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An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Licensure Qualifications of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1094-K, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 620, Pt. B, §1, is amended to read:
§ 1094-K.Education and experience
An applicant for licensure under this subchapter as an independent practice dental hygienist must:
 
1. Bachelor's degree and 2,000 hours experience. Possess a bachelor's degree from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its successor organization, and document one year or 2,000 work hours of clinical practice in a private dental practice during the 2 years preceding applicationsetting approved by the board; or
 
2. Associate degree and 6,000 hours experience. Possess an associate degree from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, or its successor organization, and document 3 years or 6,000 work hours of clinical practice in a private dental practice during the 6 years preceding applicationsetting approved by the board.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the experience requirements for licensure of independent practice dental hygienists. It makes the initial licensure requirements less stringent, which will broaden the pool of potential qualified applicants and potentially increase access to care for Maine citizens.