Rules; examinations; qualifications of applicants for examination

The board shall from time to time adopt rules for its own government and for the examination of candidates for licenses to practice dentistry. Any rule altering the nature or increasing the severity of the examination or the subjects to be included therein shall not be enforced until six months after its adoption and public promulgation. The examination of applicants shall be confined to written or oral, or both written and oral, examinations upon subjects properly relating to the science of dentistry, the knowledge of which is necessary to the proper and skillful practice of said science. The board may also require from applicants, as part of the examination, demonstration of their skill in operative and prosthetic dentistry. No person shall be examined by the board unless he is at least 18 years of age, of good moral character, and shall present to the board a certificate from the Commissioner of Education of this State, showing that before entering a dental college he had obtained an academic education consisting of a four years' course of study in an approved public or private high school or the equivalent thereof, unless he has been graduated in course with a dental degree from a dental school, college or department of a university approved by the board, or holds a diploma or license conferring full right to practice dentistry in some foreign country and granted by some authority recognized by the board. Any member of the board may inquire of any applicant for examination concerning his qualifications, and may take testimony of anyone in regard thereto, under oath, which he is hereby empowered to administer. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person who is a graduate of an unapproved dental school shall be examined by the board unless he has successfully completed at least two years of study of a board approved curriculum at a dental school, college or department of a university approved by the board, with a dental degree having been conferred by the school. Amended by L.1939, c. 108, p. 389, s. 1; L.1983, c. 541, s. 1, eff. Jan. 17, 1984.