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To: New York State Department of Health and the New York State Board of Dentistry
Reforming New York State Dental Licensing Requirements for Specialty Residents
Background:
New York is currently the only state in the U.S. that mandates a one-year General Practice Residency (GPR) or Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program for all dental graduates before they can obtain a New York dental license. This requirement is not a reflection of competency but exists primarily to ensure that residency programs remain full. This is evident because no other state in the U.S. mandates this one-year residency for licensure.
New York is currently the only state in the U.S. that mandates a one-year General Practice Residency (GPR) or Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program for all dental graduates before they can obtain a New York dental license. This requirement is not a reflection of competency but exists primarily to ensure that residency programs remain full. This is evident because no other state in the U.S. mandates this one-year residency for licensure.
Dental specialty programs—such as oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and others—extend well beyond the one-year GPR/AEGD requirement, further delaying licensure in New York by several years. Specialists must wait until they complete their residency program before becoming eligible for licensure. If the one-year residency mandate is not based on competency, why require specialists to wait until the end of their entire program?
Problem:
Dental specialty residents already undergo extensive, advanced training as part of their specialty programs. Requiring them to complete an additional 2-3 years, even after successfully completing the first year of their specialty residency, is redundant and unnecessarily delays their ability to become licensed professionals.
Dental specialty residents already undergo extensive, advanced training as part of their specialty programs. Requiring them to complete an additional 2-3 years, even after successfully completing the first year of their specialty residency, is redundant and unnecessarily delays their ability to become licensed professionals.
As a result, we are losing specialists to other states.
Specialists who hold a New York State dental license during their residency have a significant advantage in securing jobs upon graduation, while those without a license must wait an additional 3-6 months for licensure and Medicaid credentialing. This creates an unfair disadvantage for those accepted directly into a specialty program, as they are not given equal opportunities.
Proposal:
We request that New York State allow dental specialty residents to apply for a dental license after completing the first year of their specialty residency. Specialty residents should be eligible for licensure based on this one year of residency, without requiring additional years, allowing them to enter the workforce promptly and serve the dental needs of the state, particularly in underserved areas.
We request that New York State allow dental specialty residents to apply for a dental license after completing the first year of their specialty residency. Specialty residents should be eligible for licensure based on this one year of residency, without requiring additional years, allowing them to enter the workforce promptly and serve the dental needs of the state, particularly in underserved areas.
Why is this important?
Benefits of the Proposed Change:
- Streamline the Path to Licensure: This reform would eliminate unnecessary delays, enabling highly trained dental specialists to enter the workforce more quickly.
- Enhance Access to Care: Allowing dental specialists to practice sooner will help address gaps in dental specialty care across New York State, particularly in underserved regions.
- Align with National Standards: This change would bring New York’s dental licensure requirements closer to the national norm, where such residency requirements are not imposed on specialty residents. Entering a dental specialty program should be a reward, not a penalty.
Sign the Petition:
By signing this petition, you are advocating for a more efficient, fair, and streamlined path to dental licensure for New York’s dental specialty residents.