New York Assembly Bill A10958

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/14/26
• Refer: 4/14/26

Caption

Relates to permitting waiver of dental residency requirements for licensure in underserved areas under supervised practice

Summary

A10958 would amend the Education Law’s dental licensure requirements to create a limited waiver of the existing one-year postdoctoral dental residency requirement. Under the bill, the Department of Education could waive the residency prerequisite for an applicant who agrees to practice full-time in a state-designated underserved area while working under direct or general supervision of a licensed, actively practicing dentist. The supervised practice must last at least 12 consecutive months and occur within 75 miles of the supervising dentist’s primary practice location. The bill also directs the commissioner to adopt regulations defining which areas qualify as underserved, setting qualifications for supervising dentists, and establishing reporting and evaluation procedures to ensure the dentist’s competency is comparable to residency training. If the supervised practice is successfully completed, it may count as permanent fulfillment of the residency requirement. The measure is intended to expand access to oral health care in rural and underserved communities while preserving oversight and professional standards.

Impact

The bill would modify section 6604 of the Education Law by adding a new pathway to dental licensure that substitutes supervised practice in underserved areas for the standard residency requirement. It would affect dental graduates seeking licensure, the Department of Education, supervising dentists, and communities facing provider shortages. The commissioner of education, in consultation with the Department of Health, would gain authority to define eligible underserved areas and implement the waiver program through regulations.

Sentiment

The bill’s stated purpose and structure suggest generally favorable sentiment toward addressing dental workforce shortages and improving access to care in underserved regions. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from legislators in the available context. The bill appears designed as a targeted compromise: it relaxes a licensure requirement, but only under supervised practice and with regulatory oversight.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are likely to be whether supervised practice can adequately substitute for a formal residency, how underserved areas are defined, and whether the 75-mile supervision radius and supervision standards are workable in practice. Stakeholders concerned with patient safety, professional competency, or dilution of licensure standards may question the waiver, while supporters are likely to emphasize access to care and workforce recruitment in rural and underserved communities. The bill leaves significant implementation details to regulation, which may also draw scrutiny over how strictly the waiver program is administered.