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The Legislature has approved sweeping changes in the way dental professionals are licensed in Hawaii, potentially allowing more dentists to practice in the state.
After years of lawsuits and challenges that questioned the fairness and validity of the state exam for dentists, the Hawaii State Board of Dental Examiners this year stopped offering the test. The test had an estimated 50 percent failure rate, significantly higher than other state or regional tests.
The board, which has administered the arduous licensing exam since the mid-1900s, last offered the test in July 2004 and is in the process of revamping it.
In a move to fast-track a new state exam, legislators passed a bill allowing the licensing board to bypass the state's slow rule-making process and is requiring the board to administer two tests by the end of 2005.
If the board doesn't administer the two exams, the state will accept licensure by regional exam and licensure by credential for specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons, meaning that a license from another state can be accepted in Hawaii in place of taking another exam. And the law has been changed so that Hawaii will accept a new national exam once it is established next year.
Because the testing has been suspended, dentists who wanted to set up practices have been left in limbo, forced to take jobs on the Mainland or remain unemployed until the state resolves the issue.
"It's unconscionable to not allow a local kid who has finished dental school to take a test and practice in Hawaii," said Rep. Brian Schatz, D-Makiki-Tantalus. "The bottom line is that it's a free market and this is not like accountancy or law where it would differ from state to state. Teeth are teeth and if somebody passed the board in New England or Florida, I'm prepared to assume they're a qualified dentist."
For Oahu resident Amanda Wilson, who graduated as an orthodontist last year and has been a practicing dentist in California for the past four years, the Hawaii process has been frustrating and a huge financial burden.
"I was forced to apply on the Mainland. I didn't have a choice because my $200,000 student loans started kicking in," said Wilson, who is married to Honolulu general dentist Darren Wong.
Wilson, who spends between $400 and $500 a month flying to California for work, became so frustrated that she drafted proposed legislation advocating licensure by credential for dental specialists, then submitted it to her legislators.
"You think when you graduate after 11 years that you're going to be able to work," she said. "It's a lot of control over who they let in and who they don't, especially for Hawaii dentists who are afraid that a lot of Mainlanders will come in if they just open the doors. People are afraid there's going to be a lot more competition."
General dentist Lilly Tsou, 27, has been out of work for six months after moving here when her husband was transferred for work.
"Basically I just stay home," said Tsou, who also is paying off $100,000 in student loans that kicked in six months ago. "Right now the only income is from what my husband makes, and we can't really move on with our lives until I can get a job here. Other states are a lot more organized; if they did anything like cancel a board exam they would give notice a year in advance or alternative options in order to get licensed. They basically just left us hanging with no alternatives."
Hawaii is among only a handful of states that hasn't recognized licensure by credential, but many local dentists are against it, afraid that an influx of dentists with less experience will flood the state, increase competition and lower professional standards.
"If we allow someone else to determine the skill of our dentists then it's a matter of trust. How can we verify the person?" said Mitchell Chun, president of the Hawaii Dental Association, which opposed the changes to the law. "We just have to trust that they didn't slip through the cracks at a testing facility thousands of miles away."
The dental association asserts that Hawaii has more than enough dentists, even in underserved areas. The state passed licensure by credential last year for dentists who work in federally designated underserved communities, which has attracted more dentists than available positions, he said.
Sen. Roz Baker, D-Kapalua-Makena, who supported the new legislation, said the issue has caused friction between younger and older dentists.
"It's gotten contentious which is unfortunate because it seems to be the younger dentists against the older dentists," Baker said. "The younger dentists are more flexible about licensure by credential, but the older dentists like it the way it is. It looks to me like there's some economics involved."
While Hawaii has 1,314 dentists, the second highest number of dentists per capita in the United States, Oahu is the only island that is saturated.
"Hawaii's exam has fallen behind the other exams that are out there just because in government, with the way things move, our ability to change rules and regulations takes a very long time. Because of that we've not been able to make the changes necessary to keep up with things," said Stan Kanna, chairman of the board of dental examiners, who said usually it takes between 18 months and two years to make changes.
Kanna says while traditional tests with specific criteria, scoring and content can be measured statistically to be reliable and valid, licensure by credential means simply verifying that a person has a license.
There are 16 dental and hygiene licensure exams nationwide, including four regional exams accepted by 38 states. Hawaii is one of 12 states that has its own licensing board and test.
