years of application, obtained the dental assisting national board's radiation health and safety certificate or completed a radiation health and safety course approved by the board; or (2) Submits documentation confirming the applicant obtained the dental assisting national board's radiation health and safety certificate or completed a radiation health and safety course approved by the board more than two years before application and submits a letter from a dentist confirming the assistant successfully has taken radiographs within five years of application. b. Within two years of application, the applicant completed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course. c. Has not demonstrated grounds for denial of the application under North Dakota Century Code section 43-20-05. History: Effective January 1, 2011; amended effective July 1, 2022; October 1, 2024; April 1, 2026. General Authority: NDCC 43-20-10, 43-51.1-02 Law Implemented: NDCC 43-20-13.2, 43-51.1-02, 43-51.1-03