Virginia Code 54.1-2712.1: Restricted volunteer license for certain dentists
A. The Board may issue a restricted volunteer license to a dentist who:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-2712.1
- Board: means the Board of Dentistry. See Virginia Code 54.1-2700
- Dentist: means a person who has been awarded a degree in and is licensed by the Board to practice dentistry. See Virginia Code 54.1-2700
- Dentistry: means the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, through surgical, nonsurgical, or related procedures, of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity and the maxillofacial, adjacent, and associated structures and their impact on the human body. See Virginia Code 54.1-2700
- License: means the document issued to an applicant upon completion of requirements for admission to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the Commonwealth or upon registration for renewal of license to continue the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene in the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 54.1-2700
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
1. Held an unrestricted license in Virginia or another state as a licensee in good standing at the time the license expired or became inactive;
2. Is volunteering for a public health or community free clinic that provides dental services to populations of underserved people;
3. Has fulfilled the Board’s requirement related to knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the practice of dentistry in Virginia;
4. Has not failed a clinical examination within the past five years; and
5. Has had at least five years of clinical practice.
B. A person holding a restricted volunteer license under this section shall:
1. Only practice in public health or community free clinics that provide dental services to underserved populations;
2. Only treat patients who have been screened by the approved clinic and are eligible for treatment;
3. Attest on a form provided by the Board that he will not receive remuneration directly or indirectly for providing dental services; and
4. Not be required to complete continuing education in order to renew such a license.
C. If a dentist with a restricted volunteer license issued under this section has not held an active, unrestricted license and been engaged in active practice within the past five years, he shall only practice dentistry and perform dental procedures if a dentist with an unrestricted Virginia license, volunteering at the clinic, reviews the quality of care rendered by the dentist with the restricted volunteer license at least every 30 days.
D. A restricted voluntary license granted pursuant to this section shall expire on the June 30 of the second year after its issuance, or shall terminate when the supervising dentist withdraws his sponsorship. Such license may be renewed annually in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.
E. A dentist holding a restricted volunteer license issued pursuant to this section is subject to the provisions of this chapter, the regulations promulgated under this chapter, and the disciplinary regulations which apply to all dentists practicing in Virginia.