Dentists: clinical laboratories: license examinations.

(1) Existing law provides for the licensure, registration, and regulation of clinical laboratories and various clinical laboratory personnel by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) to be performed under the overall operation and administration of a laboratory director, which is defined to include certain licensees. This bill would expand the definition of "laboratory director" to include licensed dentists. (2) Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of dentistry by the Dental Board of California in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires an applicant for licensure to have taken and received a passing score on either a clinical and written examination administered by the Western Regional Examining Board or a clinical and written examination developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc., subject to the Department of Consumer Affairs making a determination that the examination is compliant with specified requirements and standards. Existing law authorizes the acceptance of an American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. examination only after the department makes that determination. This bill would delete the provision specifying that the examination may only be accepted after that determination is made. The bill, until January 1, 2024, would specify that an applicant who received a passing score on either of the examinations specified above between January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, inclusive, shall be deemed to satisfy the examination requirement. The bill would make conforming changes.