Although dental assistants do not need to be licensed to perform dental assisting duties, do they need a license or permit PRIOR TO exposing radiographs as part of their dental assisting duties?
Yes. Even though the Board does not license dental assistants to perform dental assisting duties, if dental assistants will be EXPOSING RADIOGRAPHS as part of their dental assisting duties, they MUST be issued a currently valid Mississippi Radiology Permit PRIOR TO exposing radiographs in the dental office. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
Are dental, dental hygiene, and dental assisting students currently enrolled in these Mississippi ADA-accredited programs required to apply for Mississippi Radiology Permits to administer radiographs?
No. Dental students, dental hygiene students, and dental assisting students actively enrolled in Mississippi ADA-accredited dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting programs do not need to make application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit to administer radiographs in dental offices or other entities lawfully authorized to provide dental services while attending the above-referenced programs. However, the Board MUST receive a letter from the dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting dean or program head certifying as to a student's successful completion of the program's radiology coursework prior to that student administering radiographs in dental offices or other entities lawfully authorized to provide dental services while attending the above-referenced programs. Once such students no longer are enrolled in any of the aforementioned programs, if they wish to continue administering radiographs in Mississippi dental offices or other entities lawfully authorized to provide dental services, they MUST apply for a Mississippi Radiology Permit and ensure compliance with the requirements stipulated in Board Regulation 25. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
I see phrases such as “certified” dental assistant or “accredited” dental assisting program or school. What does the Board consider as a “certified” dental assistant or “accredited” dental assisting program or school?
Albeit someone may work as a dental assistant in the State of Mississippi without the need to be “licensed” as a dental assistant, if that person exposes radiographs as part of his/her dental assisting duties, that person must be issued a currently valid and renewed Mississippi Radiology Permit PRIOR TO exposing radiographs. For purposes of issuing Mississippi Radiology Permits, the Board ONLY recognizes the phrase “certified dental assistant” as being a dental assistant who currently has passed all requirements and examinations to receive certification by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB). Current DANB certification may be used to fulfill the requirements for being issued a Mississippi Radiology Permit. Additionally, the only “accredited dental assisting programs or schools” recognized by the Board for purposes of issuing Mississippi Radiology Permits are those dental assisting schools/programs that currently are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) through the American Dental Association (ADA). Graduation from an ADA/CODA-accredited dental assisting program may be used to fulfill the requirements for being issued a Mississippi Radiology Permit. For purposes of issuing radiology permits, only DANB-certified dental assistants or ADA/CODA-accredited dental assisting graduates are recognized by the Board. No other “certification” or “accreditation” are recognized by the Board and may be used as fulfilling the requirements for a Mississippi Radiology Permit. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
To receive a Mississippi Radiology Permit, I am required to complete a Board-approved radiology seminar. How do I know what radiology seminars have been approved by the Board?
All Board-approved radiology seminars are noted on the Board’s web site. There is a hot link entitled “Radiology Seminars” on the right-hand side of the Board’s home page, and you also may click here for a link to that same page. The Board-approved radiology seminars are listed in alphabetical order; furthermore, seminar contacts, locations, and dates are noted for each Board-approved seminar. No Mississippi Radiology Permit will be issued if you take a radiology seminar that is NOT a Board-approved radiology seminar. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
I have successfully completed a Board-approved radiology seminar. How long do I have to submit my application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit based on successful completion of this seminar?
Once you have successfully completed a Board-approved radiology seminar, you have a maximum of ninety (90) days from the date of successful completion of that Board-approved radiology seminar to apply for a Mississippi Radiology Permit. If the Board receives your application more than ninety (90) days from the date of successful completion of a Board-approved radiology seminar, your application will be REJECTED, and you will be REQUIRED to successfully complete another Board-approved radiology seminar and submit your application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit within ninety (90) days from successful completion of that Board-approved radiology seminar. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
What do I need to submit with my application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit?
First of all, you must submit a fully completed and signed application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit. All applications for Mississippi Radiology Permits MUST BE TYPED, as no handwritten applications will be accepted. If your application is handwritten, it will be returned, and no Mississippi Radiology Permit will be issued until the Board is in receipt of your TYPED application, correct application processing fee, and all required documentation. Along with your fully completed, TYPED, and signed application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit, you also must submit a certified check or money order to cover the application processing fee and documentation that you have met one or more of the requirements stipulated in Board Regulation 25 for issuance of a Mississippi Radiology Permit. Such documentation may consist of a transcript or certificate of completion evidencing graduation from an ADA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program, a current certification card from the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB), or a certificate evidencing successful completion of a Board-approved radiology seminar within ninety (90) days of completion of that seminar. Remember, if you have graduated from an ADA-accredited dental assisting program more than twelve (12) months prior to making application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit, you also must submit sworn statements from all employers over the past five (5) years, or part thereof depending on your date of graduation, certifying as to your period of employment and whether you administered radiographs as part of your dental assisting duties. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
In lieu of a certified check or money order, can my dental employer submit his/her business check for the application processing fee?
