Have License Portability. Will Travel.
What is license portability exactly and how does it benefit you as a dental hygienist? In legal terms, it’s an interstate occupational licensure compact that is constitutionally authorized, legally binding and legislatively enacted between states. To put it simply, it provides a pathway for you to be authorized to practice in all states participating in the compact, rather than needing an individual license in each state. Not unlike a driver’s license, this gives you the freedom to cross state lines for new career opportunities without worrying that your license won’t travel with you.
Making Mobility Possible
The Council of State Governments (CSG) is partnering with the Department of Defense (DoD), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to support the mobility of licensed dental hygienists through the development of a new interstate compact. This compact will create reciprocity among participant states, and reduce the barriers to license portability. As a practitioner, you will need to complete continuing education units in the state where you hold a qualifying license to maintain your qualifying license. You will not need to complete units for states where you hold compact privileges.
Dental hygienists are eligible to participate in the compact if they have:
- An active, unencumbered license in any state participating in the compact agreement
- Passed the National Board Examination or other exam accepted by the compact commission
- Completed a clinical assessment
- Graduated from an education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
- No disqualifying criminal history
Compacts in Action
States can become members of the compact by enacting the compact model legislation through the state’s legislature and governor. Interstate compacts take time to develop and implement due to the coordination needed between state legislatures, state regulatory boards and the compact commission.
Read the model legislation and find educational resources on the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact by following the link below.