You may access this link to read the article: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7950248/
Have a smilin' day
After years of lawsuits and challenges that questioned the fairness and validity of the state exam for dentists, the Hawaii State Board of Dental Examiners this year stopped offering the test. The test had an estimated 50 percent failure rate, significantly higher than other state or regional tests.
The board, which has administered the arduous licensing exam since the mid-1900s, last offered the test in July 2004 and is in the process of revamping it.
In a move to fast-track a new state exam, legislators passed a bill allowing the licensing board to bypass the state's slow rule-making process and is requiring the board to administer two tests by the end of 2005.
If the board doesn't administer the two exams, the state will accept licensure by regional exam and licensure by credential for specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons, meaning that a license from another state can be accepted in Hawaii in place of taking another exam. And the law has been changed so that Hawaii will accept a new national exam once it is established next year.
Because the testing has been suspended, dentists who wanted to set up practices have been left in limbo, forced to take jobs on the Mainland or remain unemployed until the state resolves the issue.
"It's unconscionable to not allow a local kid who has finished dental school to take a test and practice in Hawaii," said Rep. Brian Schatz, D-Makiki-Tantalus. "The bottom line is that it's a free market and this is not like accountancy or law where it would differ from state to state. Teeth are teeth and if somebody passed the board in New England or Florida, I'm prepared to assume they're a qualified dentist."
For Oahu resident Amanda Wilson, who graduated as an orthodontist last year and has been a practicing dentist in California for the past four years, the Hawaii process has been frustrating and a huge financial burden.
"I was forced to apply on the Mainland. I didn't have a choice because my $200,000 student loans started kicking in," said Wilson, who is married to Honolulu general dentist Darren Wong.
Wilson, who spends between $400 and $500 a month flying to California for work, became so frustrated that she drafted proposed legislation advocating licensure by credential for dental specialists, then submitted it to her legislators.
"You think when you graduate after 11 years that you're going to be able to work," she said. "It's a lot of control over who they let in and who they don't, especially for Hawaii dentists who are afraid that a lot of Mainlanders will come in if they just open the doors. People are afraid there's going to be a lot more competition."
General dentist Lilly Tsou, 27, has been out of work for six months after moving here when her husband was transferred for work.
"Basically I just stay home," said Tsou, who also is paying off $100,000 in student loans that kicked in six months ago. "Right now the only income is from what my husband makes, and we can't really move on with our lives until I can get a job here. Other states are a lot more organized; if they did anything like cancel a board exam they would give notice a year in advance or alternative options in order to get licensed. They basically just left us hanging with no alternatives."
Hawaii is among only a handful of states that hasn't recognized licensure by credential, but many local dentists are against it, afraid that an influx of dentists with less experience will flood the state, increase competition and lower professional standards.
"If we allow someone else to determine the skill of our dentists then it's a matter of trust. How can we verify the person?" said Mitchell Chun, president of the Hawaii Dental Association, which opposed the changes to the law. "We just have to trust that they didn't slip through the cracks at a testing facility thousands of miles away."
The dental association asserts that Hawaii has more than enough dentists, even in underserved areas. The state passed licensure by credential last year for dentists who work in federally designated underserved communities, which has attracted more dentists than available positions, he said.
Sen. Roz Baker, D-Kapalua-Makena, who supported the new legislation, said the issue has caused friction between younger and older dentists.
"It's gotten contentious which is unfortunate because it seems to be the younger dentists against the older dentists," Baker said. "The younger dentists are more flexible about licensure by credential, but the older dentists like it the way it is. It looks to me like there's some economics involved."
While Hawaii has 1,314 dentists, the second highest number of dentists per capita in the United States, Oahu is the only island that is saturated.
"Hawaii's exam has fallen behind the other exams that are out there just because in government, with the way things move, our ability to change rules and regulations takes a very long time. Because of that we've not been able to make the changes necessary to keep up with things," said Stan Kanna, chairman of the board of dental examiners, who said usually it takes between 18 months and two years to make changes.
Kanna says while traditional tests with specific criteria, scoring and content can be measured statistically to be reliable and valid, licensure by credential means simply verifying that a person has a license.
There are 16 dental and hygiene licensure exams nationwide, including four regional exams accepted by 38 states. Hawaii is one of 12 states that has its own licensing board and test.
You may access this link to read the article: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7950248/
Have a smilin' day
