(225 ILCS 25/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 2309)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 9. Qualifications of applicants for dental licenses. The Department shall require that each applicant for a license to practice dentistry shall:

(a) (Blank).

(b) Be at least 21 years of age and of good moral character.

(c) (1) Present satisfactory evidence of completion of dental education by graduation from a dental college or school in the United States or Canada approved by the Department. The Department shall not approve any dental college or school which does not require at least (A) 60 semester hours of collegiate credit or the equivalent in acceptable subjects from a college or university before admission, and (B) completion of at least 4 academic years of instruction or the equivalent in an approved dental college or school that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association; or

(2) Present satisfactory evidence of completion of dental education by graduation from a dental college or school outside the United States or Canada and provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant has: (A) completed a minimum of 2 academic years of general dental clinical training and obtained a doctorate of dental surgery (DDS) or doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) at a dental college or school in the United States or Canada approved by the Department; or (B) met the program requirements approved by rule by the Department.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent either the Department or any dental college or school from establishing higher standards than specified in this Act.

(d) (Blank).

(e) Present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has passed the integrated National Board Dental Examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and has successfully completed an examination conducted by one of the following regional testing services: the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS), the Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc. (SRTA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), or the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA). For purposes of this Section, successful completion shall mean that the applicant has achieved a minimum passing score as determined by the applicable regional testing service. The Secretary may suspend a regional testing service under this subsection (e) if, after proper notice and hearing, it is established that (i) the integrity of the examination has been breached so as to make future test results unreliable or (ii) the test is fundamentally deficient in testing clinical competency.

In determining professional capacity under this Section, any individual who has not been actively engaged in the practice of dentistry, has not been a dental student, or has not been engaged in a formal program of dental education during the 5 years immediately preceding the filing of an application may be required to complete such additional testing, training, or remedial education as the Board may deem necessary in order to establish the applicant's present capacity to practice dentistry with reasonable judgment, skill, and safety.

(Source: P.A. 102-93, eff. 1-1-22.)