Clinical Hand-Skill Exam Still Not Included in SB 458
The dentists/hygienist hand-skill exam is still NOT part of the Governor’s Licensing Bill!
Today, the WV House Government Organization Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 458 – Governor’s Universal Licensing Bill. Verbal comments were only accepted from the Governor’s Office. The WV Board of Dentistry submitted testimony emphasizing the need for the clinical hand-skills test as a condition for licensure in West Virginia.
Please contact your House committee member ASAP and urge them to support an amendment requiring hand-skill exams for dentists and dental hygienists in SB 458.
You may need to call them EVERY DAY until they understand this is a critical patient safety issue!
House Government Organization Committee Contact List
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 Counties) – (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 County) – (304) 340-3126 or ryan.browning@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Mark Dean (Mingo/McDowell Counties) – (304) 601-3425 or mark.dean@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Patrick Lucas – (304) 340-3280 or patrick.lucas@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Adam Pinson (Mason County) – (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 County) – (304) 340-312 or adam.burkhammer@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Mike DeVault (Marion County) – (304) 340-3249 or mike.devault@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate David McCormick (Mon County) – (304) 340-3127 or david.mccormick@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Chris Phillips (Barbour County) – (304) 340-3192 or chris.phillips@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Jonathan Kyle (Randolph/Pocahontas Counties) – (304) 340-3178 or jonathan.kyle@wvhouse.gov
- Delegate Bryan Smith (Marion/Taylor Counties) – (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 Counties) – (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 ensure the health, safety, and welfare of West Virginia’s citizens. The Board licenses all dentists, dental hygienists, and dental specialists.
Current law requires candidates to have graduated from an accredited dental school or residency program and passed a national clinical hand-skills exam. Research shows 8–10 states have removed this standard and offer alternative pathways without this evaluation.
The Board and the West Virginia Dental Association agree that the clinical hand-skills exam is a minimal competency standard necessary to protect the public.
Lowering these standards could result in poorer patient outcomes and real harm. Therefore, the Board respectfully requests either:
- An exemption from SB 458, or
- An amendment that retains the requirement for a national clinical hand-skills exam
