What must an applicant for RDHAP licensure have completed regarding work experience?

To be eligible for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP), applicants are required to have completed a specific amount of work experience to ensure they possess the necessary skills and competencies. The requirement of having 2000 hours of work experience within the last 36 months reflects the state's commitment to ensuring that candidates have recent and relevant clinical exposure in dental hygiene.

This stipulation is designed to maintain high professional standards and ensure that all practitioners are current with modern practices and techniques in the field. The timeframe of 36 months is significant, as it guarantees that the applicant's experience is relatively recent, addressing any changes in protocols or innovations that may not have been present during earlier work experiences.

This requirement helps protect public health and safety by ensuring that RDHAPs enter the field with adequate practical knowledge and experience, allowing them to operate confidently and effectively in various settings, particularly those that serve underserved populations. Meeting this work experience requirement is therefore crucial for the integrity and competence of dental hygiene professionals within alternative practice contexts.