Rule III. Licensure of Dentists and Dental Hygienists 
(Amended December 2, 2002; Amended on Emergency Basis July 7, 2004; Re-Promulgated August 11, 2004; Amended April 22, 2009; Amended October 21, 2009, 
Effective December 30, 2009; Amended June 8, 2011, Effective July 30, 2011) 
A. General Licensing Requirements 
1. An applicant for a license by examination, endorsement, reinstatement, or reactivation who does not complete the licensing process within one year of the date the original application is received shall begin the application process again, including payment of the application fee. Materials submitted with an incomplete application will be retained for only one year. 
2. The licensee shall supply legal evidence of name change by court order, passport, marriage certificate, or divorce decree within 30 days of the effective date of the name change. 
3. The licensee shall notify the Board within 30 days of any change of address. This notification must be submitted in writing, by fax, or electronically. Telephone notification will not be accepted. 
4. Any notification by the Board to licensees required or permitted under the Dental Practice Law or the Colorado Administrative Procedures Act shall be addressed to the last known address provided in writing to the Board by the licensee and any such mailing shall be deemed proper service on the licensee. 
B. Licensing by Examination for Dentists 
1. Each applicant shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. Evidence of graduation with a DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school or college, which at the time of the applicant’s graduation was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. An official school transcript of credits with the date of graduation and degree obtained shall be deemed sufficient evidence. 
b. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of the examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. 
c. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of an examination designed to test the applicant’s clinical skills and knowledge administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least four states or an examination of another state. 
d. Successful completion of the Colorado jurisprudence examination. 
e. Verification of all health care licenses ever held in any jurisdiction. 
f. Proof of commercial professional liability insurance coverage with an insurance company authorized to do business in Colorado pursuant to article 5 of title 10, C.R.S., in a minimum indemnity amount of five hundred thousand dollars per incident and one million five hundred thousand dollars annual aggregate per year, unless the dentist is a public employee under the “Colorado Governmental Immunity Act”, article 10 of title 24, C.R.S. or if the dentist falls under a financial responsibility exemption listed in Rule I.   
g. Demonstration of current clinical competency and professional ability by submitting proof of having successfully completed at least one of the following: 
1. Graduation within the 12 months immediately preceding the application with a DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school or college, which at the time of the applicant’s graduation was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. 
2. Engaged in the active clinical practice of dentistry for at least one year of the five years immediately preceding the application. Persons who have participated in a residency or intern program during this time will be evaluated on a case by case basis. 
3. Engaged in teaching dentistry in an accredited program for at least one year of the five years immediately preceding the application. 
4. Engaged in service as a dentist in the military for at least one year of the five years immediately preceding the application. 
5. Passed a board approved regional or clinical examination within one year of the application. 
6. Successful completion of a Board approved evaluation by an ADA accredited institution within one year of the application, which certifies the applicant’s proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. A proposed evaluation must be submitted and be pre-approved by the Board before it is begun. 
2. An applicant who has held a license to practice dentistry in Colorado or any other jurisdiction shall submit with the application the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. All documentation required in a, b, c, d, e, f and g in section 1 above. 
b. A report of any pending or final disciplinary actions against the applicant and a verification letter from each state in which the applicant is currently licensed or has ever held a license to practice dentistry. 
c. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified through the National Practitioner Databank. 
d. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified by the applicant’s malpractice insurance carrier(s). The applicant must request a verification of coverage history for the past ten years from his/her current and all previous malpractice insurance carriers. Any settlement or final judgment during the applicant's practice history must be reported. 
3. An applicant may not qualify for licensure under this article if the applicant has a report of pending or final disciplinary action(s) in any jurisdiction, a malpractice action(s), or does not meet any of the requirements in sections 1 and 2 above. 
C. Licensing by Endorsement for Dentists 
1. Each applicant shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. Evidence of graduation with a DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental school or college, which at the time of the applicant’s graduation was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. An official school transcript of credits with the date of graduation and degree obtained shall be deemed sufficient evidence. 
b. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of the examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. 
c. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of an examination designed to test the applicant’s clinical skills and knowledge administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least four states or an examination of another state. 
d. Successful completion of the Colorado jurisprudence examination. 
e. Verification of all health care licenses ever held in any jurisdiction. 
f. Proof of commercial professional liability insurance coverage with an insurance company authorized to do business in Colorado pursuant to article 5 of title 10, C.R.S., in a minimum indemnity amount of five hundred thousand dollars per incident and one million five hundred thousand dollars annual aggregate per year, unless the dentist is a public employee under the “Colorado Governmental Immunity Act”, article 10 of title 24, C.R.S. or if the dentist falls under a financial responsibility exemption listed in Rule I.   
g. Demonstration of current clinical competency and professional ability by submitting proof of having successfully completed at least one of the following:  
1. Engaged in the active practice of clinical dentistry in the U.S. or one of its territories or Canada for a minimum of 14 hours per week per year, or 700 hours per year, for a minimum of five years out of the seven years immediately preceding the application. Years spent in postgraduate training, residency programs, internship, or research will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 
3. Engaged in teaching dentistry, which involves personally providing care to patients for not less than three hundred hours annually in an accredited dental school for a minimum of five years out of the seven years immediately preceding the application. 
