New Mexico Statutes
Article 5A - Dental Health Care
Section 61-5A-13.1 - Dental therapist licensure; requirements. (Repealed effective July 1, 2024.)

A. The board shall license as a dental therapist any individual who, in accordance with board rules:
(1) provides evidence of licensure as a dental hygienist;
(2) provides evidence of having graduated and received a degree from a dental therapy education program accredited by the commission on dental accreditation;
(3) has passed a written examination covering the statutes and rules relating to the practice of dental therapy in the state within a time frame established in board rules;
(4) has passed a practical or clinical examination on the practice of dental therapy administered by the board or its agent that reasonably tests the individual's skill in practicing dental therapy; and
(5) has paid any requisite fees and complied with any other reasonable requirements for licensure as a dental therapist that the board has established by rule.
B. No dentist shall supervise more than three dental therapists at any one time.
History: Laws 2019, ch. 107, § 9.
Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-5A-30 NMSA 1978.
Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 107, § 19 made Laws 2019, ch. 107, § 9 effective June 14, 2019.
Temporary provisions. — Laws 2019, ch. 107, § 17 provided that the department of health shall conduct an outcome report on the first five years of dental therapy practice in the state pursuant to this 2019 act. At a date five years following the date of the first issuance of a license to practice dental therapy in the state, the department of health shall consult with the New Mexico board of dental health care, the New Mexico dental hygienists' association and the New Mexico dental association to compile and issue a report to the legislative health and human services committee of the department's findings and recommendations regarding dental therapy, including:
A. its efficacy, effectiveness and cost;
B. its impact on access to dental health care;
C. the distribution of dental therapists statewide;
D. demographic representation among dental therapists;
E. issues related to supervision of dental therapists and their scope of practice;
F. evaluation of services delivered under indirect supervision; and
G. evaluation of services delivered under general supervision for recommendation to indirect supervision.

Structure New Mexico Statutes