dental licensure C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 4 8 , Nº 7
A Snapshot of Dental Licensure: California and the United States Alan L. Felsenfeld, MA, DDS, and Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD
a b s t r a c t Obtaining a dental license in California and the rest of the U.S. has
been evolving in the mechanisms employed to ascertain competence. This article provides an overview of the history of licensure in California and a discussion of the various ways that one can be licensed to practice today. National licensure trends and discussion of potential future modalities are presented.
AUTHORS Alan L. Felsenfeld, MA, DDS, is a member of the Dental Board of California. He was a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry and the California Dental Association liaison to the dental board. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
Nader Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, is the dean of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
A
s dentists, we must overcome three major hurdles before we can practice that which we love. The first is getting into dental school. For many years, admission into our schools has been a difficult task reserved only for those with high academic rankings and likely a bit more in the way of outside activities. Today, admission into our dental schools is more competitive than ever with highly qualified and experienced young people interested in the great profession of oral health care. The second hurdle is getting through dental school. For those of us who found the academic requisites easy in college, the level of intensity was increased as we were required to learn in greater depth and with a vision of applying our knowledge and skills to patient care. Today, our students are inundated with more material in an ever-expanding foundation of education as we see expanding emphasis on interprofessional and medical-based patient evaluation, use of technological
advances and materials in dental care, community and public health issues and an increased emphasis on person-centered care. Along with the basic, behavioral and clinical science academic requirements, the development of excellent hand skills is a critical component of education that may come easy to some but create a struggle for others. The third hurdle, and arguably the most important to allow us to practice dentistry, is obtaining a license issued by the Dental Board of California or whichever state you choose for your practice career. Over the years, this has taken on a new meaning as singlestate, board administered, patient-based examinations are rapidly becoming a thing of the past and alternate means of licensure are the norm in most states. This article is not science. While we feel that it is a contemporary compilation of current practices for licensure across the country, some may argue this is an op-ed piece. The landscape for licensure of dentists is a dynamic and at times JULY 2 0 2 0 313