4. For the dentists practicing in the military, a report from a senior officer with a recommendation and verification of clinical experience will suffice. 
5. Passed a board approved regional or clinical examination within one year of the application. 
6. Successful completion of a Board approved evaluation by an ADA accredited institution within one year of the application, which certifies the applicant’s proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. A proposed evaluation must be submitted and be pre-approved by the Board before it is begun. 
2. An applicant who has held a license to practice dentistry in Colorado or any other jurisdiction shall submit with the application the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. All documentation required in a, b, c, d, e, f and g in section 1 above. 
b. A report of any pending or final disciplinary actions against the applicant and a verification letter from each state in which the applicant is currently licensed or has ever held a license to practice dentistry. 
c. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified through the National Practitioner Databank. 
d. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified by the applicant’s malpractice insurance carrier(s). The applicant must request a verification of coverage history for the past ten years from his/her current and all previous malpractice insurance carriers. Any settlement or final judgment during the applicant's practice history must be reported. 
3. An applicant may not qualify for licensure under this article if the applicant has a report of pending or final disciplinary action(s) in any jurisdiction, a malpractice action(s), or does not meet any of the requirements in sections 1 and 2 above. 
D. Licensing by Examination for Dental Hygienists 
1. Each applicant shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. Evidence of graduation from an academic program of dental hygiene that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years. An official school transcript of credits with the date of graduation and degree obtained shall be deemed sufficient evidence. 
b. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of the examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. 
c. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of an examination designed to test the applicant’s clinical skills and knowledge administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least four states or an examination of another state. 
d. Successful completion of the Colorado jurisprudence examination. 
e. Verification of all health care licenses ever held in any jurisdiction. 
f. Proof of professional liability insurance in the amount of not less than fifty thousand dollars per claim and an aggregate liability limit for all claims during a calendar year of not less than three hundred thousand dollars. Coverage may be maintained by the hygienist or through a supervising dentist. 
f. Demonstration of current clinical competency and professional ability by submitting proof of having completed at least one of the following: 
1. Graduation within the past 12 months from an academic program of dental hygiene that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years. 
2. Engaged in the active clinical practice of dental hygiene for at least one year of the five years immediately preceding the application. 
3. Engaged in teaching dental hygiene in an academic program that was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years for at least one year of the five years immediately preceding the application. 
4. Successful completion of a Board approved evaluation by an ADA accredited institution within one year of the application, which certifies the applicant’s proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. A proposed evaluation must be submitted and be pre-approved by the Board before it is begun. 
2. An applicant who has ever held a license to practice dental hygiene in Colorado or any other jurisdiction shall submit with the application the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. All documentation required in a, b, c, d, e, f and g in section 1 above. 
b. A report of any pending or final disciplinary actions against the applicant and a verification letter from each state in which the applicant is currently licensed or has ever held a license to practice dental hygiene.
 c. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified through the National Practitioner Databank. 
d. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified by the applicant’s malpractice insurance carrier(s). The applicant must request a verification of coverage history for the past ten years from his/her current and all previous malpractice insurance carriers. Any settlement or final judgment during the applicant's practice history must be reported. 
3. An applicant may not qualify for licensure under this article if the applicant has a report of pending or final disciplinary action(s) in any jurisdiction, a malpractice action(s), or does not meet any of the requirements in sections 1 and 2 above. 
E. Licensing by Endorsement for Dental Hygienists 
1. Each applicant shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. Evidence of graduation from an academic program of dental hygiene that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years. An official school transcript of credits with the date of graduation and degree obtained shall be deemed sufficient evidence. 
b. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of the examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. 
c. Evidence of the applicant’s successful completion of an examination designed to test the applicant’s clinical skills and knowledge administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least four states or an examination of another state. 
d. Successful completion of the Colorado jurisprudence examination. 
e. Verification of all health care licenses ever held in any jurisdiction. 
f. Proof of professional liability insurance in the amount of not less than fifty thousand dollars per claim and an aggregate liability limit for all claims during a calendar year of not less than three hundred thousand dollars. Coverage may be maintained by the hygienist or through a supervising dentist. 
g. Demonstration of current clinical competency and professional ability by submitting proof of having completed at least one of the following: 
1. Graduation within the past 12 months from an academic program of dental hygiene that, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years. 
2. Engaged in the active clinical practice of dental hygiene for at least one year during the three years immediately preceding the application. 
3. Engaged in teaching dental hygiene or dentistry in an academic program that was accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation and which was at least two academic years for at least one year of the three years immediately preceding the application. 
4. Successful completion of a Board approved evaluation by an ADA accredited institution within one year of the application, which certifies the applicant’s proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. A proposed evaluation must be submitted and be pre-approved by the Board before it is begun. 
