- Joined
- Jan 19, 2002
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 1
I just recieved this email from our Tufts Representative, so I thought of sharing it everyone out here, as it is for everyone's interest.
Viraj
On Wed. January 22, I gave testimony before the Mass. State Board of Dentistry
on mutual recognition of all 4 regional board exams for the purposes of initial
licensure. Mutual recognition allows an individual to qualify for initial
licensure in a jurisdiction (state or U.S. Territory) by successfully passing
an exam other than the exam that jurisdiction is a member of or gives itself.
MA is a NERB member state. Mutual Recognition is one of the issues that ASDA's
Task Force on Dental Licensure Reform has focused upon for a number of years.
It allows increased freedom of movement and can reduce the number of
licensuring exams a candidate for initial licensure must sit for (saving time
and money). The testimony given on Jan. 22 was in follow up to that given by
Blair Bradford (D02, K04) in Sept. of 2001.
As a result of these 2 testimonies, a number of phone calls and help from the
Mass. Dental Society, the State Board of Dentistry agreed to accept the results
of all 4 regional exams for the purposes of initial licensure effective Jan.
22, 2003. Now in addition to accepting passing results from the NERB exam, a
candidate can receive a license after successfully passing all parts of SRTA,
WREB or CRDTS and completing only the written portion of the NERB. Anyone who
has met this criteria and taken theses exams before Jan. 1, 1998 can apply. An
applicant who has taken an exam prior to that date can apply for Licensure-by-
Credentials (Licensure based upon good standing).
This change is not the perfect solution, it is a step in the right direction
and a part of the process that will someday create a fair and ethical system of
evalutating candidates for initial licensure. Applicants now have the
opportunity to get an initial license in the Commonwealth without taking the
clinical NERB in addition to the regional exam required by the jurisdiction
they plan to permanently locate in.
Viraj
On Wed. January 22, I gave testimony before the Mass. State Board of Dentistry
on mutual recognition of all 4 regional board exams for the purposes of initial
licensure. Mutual recognition allows an individual to qualify for initial
licensure in a jurisdiction (state or U.S. Territory) by successfully passing
an exam other than the exam that jurisdiction is a member of or gives itself.
MA is a NERB member state. Mutual Recognition is one of the issues that ASDA's
Task Force on Dental Licensure Reform has focused upon for a number of years.
It allows increased freedom of movement and can reduce the number of
licensuring exams a candidate for initial licensure must sit for (saving time
and money). The testimony given on Jan. 22 was in follow up to that given by
Blair Bradford (D02, K04) in Sept. of 2001.
As a result of these 2 testimonies, a number of phone calls and help from the
Mass. Dental Society, the State Board of Dentistry agreed to accept the results
of all 4 regional exams for the purposes of initial licensure effective Jan.
22, 2003. Now in addition to accepting passing results from the NERB exam, a
candidate can receive a license after successfully passing all parts of SRTA,
WREB or CRDTS and completing only the written portion of the NERB. Anyone who
has met this criteria and taken theses exams before Jan. 1, 1998 can apply. An
applicant who has taken an exam prior to that date can apply for Licensure-by-
Credentials (Licensure based upon good standing).
This change is not the perfect solution, it is a step in the right direction
and a part of the process that will someday create a fair and ethical system of
evalutating candidates for initial licensure. Applicants now have the
opportunity to get an initial license in the Commonwealth without taking the
clinical NERB in addition to the regional exam required by the jurisdiction
they plan to permanently locate in.
