(a) Application.
  (1) A holder of a valid and current Texas dental assistant registration may apply to the Board to have the registration placed on retired status.
  (2) A registered dental assistant must apply to the Board for retired status, on a form prescribed by the Board, before the expiration date of the person's Texas registration.
  (3) The Board shall deny a request to place a registration on retired status if there are any current or pending complaints or disciplinary actions against the registered dental assistant.
(b) Reinstatement. The Board may reinstate a retired Texas dental assistant registration to active status, provided the registered dental assistant submits an application for reinstatement on a form prescribed by the Board, pays the appropriate fees due at the time application is made, and meets the requirements of this subsection.
  (1) A registered dental assistant who, at the time of application for reinstatement, is practicing as a registered dental assistant in another state, or territory outside of the United States, or had practiced as a registered dental assistant actively within the two years immediately preceding the date of application, shall provide:
    (A) verification of registration and disciplinary history from all state board(s) of dentistry where the registered dental assistant has held a registration;
    (B) proof of active practice within the two years preceding the application;
    (C) proof that the registered dental assistant has taken and passed the Texas jurisprudence assessment administered by the Board or an entity designated by the Board within one year immediately prior to application;
    (D) proof of successful completion of a current hands-on course in basic life support;
    (E) proof of completion of 6 hours of continuing education, taken within the 12 months preceding the date the application is received by the Board. All hours shall be taken in accordance with the requirements for continuing education as mandated by §114.12 of this chapter (relating to Continuing Education for Certificate Holders); and
    (F) proof of submission of fingerprints for the retrieval of criminal history record information.
  (2) A registered dental assistant who has not actively practiced for at least two years immediately preceding the request for reinstatement of a retired registration shall provide:
    (A) verification of registration and disciplinary history from all state board(s) of dentistry where the registered dental assistant has held a registration;
    (B) proof that the registered dental assistant has taken and passed the Texas jurisprudence assessment administered by the Board or an entity designated by the Board within one year immediately prior to application;
    (C) proof of successful completion of a current hands-on course in basic life support;
    (D) proof of completion of 12 hours of continuing education, of which a minimum of 6 hours must be clinical (hands-on). All hours must have been taken within the 12 months preceding the date the application is received by the Board and shall be taken in accordance with the requirements for continuing education as mandated by §114.12 of this chapter; and
    (E) proof of submission of fingerprints for the retrieval of criminal history record information.
  (3) A registered dental assistant who applies to reenter active practice must comply with all other applicable provisions of the Dental Practice Act and Board rules.
  (4) A registered dental assistant who applies to reenter active practice must have been in compliance or satisfied all conditions of any Board order that may have been in effect at the time retired status was granted.
  (5) The Board may, in its discretion as necessary to safeguard public health and safety, require compliance with other reasonable conditions in considering a request to reenter active practice.

Source Note: The provisions of this §114.8 adopted to be effective March 7, 2024, 49 TexReg 1462