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Rhode Island Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

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Dental Hygienist

Rhode Island licence to practice dental hygiene issued under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6 and 216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.

Licensing authority: Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Examiners in Dentistry · Application information

Licensure by endorsement (licensed in another state for five years)
Age
Be eighteen (18) years of age or over (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(2)).
Application
Board application with identification and the non-refundable application fee, submitted thirty (30) days before the scheduled Board meeting (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.3(A)).
Education
Have graduated from a program for dental hygienists accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its designated agency and approved by the Board (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(3); R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6(c)(1)); official transcript sent directly by the school.
Endorsement Wording In Section272
216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(4) states: 'Have passed to the satisfaction of the Board the required examinations in accordance with § 2.5 of this Part or met the requirements for endorsement stipulated in § 2.5(A)(1)(c)((3)) of this Part'. Section 2.7.4(B) lists the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination as required of each applicant and the Board's application requires official National Board scores of every applicant, so the National Board examination is mounted for this route.
Good Moral Character
Be of good moral character (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(1)).
Good Standing
Be in good standing in each state in which the applicant holds a license; license verifications sent directly from each state where the applicant holds or has held a license (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(5), § 2.7.3(A)(5)).
Other State License
Hold a current license in good standing to practice dental hygiene in another state for five (5) years that required the successful completion of a clinical board examination in order to be eligible for licensure (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.4(B)(6)); this replaces the ADEX clinical examination requirement.
Licensure by examination

All of the following:

  • National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • All of the following:

      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE) (practice unavailable)
      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE) (assessment without a question bank)
Adex Time Window
The ADEX Dental Hygiene examination given by CDCA, including its computer simulation portion, must have been passed within five (5) years prior to the date of application for licensure in Rhode Island (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.4(B)(3)).
Age
Be eighteen (18) years of age or over (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(2)).
Alternative To Adex
Instead of the ADEX examination, the applicant may have passed an examination approved by the Board, other than a regional board, that is similar to the examination for which waiver is sought, with an earned score of 75% using CDCA's ADEX Dental Hygiene weighting and scoring methods, and have passed the CDCA Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE) written simulated patient clinical exercise with an earned score of 75% (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.4(B)(4)-(5)). The Board-approved examination is not identified by name.
Application
Board application with identification and the non-refundable application fee, submitted thirty (30) days before the scheduled Board meeting (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.3(A)).
Application Form Regional Or State Board
The Board's Dental Hygienist application asks for an 'Official Copy of the Regional or state Board examination results' without naming a specific examination.
Education
Have graduated from a program for dental hygienists accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or its designated agency and approved by the Board (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(3); R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-31.1-6(c)(1)); official transcript sent directly by the school.
Good Moral Character
Be of good moral character (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(1)).
Good Standing
Be in good standing in each state in which the applicant holds a license; license verifications sent directly from each state where the applicant holds or has held a license (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.2(A)(5), § 2.7.3(A)(5)).
Reinstatement from inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Meet the requirements of the Act and the Part, including attesting to completion of the required continuing dental education courses relevant to the practice of dental hygiene (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.7(B)).
Fee
Pay the current annual registration fee (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.7(B)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-01-04.

Reinstatement of a license revoked for non renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Discretion
Reinstatement is at the Board's discretion (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.6(C)).
Fees
Pay the current licensure (registration) fee plus an additional fee set in Part 10-05-2 (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.6(C)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-01-04.

Biennial license renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Attest to at least twenty (20) hours of continuing education in the preceding two years; one (1) hour per year of CDC infection control training and current BLS for the Healthcare Provider for hygienists practising in a dental setting (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.5).
Renewal Application
File a renewal application with the Board by May 1 of each even-numbered year with the renewal fee (216-RICR-40-05-2 § 2.7.6(B)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2022-01-04.

ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE)

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners; Prometric delivery
Format
Computer-based clinically based questions
Exam questions
Up to 120 items; pilot questions do not affect the final score
Passing score
Minimum scaled score 75; results reported as Pass/Fail
Examination outline
  • Medical/Dental Assessment (12%)
  • Intra and Extra Oral Assessment and Charting (27%)
    • Intra and Extra Oral Examination
    • Dental and Periodontal Charting and Assessment
    • Soft Tissue, Bone, and Tooth Abnormalities
  • Radiology/Imaging (15%)
  • Dental Hygiene Care Planning (13%)
  • Patient Care (19%)
    • Periodontal Procedures
    • Infection Control
    • Medical Emergency Management
  • Dental Specialties and Pharmacology (14%)
    • Dental Specialties
    • Applied Pharmacology
Examination sources

ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE)

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Simulated patient treatment on maxillary and mandibular typodonts
Passing score
75 or greater; results reported as Pass/Fail for this part
Examination sources

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

Examination outline
  • Discipline-Based Component — Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice (61 items)
    • Anatomic Sciences
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Head and neck anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — General anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — Root anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Histology and Embryology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Physiology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Biochemistry and Nutrition
    • Anatomic Sciences — Microbiology and Immunology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — General
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — Oral
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pharmacology
  • Discipline-Based Component — Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services (115 items)
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Medical and dental history
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Head and neck examination
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Periodontal evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Oral evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — General
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiophysics and radiobiology
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiologic health
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Technique
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Recognition of normalities and abnormalities
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — General
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Infection control (application)
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Recognition of emergency situations and provision of appropriate care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Planning of individualized instruction
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Dental caries
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Periodontal disease
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Oral conditions
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Anxiety and pain control
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Recognition and management of compromised patients
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Diagnosis
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Treatment plan
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Case presentation
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Periodontal debridement
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Surgical support services
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Chemotherapeutic agents
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Reassessment and maintenance (e.g., implant care)
    • Using Preventive Agents
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Mechanisms of action
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Toxicology
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Water fluoridation
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Self-administered
    • Using Preventive Agents — Pit and fissure sealants
    • Using Preventive Agents — Other preventive agents
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Properties and manipulation of materials
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Polishing natural and restored teeth
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Making of impressions and preparation of study casts
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Other supportive services (e.g., tooth desensitization)
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — General
    • Professional Responsibility
    • Professional Responsibility — Ethical principles, including informed consent
    • Professional Responsibility — Regulatory compliance
    • Professional Responsibility — Patient and professional communication
    • Professional Responsibility — General
  • Discipline-Based Component — Community Health/Research Principles (24 items)
    • Promoting Health and Preventing Disease Within Groups
    • Participating in Community Programs
    • Participating in Community Programs — Assessing populations and defining objectives
    • Participating in Community Programs — Designing, implementing, and evaluating programs
    • Analyzing Scientific Literature, Understanding Statistical Concepts, and Applying Research Results
  • Case-Based Component (150 items involving 12 to 15 dental hygiene patient cases)
    • Cases present information dealing with adult and child patients and may involve geriatric, adult-periodontal, pediatric, special needs, medically compromised, and other patient types; a medically compromised patient is one whose health status may require modification of standard treatment or special consideration.
    • Patient information is presented by means of patient histories, dental charts, radiographs, and clinical photographs.
    • Assessing patient characteristics
    • Obtaining and interpreting radiographs
    • Planning and managing dental hygiene care
    • Performing periodontal procedures
    • Using preventive agents
    • Providing supportive treatment service
    • Professional responsibility
Examination sources