State Board of Dental Examiners - Expanded Function Dental Assistants - Education and Reinstatement
SB792 updates Maryland’s rules for expanded function dental assistants by broadening the types of education programs the State Board of Dental Examiners may approve for initial certification. In addition to existing accredited dental assisting programs, the bill allows the Board to approve certain courses or programs offered by the DALE Foundation, an affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board, and orthodontic assistant training programs offered by Trapezio Orthodontic Assistant Training Solutions, or successor entities. It also requires that initial certification coursework include, when appropriate, an option for at least 35 hours of instruction combining online and in-person learning, and directs the Board to set regulations on the required mix of online, in-person, and clinical hands-on training.
The bill also creates a new reinstatement framework for expired expanded function dental assistant certifications. The Board may reinstate an expired certification only if the applicant has completed required continuing education, submitted a renewal application by the Board’s deadline, and paid the renewal fee. The Board must adopt regulations for continuing education that include clinical hands-on training and an online option, and the training may be offered by state-based dental professional societies affiliated with national dental organizations or by the entities approved for initial education under the bill. The act takes effect October 1, 2025, and amends the Health Occupations Article governing dental assistants and the State Board of Dental Examiners.
The bill’s impact is to expand the Board’s authority over qualifying education providers while also standardizing how online and in-person instruction may be used for both initial certification and continuing education. It affects applicants for expanded function dental assistant certification, current certificate holders seeking renewal, and education providers that want their programs recognized by the Board. By adding explicit reinstatement rules and continuing education requirements, the bill tightens administrative oversight while creating more pathways for training and reentry into the profession.
The overall sentiment around SB792 appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 47-0 and the House 136-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. No committee opposition or recorded debate is provided in the available materials, and the final enactment suggests the bill was viewed as a practical workforce and licensing update.
The main points of contention, to the extent they can be inferred, would likely center on the Board’s discretion to approve outside education providers, the balance between online and in-person instruction, and the conditions for reinstating expired certifications. However, no explicit opposition is reflected in the voting record or the provided discussion materials, so any such concerns appear to have been resolved or were not significant enough to affect passage.
SB792 amends the Health Occupations Article, specifically § 4-302.1 and adds new § 4-311.1, to expand approved educational pathways for expanded function dental assistant certification and to establish a formal reinstatement process for expired certifications. It requires the State Board of Dental Examiners to adopt regulations on continuing education, including clinical hands-on training and online options, and to specify the required balance of online, in-person, and hands-on instruction. The bill affects dental assistants, dental training programs, and the Board’s licensing and renewal procedures, with implementation beginning October 1, 2025.
The bill appears to have enjoyed broad bipartisan support and little to no opposition. It passed both chambers unanimously, with 47 yeas in the Senate and 136 yeas in the House, and there is no recorded committee controversy in the provided materials. The sentiment suggests the measure was seen as a technical, workforce-oriented update to dental assistant education and certification rules.
No explicit contention is documented in the available transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of policy debate could have included whether to expand approved training providers beyond traditional accredited programs, how much online instruction should be permitted, and whether reinstatement standards for expired certifications are sufficiently strict. Even so, the unanimous votes indicate that any concerns from stakeholders, such as the dental profession, educators, or regulators, did not prevent consensus.