ARC 0071D

ARC 0071D

INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS DEPARTMENT[481]

Amended Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to dental assistants
and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing hereby proposes to amend Chapter 570, “Dental Board Administration,” Chapter 572, “Dental Licensure, Registration, Renewal, Reactivation and Reinstatement,” Chapter 573, “Dental Continuing Education,” Chapter 574, “General Requirements and Standards of Practice,” Chapter 575, “Dental Assistants, Dental Radiography Qualifications, and Dental Laboratory Technicians,” Chapter 577, “Expanded Functions,” and Chapter 581, “Dental Board Discipline,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code chapters 147, 153, and 272C.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapters 147 and 153 and 2025 Iowa Acts, House File 805.

Purpose and Summary

    This proposed rulemaking amends the rules promulgated by the Dental Board to implement 2025 Iowa Acts, House File 805. This legislation allows for dental assistants to practice in Iowa without a requirement to be registered if they complete a term of practical training as set forth in rule and Iowa Code chapter 153.

Reason for Amendment of Notice of Intended Action

    Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on December 10, 2025, as ARC 9785C. No public hearing was held. The Iowa Dental Association provided a public comment in support of the proposed rulemaking. No other public comments were received. This Amended Notice includes additional rules that were identified as listing “registrant” rather than “dental assistant.” Since publication of the Notice, new amendments are proposed to Chapter 570 definitions, subrule 572.21(1), paragraph 573.1(1)“d,” and rules 481—574.14(153) and 481—575.6(153).

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 481—Chapter 6.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 10, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

     No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)“b,” an oral presentation regarding this rulemaking may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Amend rule 481—570.1(153), definitions of “Lapsed license,” and “Public health supervision,” as follows:

    “Lapsed license,” “lapsed permit,” or “lapsed registration” means a license, permit, or registration that a person has failed to renew as required or the license, permit, or registration of a person who failed to meet stated obligations for renewal within a stated time. A person whose license, permit, or registration has lapsed continues to hold the privilege of licensure or registration in Iowa but may not practice dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting radiography or as a registered dental assistant until the license, permit, or registration is reinstated.

    “Public health supervision” means that a licensed dentist has entered into a written supervision agreement with a licensed dental hygienist or registered dental assistant and authorized and delegated the services to be provided in a public health setting. Services provided under public health supervision may be rendered without the patient’s first being examined by a licensed dentist. Additionally, the supervising dentist is not required to provide future dental treatment to patients served under public health supervision.

    ITEM 2.  Amend subrule 572.6(1) as follows:

    572.6(1) Applicants for a radiography qualification must also be registered as a dental assistant pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 153 or hold an active license issued by the board of nursing.

    ITEM 3.  Amend subrule 572.21(1) as follows:

    572.21(1) A registered dental assistant or licensed nurse whose radiography qualification has lapsed may have the radiography qualification reactivated at the discretion of the board. In addition to the application requirements specified in rule 481—572.20(147,153,272C), applicants for reactivation must also submit evidence of the following:

    a.  Evidence of current registration Current practice as a dental assistant or an Iowa nursing license; and

    b.  Evidence of one of the following:

    (1)  If the radiography qualification has been lapsed for less than five years, a minimum of two hours of continuing education in the subject area of dental radiography, taken within the previous two-year period;

    (2)  If the radiography qualification has been lapsed for more than five years, the applicant has retaken and successfully completed a board-approved examination in dental radiography; or

    (3)  Current radiography qualification issued by another state, district or territory, and a statement detailing the clinical practice in dental radiography in that jurisdiction for a minimum of two years in the previous five-year period.

    ITEM 4.  Amend paragraph 573.1(1)“d” as follows:

    d.  Each registrant dental assistant or licensed nurse who holds a radiography qualification: a minimum of two hours in the area of dental radiography. These hours may also be applied toward the requirements as stipulated in paragraph 573.1(1)“c.”

    ITEM 5.  Amend rule 481—574.1(153) as follows:

481—574.1(153) Licensed, or registered or trained personnel. In accordance with Iowa Code chapters 147 and 153, persons engaged in the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assisting in Iowa must be licensed by the board as a dentist or dental hygienist or registered or trained pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 153 as a dental assistant.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 147 and 153.

    ITEM 6.  Amend subrules 574.4(1) and 574.4(2) as follows:

    574.4(1) Child and dependent adult abuse training. Licensees or registrants dental assistants who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat children or adults in Iowa must obtain mandatory training in child and dependent adult abuse identification and reporting in accordance with Iowa Code sections 232.69 and 235B.16 and 481—Chapter 573.

    574.4(2) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Licensees and registrants dental assistants may practice in Iowa if they obtain and maintain current certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course that included a hands-on component. The board reserves the right to request that licensees and registrants provide evidence of current certification.

