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SB 792

State Board of Dental Examiners - Expanded Function Dental Assistants - Education and Reinstatement

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Johnny Mautz

The bill expands EFDA education options, requires a mix of online and in-person training with defined hours, and sets criteria for reinstating expired EFDA certificates.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 24
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Bill Summary · SB 792

SB 792 — State Board of Dental Examiners: Expanded Function Dental Assistants — Education and Reinstatement

Status: Enacted (Chapter 24). Approved by Governor April 8, 2025. Effective date: October 1, 2025.

Purpose / Intent

To expand and modernize education pathways and continuing‑education requirements for Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs), and to define the conditions under which the State Board of Dental Examiners (BDE) may reinstate expired EFDA certificates.

Key provisions

  • Approved course providers: BDE is authorized to approve additional courses of study for EFDA certification, specifically including:
    • Dental assisting courses/programs offered by the Dale Foundation (an affiliate of the Dental Assisting National Board) or successor entities; and
    • Orthodontic dental assisting courses/programs offered by Trapezio Orthodontic Assistant Training Solutions or successor entities.
  • Initial course format and minimum hours:
    • A course of study for initial EFDA certification must, when appropriate, include an option for an online course of study.
    • The statute requires at least 35 hours of instruction for initial certification, consisting of both online and in‑person instruction.
    • BDE must adopt regulations specifying required hours for in‑person instruction, online instruction, and clinical hands‑on training.
  • Continuing education and reinstatement:
    • BDE must adopt regulations requiring continuing education for EFDAs that includes clinical hands‑on training.
    • Continuing education offerings must include an online option and be offered by: (a) state‑based dental professional societies affiliated with national dental organizations; and (b) the entities listed above and other approved program providers.
    • BDE may reinstate an expired EFDA certificate only if the certificate holder (1) has completed BDE’s continuing education requirements, (2) submitted a renewal application before the board’s deadline, and (3) paid the board’s renewal fee.

Who is affected

  • Expanded Function Dental Assistants (current and prospective) — new approved educational routes, continuing education requirements, and defined reinstatement conditions.
  • Dental education providers (including Dale Foundation and Trapezio) — potential new pathways to deliver EFDA training.
  • Employers/dentists who supervise EFDAs — may see broader candidate pools and standardized continuing‑education expectations.
  • State Board of Dental Examiners — required to adopt implementing regulations (hour breakdowns and continuing‑education standards) and to administer reinstatements under the new criteria.

Fiscal and practical impact

  • Fiscal note: State implementation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources; no change to State revenues; minimal impact on small businesses.
  • Regulatory work: BDE rulemaking will be required to specify hour allocations and continuing‑education standards before provisions are operational.

Implementation timeline

  • Enacted: Chapter 24, approved April 8, 2025.
  • Statutory effective date: October 1, 2025.
  • BDE must promulgate implementing regulations (hour requirements and continuing‑education rules) to operationalize the new statutory provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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