Yes. The Board will accept a business check from your dental employer. Under no circumstances, however, will a personal check be accepted from anyone. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
Why am I having to submit additional fees for my newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permit?
The fee you submit with your application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit is an APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE ONLY. This fee covers receiving your application, primary-source verifying the information contained in and provided with your application, conducting a background check, issuing your Mississippi Radiology Permit, and mailing that permit to you. Once you receive your Mississippi Radiology Permit, you MUST renew that permit, and you should do so IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT. Consider this renewal your “activation fee” for your Mississippi Radiology Permit. If you do not renew your newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permit within sixty (60) days of issuance, you will be assessed a renewal penalty in the amount of $20.00 for the next thirty (30) day period. If you still have not renewed your newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permit, you will be assessed an additional $20.00 renewal penalty for the second thirty (30) day period. If you have not renewed your newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permit after that time, e.g., on or before 120 days from issuance, your Mississippi Radiology Permit WILL BE VOIDED FOR FAILURE TO RENEW, and you will be REQUIRED to submit a new application and processing fee before being issued another Mississippi Radiology Permit. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
Why do I have to renew my Mississippi Radiology Permit if I have just been issued the permit?
As previously noted, the fee you submitted with your application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit is an APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE ONLY. This fee covers receiving your application, primary-source verifying the information contained in and provided with your application, conducting a background check, issuing your Mississippi Radiology Permit, and mailing that permit to you. Once you receive your Mississippi Radiology Permit, you MUST renew that permit, and you should do so IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT. Consider this renewal your “activation fee” for your Mississippi Radiology Permit. Remember, if you do not renew your newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permit, it WILL BE VOIDED FOR FAILURE TO RENEW, and you will be REQUIRED to submit a new application and processing fee before being issued another Mississippi Radiology Permit. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
My Mississippi Radiology Permit has been voided, and I want to reinstate that voided permit. How can I reinstate my Mississippi Radiology Permit?
You ARE NOT ALLOWED to reinstate a voided Mississippi Radiology Permit. If you have allowed your Mississippi Radiology Permit to be voided, you will be REQUIRED to apply for a Mississippi Radiology Permit as a new applicant and, if qualified, be issued another Mississippi Radiology Permit. Remember, you also are REQUIRED to renew all newly-issued Mississippi Radiology Permits. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
I am, or have been, licensed as a dental assistant in another state. Can I be issued a Mississippi Radiology Permit based on my dental assistant licensure in that state?
No. The Board does NOT issue Mississippi Radiology Permits based on reciprocity, credentials, or licensure from other states. You must fulfill one or more requirements stipulated in Board Regulation 25 and apply for a Mississippi Radiology Permit. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
I do not hold a Mississippi Dental or Dental Hygiene license, but I graduated from an ADA-accredited dental or dental hygiene program. Can I work as a dental assistant and expose radiographs without a currently valid Mississippi Radiology Permit?
No. Albeit you may work as a dental assistant in the State of Mississippi without the need to be “licensed” as a dental assistant, if you expose radiographs as a part of your dental assisting practice, you are REQUIRED to hold a currently valid and renewed Mississippi Radiology Permit. This is true even if you are a dentist or dental hygienist who has graduated from an ADA-accredited dental or dental hygiene program but only wish to work as a dental assistant in the State of Mississippi. By virtue of your graduation from an ADA-accredited dental or dental hygiene program, you may apply for a Mississippi Radiology Permit by providing proof of such graduation to the Board. This proof is in the form of a transcript evidencing graduation from said program and/or a copy of your certificate of completion or degree. As part of the application process, all such documentation will be primary-source verified before issuance of a Mississippi Radiology Permit. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.
I do not hold a Mississippi Dental or Dental Hygiene license, but I have been licensed as a dentist or dental hygienist in another state, albeit I did NOT graduate from an ADA-accredited dental or dental hygiene program. Can I work as a dental assistant and expose radiographs without a currently valid Mississippi Radiology Permit?
No. Albeit you may work as a dental assistant in the State of Mississippi without the need to be “licensed” as a dental assistant, if you expose radiographs as a part of your dental assisting practice, you are REQUIRED to hold a currently valid and renewed Mississippi Radiology Permit. Furthermore, unless you are a graduate from an ADA-accredited dental school, an ADA-accredited dental hygiene program, an ADA-accredited dental assisting program, and/or currently certified by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB), you will be REQUIRED to successfully complete a Board-approved radiology seminar and submit your application for a Mississippi Radiology Permit within ninety (90) days of completion of that seminar. Refer to Board Regulation 25 for more information regarding the application for and issuance of Mississippi Radiology Permits.