    ITEM 7.  Amend rule 481—574.14(153) as follows:

481—574.14(153) Unethical and unprofessional conduct.

    574.14(1) Unethical or unprofessional conduct includes the following:

    a.  Taking actions that the board deems to be abusive, coercive, intimidating, harassing, untruthful or threatening in connection with the practice of dentistry.

    b.  Knowingly providing false or misleading information to the board or an agent of the board.

    c.  Knowingly interfering with a person filing a complaint with the board, or entering an agreement with a person that prohibits that person from filing a complaint with the board.

    d.  Failing to fully explain a treatment regimen and obtain patient authorization before treatment begins.

    574.14(2) A licensee or registrant who has been diagnosed with a communicable or infectious disease shall comply with Iowa Code chapter 139A. Failure to do so constitutes unethical and unprofessional conduct and may be grounds for disciplinary action by the board.

    574.14(3) Employing a licensee or registrant as an unregistered dental assistant who has been previously disciplined by the board without board approval constitutes unethical conduct and may be grounds for disciplinary action by the board.

    ITEM 8.  Amend rule 481—575.1(153) as follows:

481—575.1(153) Registration required. A person shall not practice dental assisting without a current registration issued by the board pursuant to rule 481—571.5(147,153). The following individuals are exempt from the requirements of this rule:

    575.1(1) Students enrolled in an accredited dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting program;

    575.1(2) Dental assistant trainees who are meeting the requirements for registration pursuant to Iowa Code section 153.39; and

    575.1(3) Persons who are actively licensed in Iowa to practice dental hygiene or nursing and who are engaged in the practice of said profession.; and

    575.1(4) Persons who successfully complete a term of practical training for dental assisting to include jurisprudence and infection control under the supervision of a licensed dentist pursuant to Iowa Code section 153.39(5).

    ITEM 9.  Amend rule 481—575.2(136C,153) as follows:

481—575.2(136C,153) Qualification required.

    575.2(1) A person who is not otherwise actively licensed by the board shall not participate in dental radiography unless the person holds an active registration is a dental assistant or holds a nursing license and holds an active radiography qualification issued by the board and a dentist provides general supervision.

    a. and b. No change.

    575.2(2) No change.

    575.2(3) Any licensee who permits a person to engage in dental radiography or a registrant dental assistant who engages in dental radiography contrary to this chapter or Iowa Code chapter 136C may be subject to discipline by the board pursuant to 481—Chapter 580.

    ITEM 10.  Amend rule 481—575.3(153) as follows:

481—575.3(153) Dental assistants.

    575.3(1) Dental assistant trainees are individuals who are engaging in on-the-job training to meet the requirements for registration pursuant to Iowa Code section 153.39 and rule 481—571.5(147,153). Trainees who are 18 years of age or older may also engage in on-the-job training in dental radiography pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 136C and 153 and this chapter.

    a. No change.

    b.  A dental assistant trainee shall stop work as a dental assistant trainee if the trainee fails to become registered or complete the term of practical training described in Iowa Code section 153.39(5) prior to the expiration date.

    575.3(2) No change.

    575.3(3) A person may practice as a dental assistant without receiving a certificate of registration as described in Iowa Code section 153.39 if the person successfully completes a term of practical training under the supervision of a licensed dentist. A person is not eligible to practice as an unregistered dental assistant without board approval if the person has received prior discipline by the board.

    ITEM 11.  Amend subrule 575.5(1), introductory paragraph, as follows:

    575.5(1) A licensed dentist may delegate the following services to a registered dental assistant under general supervision:

    ITEM 12.  Amend rule 481—575.6(153) as follows:

481—575.6(153) Continuing education. For the purposes of renewal, every registrant dental assistant and licensed nurse who holds a dental radiography qualification will complete continuing education requirements as specified in 481—Chapter 573 unless exempted by rule.

    ITEM 13.  Amend subrule 577.1(1), introductory paragraph, as follows:

    577.1(1) Dental hygienists or registered dental assistants may only perform expanded function procedures upon successful completion of a board-approved course of training. Dental assistant trainees are not eligible to receive training in or perform expanded function procedures.

    ITEM 14.  Amend subrule 577.1(3) as follows:

    577.1(3) To be eligible to train in expanded function procedures, dental assistants must hold an active registration and comply with one of the following:

    a.  Be a graduate of an accredited school;

    b.  Be currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB); or

    c.  Have at least three months of clinical practice as a registered dental assistant or clinical practice as a dental assistant in a state that does not require registration.

    ITEM 15.  Amend paragraph 581.3(1)“d” as follows:

    d.  Delegation of any acts to any licensee, or registrant or qualified person that are beyond the training or education of the licensee, or registrant or qualified person, or that are otherwise prohibited by rule;