Expands how applicants may qualify for a license to be a dentist to include postdoctoral specialty programs and advanced education programs in general dentistry.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10753A
SPONSOR: Paulin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to licensing requirements
for prospective dentists
PURPOSE:
To improve access to dental care for underprivileged communities and
reduce unnecessary delays in licensure by allowing residents in multi-
year postdoctoral specialty programs to apply for licensure after
completing the first year and passing the ADEX exam. This policy was
adopted by the delegates of the New York State Dental Association
(NYSDA) at the 2025 House of Delegates as Resolution 10.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 6604 of the Education
Law.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Current licensure law requires specialty residents to complete their
entire program before applying for a license, which causes financial
hardship and restricts access to care. The proposed change will reduce
economic strain, enable dental specialists to practice sooner, and
expand care to underserved populations, especially Medicaid recipients.
Residents in multi-year specialty programs can face licensing delays of
up to six months, during which they are unable to obtain Medicaid
credentialing and begin treating underprivileged populations in New
York. As a result, many are forced to take positions that do not involve
working with those most in need. This, delay also creates inequities in
the job market, as residents who have already received a New York State
Dental License have an unfair advantage over those still finishing their
training, despite being equally qualified to provide care upon
completion of their program, New York already has a shortage of special-
ists, especially in underprivileged areas. This bill will help keep
graduates in the state and allow them to apply for their first jobs in
the communities where they are most needed.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10753--A
IN ASSEMBLY
March 27, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to licensing requirements
for prospective dentists
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 6604 of the education law,
2 subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 613 of the laws of 2022 and subdivi-
3 sion 4 as amended by chapter 76 of the laws of 2004, are amended to read
4 as follows:
5 (3) Experience: have experience satisfactory to the board and in
6 accordance with the commissioner's regulations, provided that such expe-
7 rience shall consist of satisfactory completion of a postdoctoral gener-
8 al practice [or], specialty dental residency program or advanced educa-
9 tion program in general dentistry, of at least one year's duration, or
10 the first year of a multi-year postdoctoral specialty program, in a
11 hospital or dental facility accredited for teaching purposes by a
12 national accrediting body approved by the department, provided, further
13 that any such residency program or advanced education program in general
14 dentistry shall include a formal outcome assessment evaluation of the
15 resident's or program participant's competence to practice dentistry
16 acceptable to the department;
17 (4) Examination: pass a written examination satisfactory to the board
18 and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations. Applicants
19 applying after the first year of a multi-year postdoctoral specialty
20 program shall have also passed the clinical examination administered by
21 the American Board of Dental Examiners or another clinical examination
22 acceptable to the department;
23 § 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
24 law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13339-04-6
