Health Access Dentist


Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Health Access Dentist.

The requirements for licensure as a health access dentist can be found in Section 466.0067, F.S. and include:

  1. Graduation from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or its successor agency
  2. Successful completion of parts I and II of the National Board of Dental Examiners Examination and a state or regional clinical dental licensing examination that the board has determined effectively measures the applicant’s ability to practice safely
  3. Has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any felony or misdemeanor related to the practice of a health care profession
  4. Currently holds a valid, active, dental license in good standing which has not been revoked, suspended, restricted, or otherwise disciplined from another of these United States, the District of Columbia or a United States territory
  5. Has never had a license revoked from another of these United States, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory
  6. Has never failed the examination specified in s. 466.066, F.S., unless the applicant was reexamined pursuant to s. 466.006, F.S., and received a license to practice dentistry in this state
  7. Has not been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless the applicant successfully appealed to have his or her name removed from the data bank
  8. Engaged in the active, clinical practice of dentistry providing direct patient care for 5 years immediately preceding the date of application, or in instances when the applicant has graduated from an accredited dental school with the preceding 5 years, submits proof of continuous clinical practice providing direct patient care since graduation
  9. Documentation that she or he has completed, or will obtain prior to licensure, continuing education equivalent to this state’s requirement for dentists licensed under s. 466.006, F.S., for the last full reporting biennium before applying for a health access dental license; (biennium begins March 1 of every even year, i.e. March 1, 2010- February 28, 2012) See chapter 64B5-12.013, Florida Administrative Code, for continuing education requirements.
  10. Successful completion of the examination covering the laws and rules of the practice of dentistry in this state as described in s. 466.006(4)(a), F.S.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents for licensure:

  1. National Board Dental Examination scores mailed to the Board office directly from the American Dental Association
  2. Final official transcripts sent to the Board office by the registrar’s office with appropriate stamps, seals, degree and signatures. All final transcripts must indicate the matriculation date, graduation date, degree earned, and be embossed with the school seal. We will not accept any transcript that has “issued to student” stamped on the transcript. Any transcript, which does not conform to these standards, shall be deemed unofficial and unacceptable
  3. Certification of licensure from each state in which applicant currently holds or has held a dental or dental hygiene license. The certification should state that your license is in good standing; appropriate signatures and embossed seal of the certifying Board are needed for validation
  4. Proof of passing a state or regional clinical dental licensing examination that the board has determined effectively measures the applicant’s ability to practice safely
  5. Current proof of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the basic support level, including one – rescuer and two rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants; the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and the use of ambu-bags. All such training shall be sufficient for and shall result in current certification or recertification by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or an entity with equivalent requirements
  6. Documentation that she or he has completed, or will obtain prior to licensure, continuing education equivalent to this state’s requirement for dentists licensed under s. 466.006, F.S., for the last full reporting biennium before applying for a health access dental license; (biennium begins March 1 of every even year, i.e. March 1, 2010- February 28, 2012) See chapter 64B5-12.013, Florida Administrative Code, for continuing education requirements
  7. Proof that the applicant has not been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank; applicant must self-query the National Practitioner Data Bank and provide the Board office with a copy of the results

Applicants with Health History

Applicants who answer “Yes” to any of the Health History questions on the application are required to submit the following documentation to the board office:

Self-Explanation – Applicants must submit a letter in your own words explaining the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s). Include a description of all treatments and diagnoses you have received for any condition(s)/impairment(s) you are/have been treated for. Include all medications prescribed and all physicians/counselors that have provided treatment.

Physician(s) Letter – Applicants must submit a statement from your treating physician(s)/counselor(s) for each condition you are/were being treated for and whether or not you are currently able to safely practice Dentistry. The physician’s statement should include all DSM IIIR/ DSM IV, Axis I, II, and III diagnoses.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Dentistry has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Dentistry for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Health Care Fraud, Disqualification for Licensure, Certificate, or Registration

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

  1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
    1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
  2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
  3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
  4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
  5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

An applicant for the health access dental license must successfully complete the following examinations:

  1. National Board Dental Examination (Parts I and II)
  2. A State or Regional Clinical Dental Licensing Examination
  3. Florida Laws and Rules Examination*

*The Florida Department of Health has contracted with The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) to provide the Laws and Rules examination.Examination registration began April 1, 2015 with the CDCA and associated fees are the same.Please visit http://www.cdcaexams.org to register for examination and view candidate manuals.

Upon completion of the required examinations, download an application for licensure from the Resources page or apply online.

The following documents are required:

  1. Self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank
  2. Proof of successful completion of the Dental National Board Examination
  3. Proof of graduation from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation in the form of final official transcripts
  4. Certification of licensure from each state in which applicant currently holds or has held a dental or dental hygiene license.
  5. Proof of successful completion of a state or regional clinical dental licensing examination
  6. Current proof of training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the basic support level
  7. Documentation that she or he has completed, or will obtain prior to licensure, continuing education equivalent to this state’s requirement for dentists licensed under s. 466.006, F.S., for the last full reporting biennium before applying for a health access dental license; (biennium begins March 1 of every even year, i.e. March 1, 2012- February 28, 2014)

The mailing address for supporting documentation relating to the licensure application is:

Department of Health
Board of Dentistry
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #C-O4
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3258
(850) 245-4474 Telephone Number
(850) 921-5389 Fax Number

Online payment, certified check or money order should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health.

TOTAL FEE$405.00
Application Fee$100.00
Licensure Fee$305.00

 

*The initial licensure fee collected at this time is one half of the biennial licensure fee for applicants applying in the second year of the biennium. Applicants who pay the partial fee and become licensed during the beginning of the renewal cycle which begins in late 2015 will be required to submit an additional fee for a full two year license.

All initial licenses expire February 28 of the following even number year.

Licensure biennium dates are March 1- February 28 of the even years.

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 466: Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Laboratories

Florida Administrative Code

Chapter 64B5: Board of Dentistry