States continue to adopt licensing reform legislation

Licensing reform legislation continues to be a hot topic in state legislatures, with some passing an interstate working agreement championed by the ADA and other dental groups.

The goal is to make it easier for dentists and dental team members to provide care in other states without having to go through an additional rigorous licensing process. The ADA and other professional groups, as well as state legislators, hope it will alleviate the dental workforce shortage.

Wisconsin is the fourth state to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact after the governor signed a bill into law Jan. 30. The hope is more oral health professionals will be able to provide care in the state.  

The new interstate compact is backed by the ADA, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Association of Dental Support Organizations, Council of State Governments and the U.S. Department of Defense. According to the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact’s official website, the goal is to “create reciprocity among participant states, and reduce the barriers to license portability.”

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