2. An applicant who has ever held a license to practice dental hygiene in Colorado or any other jurisdiction shall submit with the application the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board: 
a. All documentation required in a, b, c, d, e, f and g in section 1 above. 
b. A report of any pending or final disciplinary actions against the applicant and a verification letter from each state in which the applicant is currently licensed or has ever held a license to practice dental hygiene.
 c. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified through the National Practitioner Databank. 
d. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified by the applicant’s malpractice insurance carrier(s). The applicant must request a verification of coverage history for the past ten years from his/her current and all previous malpractice insurance carriers. Any settlement or final judgment during the applicant's practice history must be reported. 
3. An applicant may not qualify for licensure under this article if the applicant has a report of pending or final disciplinary action(s) in any jurisdiction, a malpractice action(s), or does not meet any of the requirements in sections 1 and 2 above. 
F. Examination Retakes for Dentists 
1. An applicant may take a clinical examination three (3) times before remedial training is required. If an applicant fails once, he/she can retake the examination two (2) more times. All retakes must be completed within 16 months from the date of the first examination. 
2. After failing the examination for a third (3rd) time, and prior to the FOURTH attempt of the examination, an applicant must: 
a. Submit to the Board for its pre-approval a detailed plan for remedial training by an ADA accredited dental institution. The proposed remediation program must be the equivalent of an additional year of study at the qualifying institution. 
b. Upon completion, submit proof to the Board of passing the remediation program, within 24 months of its approval by the Board. 
c. Based on its review of all documents submitted as proof of completion of the Board-approved remediation program, the Board may grant or deny a fourth attempt of the clinical examination. Any fourth attempt must occur within 12 months of the date of the Board’s decision. 
d. If a candidate fails any or all parts of the examination after remedial training, the Board must approve additional retake attempts. 
G. Reinstatement and Reactivation Requirements for Dentists and Dental Hygienists with Either Expired Licenses or Retired Licenses, or Dentists in Inactive Status. 
1. Payment of fees pursuant to sections 12-35-121, 12-35-122, 12-35-123, and 24-34-102 & 105, C.R.S. 
2. Dentists and dental hygienists with retired licenses, or dentists in inactive status will renew those licenses biennially until such time as a reactivation to active status is desired. 
3. A dentist in retired status may provide dental services on a voluntary basis to the indigent, if such services are provided on a limited basis and no fee is charged by the dentist.  Dental hygienists in retired status may not provide dental hygiene services and dentist in inactive status may not provide dental services until a reactivation to active status has occurred.  Dentists and dental hygienists with expired licenses may not provide dental services until a reinstatement to active status has occurred. 
4. Each applicant for reinstatement or reactivation of licensure to an active status shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board:
a. Successful completion of the jurisprudence examination if the license has been expired for more than 2 years or if reactivation is occurring more than 2 years after a license has been placed in an inactive or retired status. 
b. If the license has been expired, inactive, or retired for more than 2 years, verification of all health care licenses ever held in any jurisdiction since their Colorado license expired, or was placed on inactive or retired status.
c. Proof of professional liability insurance as required for actively licensed dentists and dental hygienists.
d. Maintenance of clinical competency shall be demonstrated if the license has been expired, inactivated, or retired for more than 2 years. Licensees who desire to obtain an active license and have not practiced at least 700 hours in a 12-month period during the five years immediately preceding application for reinstatement of license must demonstrate to the Board how they have maintained their professional ability, knowledge and skills. The Board may request documentation of the 700 hours for the 12-month period or may accept the following qualifications as fulfillment of the practice requirement:
	(i) Years spent in postgraduate training, residency programs or an internship.
	(ii) Years spent in research and in teaching positions.
	(iii) Years spent practicing in the military or public health service.  For dentists practicing in the military, a report from a senior officer with a recommendation and verification of clinical experience will suffice as documentation of qualifications.
	(iv) The qualifications set forth above in Rule III.G.4.d will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
 5. If the license has been expired, inactive, or retired for more than 2 years, demonstration of skills may be accomplished by: 
a. Submitting proof to the Board of passing, within one year of application for reinstatement or reactivation, a regional or state clinical examination; or 

b. Successful completion of a Board approved evaluation by an American Dental Association accredited institution within one year of the application for reinstatement or reactivation, which certifies the applicant’s proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. A proposed evaluation must be submitted and be pre-approved by the Board before it is begun.
6. An applicant for reinstatement or reactivation of licensure to an active status who has held an active license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in another jurisdiction shall submit with the application the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board:
a. A report of any pending or final disciplinary actions against the applicant.
b. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified through the National Practitioner Databank.
c. A report of any pending or final malpractice actions against the applicant, verified by the applicant’s malpractice insurance carrier(s). The applicant must request a verification of coverage history for the past ten years from his/her current and all previous malpractice insurance carriers. Any settlement or final judgment during the applicant's practice history must be reported.