(1) Starting January 1, 2020, for the purposes of licensure, a dentist applicant shall verify successful passage of a board-approved clinical practical exam to include the following components:

(a) patient-based operative exam, to include one direct posterior class II composite and any one of the following:

(i) direct posterior class II composite; or

(ii) direct posterior class II amalgam; or

(iii) direct anterior class III composite;

(b) patient-based periodontal exam;

(c) non-patient-based endodontics exam, to include:

(i) anterior access;

(ii) posterior access; and

(iii) obturation of one canal;

(d) comprehensive treatment planning computer-based exam that is scored by calibrated examiners; and

(e) non-patient-based prosthodontics exam.

(2) Dental students who graduate during the state of emergency declared in the Governor of Montana's Executive Order 2-2020 or in the year 2021 shall be allowed to substitute a board-approved manikin-based operative exam in lieu of the patient-based examinations required in (1)(a) and (1)(b). All remaining non-patient-based requirements shall remain in effect. The exception outlined in this section shall expire December 31, 2021.

(3) Starting January 1, 2020, for the purposes of licensure, a dental hygienist applicant shall verify successful passage of a board-approved patient-based clinical practical exam to include the following:

(a) clinical competency and patient competency with the following components:

(i) pocket depth;

(ii) recession;

(iii) calculus detection and removal; and

(iv) intraoral and extraoral assessment.

(b) Dental hygiene students who graduate during the state of emergency declared in the Governor of Montana's Executive Order 2-2020, or in the year 2021, shall be allowed to substitute a board-approved manikin-based examination in lieu of a patient-based clinical examination.  The exception outlined in this section shall expire on December 31, 2021.

(4) For the purpose of a local anesthetic permit a dental hygienist applicant shall verify successful passage of a board-approved written and patient-based clinical practical exam to include:

(a) the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) or board-approved local anesthetic exam.

(5) The board may review applications from applicants who have taken a clinical practical examination that does not meet the above criteria as nonroutine for licensure.

(6) This rule shall not apply to dentist or dental hygienist applicants applying by credentialing.