Section 34-9-26

Examination, qualifications, licensing, etc., of dental hygienists.

No person shall practice as a dental hygienist in this state until such person has passed an examination given by the board under rules and regulations as the board may promulgate. The fee for examination shall be not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200), and the license certificate fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25). The board shall issue licenses and license certificates as dental hygienists to those persons who have passed the examination and have been found qualified by the board. The license certificate and annual registration certificate shall be displayed in the office in which the dental hygienist is employed. No person shall be entitled to a license and license certificate unless the person is 19 years of age and of good moral character. Each applicant for examination and license as a dental hygienist shall be a graduate of a school of dental hygiene which has been approved by the board, or in lieu thereof, shall have served at least one year as a dental assistant and shall have served at least one year as a dental hygienist trainee under a training permit issued by the board to a qualified dentist practicing in this state in accordance with the dental hygienist training program established by the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama. Any person practicing in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the board may impose the penalties outlined in Section 34-9-18 for such violation.

(Acts 1959, No. 100, p. 569, §35; Acts 1979, No. 79-427, p. 668, §1 (e); Acts 1985, No. 85-697, p. 1120, §1; Acts 2001-269, p. 328, §3.)