Why Is This Bill Being Pushed?
Many of you have asked, “Why is the Governor pushing this universal licensing bill?” One major influence is Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a group that actively supported his gubernatorial campaign.
Here is an older blog from West Virginia’s AFP president on occupational licensing laws:
https://americansforprosperity.org/blog/occupational-licensing-laws-chip-away-at-opportunity/
Help Protect Your Profession – Take Action Now
The dentists/hygienist hand-skill exam is STILL NOT part of the Governor’s Licensing Bill!
Please contact your House member on the committee ASAP and urge them to support a hand-skill exam requirement amendment for dentistry/dental hygiene in Senate Bill 458. You may need to call them EVERY DAY until they understand this is a critical patient safety issue!
Key Committee Contacts by Dental Society
Blennerhassett Dental Society Delegate
- Delegate Dave Foggin – (304) 340-3136 or dave.foggin@wvhouse.gov
Eastern Panhandle Dental Society Delegate
- Delegate Wayne Clark (Jefferson) – (304) 340-3366 or wayne.clark@wvhouse.gov
Greenbrier Valley Dental Society Delegate
- Delegate Jonathan Kyle (Pocahontas/Randolph) – (304) 340-3178 or jonathan.kyle@wvhouse.gov
Kanawha Valley Dental Society Delegates
- Delegate Jarred Cannon – (304) 340-3113 or jarred.cannon@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Dana Farrell – (304) 340-3194 or dana.ferrell@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Tristan Leavitt – (304) 340-3156 or tristan.leavitt@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Hollis Lewis – (304) 340-3183 or hollis.lewis@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Kayla Young – (304) 340-3362 or kayla.young@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Tresa Howell (Fayette/Kanawha) – (304) 340-3287 or tresa.howell@wvhouse.gov
Huntington Dental Society Delegates
- Delegate Ryan Browning (Wayne) – (304) 340-3126 or ryan.browning@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Mark Dean (Mingo/McDowell) – (304) 601-3425 or mark.dean@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Patrick Lucas – (304) 340-3280 or patrick.lucas@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Adam Pinson (Mason) – (304) 340-3146 or jonathan.pinson@wvhouse.gov
Marshall-Wetzel-Tyler Society Delegate
- Delegate Charles Sheedy – (304) 340-3111 or charles.sheedy@wvhouse.gov
Mon Valley Society Delegates
- Delegate Adam Burkhammer (Lewis) – (304) 340-312 or adam.burkhammer@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Mike DeVault (Marion) – (304) 340-3249 or mike.devault@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate David McCormick (Monongalia) – (304) 340-3127 or david.mccormick@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Chris Phillips (Barbour) – (304) 340-3192 or chris.phillips@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Jonathan Kyle (Randolph/Pocahontas) – (304) 340-3178 or jonathan.kyle@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Bryan Smith (Marion/Taylor) – (304) 340-3139 or bryan.smith@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate George Street (Preston) – (304) 340-3160 or george.street@wvhouse.gov
New River Society Delegates
- Delegate Stanley Adkins (Nicholas) – (304) 340-3352 or stanley.adkins@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Eric Brooks (Fayette) – (304) 340-3197 or eric.brooks@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Marshall Clay (Fayette) – (304) 340-3170 or marshall.clay@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Doug Smith (Mercer) – (304) 340-3187 or doug.smith@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Tresa Howell (Fayette/Kanawha) – (304) 340-3287 or tresa.howell@wvhouse.gov
Potomac Valley Delegate
- Delegate John Paul Hott (Grant/Tucker) – (304) 340-3399 or johnpaul.hott@wvhouse.gov
Statement by the WV Board of Dentistry
The WV Board of Dentistry regulates the practice of dentistry to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The Board licenses all dentists, dental hygienists, and specialists.
Current West Virginia law requires candidates to have attended an accredited dental school or residency program and passed a national clinical hand-skills exam.
Why It Matters:
- 8–10 other states have removed this standard
- Those states have alternate pathways that do not include a clinical hand-skills exam
The Board and the West Virginia Dental Association agree: the clinical hand-skills exam is essential to ensure competency and protect patient safety.
Lowering licensure standards leads to poorer patient outcomes and potential harm. Therefore, the Board respectfully requests:
- An exemption from the universal licensing bill, or
- An amendment to retain the clinical hand-skills requirement for dental licensure
