An Act To Modify the Qualifications for Resident Dentist Licensure
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0025
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: BRENNER
Amends: 32 MRSA §18342, 32 MRSA §18371

Legislative Document
No. 25
S.P. 33
In Senate, January 13, 2021
An Act To Modify the Qualifications for Resident Dentist Licensure
(EMERGENCY)
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 11, 2021.  Referred to the Committee 
on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BRENNER of Cumberland.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, immediate enactment of this legislation regarding resident dentist licensure 
is necessary to timely give the Board of Dental Practice statutory authority to consider 
educational equivalency in an applicant's meeting educational qualifications for licensure, 
to remove unnecessary examinations for licensure and to allow the board to grant a license 
to a qualified dentist to obtain supervised, clinical experience in Maine while enrolled in a 
dental residency program; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §18342, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
A.  Verification of a doctoral degree in dentistry from a dental school accredited by the 
American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or its successor 
organization or the educational equivalent of a doctoral degree in dentistry as required 
by board rule;
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §18342, sub-§6, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
B.  Verification of passing all examinations a jurisprudence examination as required 
by board rule;
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §18371, sub-§2, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 429, §21, is 
amended to read:
E.  An individual with a resident dentist license may provide dental services only under 
the supervision of the sponsoring dentist in a board-approved setting and in accordance 
with the level of supervision and control for which the license was issued by the board.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
 This bill authorizes the Board of Dental Practice to consider the educational equivalent 
of a doctoral degree in dentistry in determining the educational qualifications of an 
applicant for a resident dentist license who graduated from a dental program that was not 
accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
It requires an applicant for a resident dentist license to pass only a jurisprudence 
examination.
It adds to the requirements governing the provision of dental services by a dental 
resident a requirement that they be provided in a board-approved setting.