Rule 150-7-.03 - Volunteers in Dentistry(1) The Board may issue volunteer licenses in its discretion when it has identified an area of this state in which there is an urgent, unfilled need for dental and/or dental hygiene services, and when it has located a competent dentist or dental hygienist to fulfill such need. In granting these volunteer licenses, the Board shall observe the following criteria:(a) Need of the Community. A volunteer license shall be issued for the purpose of serving indigent patients in areas of this state in which there is inadequate personnel to supply dental or dental hygiene services. In determining what constitutes an inadequate supply of dental or dental hygiene personnel, the Board shall consider various factors, including the dentist-patient ratio or the dental hygienist-patient ratio in the area in question, the distance between patients and any existing dentist or dental hygienist, the maldistribution of particular types of specialty care, and any other factors which are indicative of an absence of adequate dental or dental hygiene services in or reasonably accessible to the area in question. Any group or groups of persons seeking to secure such a dentist or dental hygienist for a community shall supply the Board with all information necessary for it to make a determination as to the existence of all the foregoing factors.(b) Qualifications of a Georgia Licensed Dentist.1. The dentist or dental hygienist must submit an application for a volunteer license to the Board and must be retired from the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and not currently engaged in such practice either full time or part time, and has prior to retirement maintained full licensure in good standing in dentistry or dental hygiene, or is currently licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the State of Georgia and whose license is unrestricted and in good standing. This license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene must have been held at least five years while engaged in clinical practice. Applicants must not have failed a clinical licensing exam within the past five years.2. As a condition precedent to a volunteer license being issued, after five (5) years have passed without the applicant being engaged in the direct observation and treatment of patients, the Board, in its discretion, may require a refresher course or the passage of an examination administered by the board or a testing agency designated and approved by the board.3. The applicant dentist or dental hygienist may be asked to submit a statement from a physician attesting to the applicant's physical and mental capacity;4. The applicant must show proof of current CPR certification;5. If the applicant is not in compliance with the continuing education requirements established by the Board at the time application is made for the volunteer license (which is forty (40) hours for dentists and twenty-two (22) hours for dental hygienists of continuing education within the last two (2) years including CPR at the basic life support level), the applicant may be issued a nonrenewable temporary license to practice for six months provided the applicant is otherwise qualified for such license.6. There shall be no application or licensing fee for initial issuance of a volunteer license.(c) Qualifications of an Out-of-State Licensed Dentist. 1. The dentist or dental hygienist must submit an application for a volunteer license to the Board and must be retired from the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and not currently engaged in such practice either full time or part time, and has prior to retirement maintained full licensure in good standing in dentistry or dental hygiene, or is currently licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in any licensing jurisdiction in the U.S. and whose license is unrestricted and in good standing. This license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene must have been issued by a licensing authority following successful completion of a clinical licensing examination, approved by the board and must have been held at least five years while engaged in clinical practice. Applicants must not have failed a clinical licensing exam within the past five years.2. As a condition precedent to a volunteer license being issued, after five (5) years have passed without the applicant being engaged in the direct observation and treatment of patients, the Board, in its discretion, may require a refresher course or the passage of an examination administered by the board or a testing agency designated and approved by the board.3. The applicant dentist or dental hygienist may be asked to submit a statement from a physician attesting to the applicant's physical and mental capacity;4. The applicant must show proof of current CPR certification;5. If the applicant is not in compliance with the continuing education requirements established by the Board at the time application is made for the volunteer license (which is forty (40) hours for dentists and twenty-two (22) hours for dental hygienists of continuing education within the last two (2) years including CPR at the basic life support level), the applicant may be issued a nonrenewable temporary license to practice for six months provided the applicant is otherwise qualified for such license.6. All applicants must show passage with a score of 75 or higher on a jurisprudence examination on the laws and rules governing the practice of dentistry/dental hygiene in the State of Georgia. Such examination shall be administered in the English language;7. There shall be no application or licensing fee for initial issuance of a volunteer license.(d) Dental Hygienists are subject to all provisions of supervision per O.C.G.A. § 43-11-74 and Rule 150-5-.03.(e) Renewal of a volunteer license. 1. Volunteer licenses shall expire at the close of December 31 in all odd-numbered years, and shall be administratively revoked for failure to renew on July 1 of the following even-numbered year.2. There shall be no renewal fee for licensees holding a volunteer in dentistry license.3. Licenses which have been administratively lapsed for non-renewal shall be reinstated only at the discretion of the board;4. Holders of a volunteer in dentistry license are subject to continuing education requirements as outlined in Board Rule 150-3-.10.5. Holders of a volunteer in dental hygiene license are subject to continuing education requirements as outlined in Board Rule 150-3-.10.(f) Any other provisions of Chapter 11, Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated not inconsistent with the intent and purpose of the special license statute shall be fully applicable to all specially licensed dentists.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 150-7-.03
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-7, 43-11-8, 43-11-52.
Original Rule entitled "Volunteers in Dentistry" adopted. F. Feb. 24, 2003; eff. Mar. 16, 2003.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Jan. 28, 2005; eff. Feb. 17, 2005.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Sept. 14, 2005; eff. Oct. 4, 2005.Amended: F. Dec. 4, 2012; eff. Dec. 24, 2012.Amended: F. Feb. 5, 2016; eff. Feb. 25, 2016.Amended: F. Sep. 10, 2020; eff. Sept. 30, 2020.