Published on Jul 21, 2026
Virginia’s HB 1036 and SB 282—authorizing the Board of Dentistry to license dental hygienists who were eligible to practice dentistry outside the United States—became law on July 1, 2026. These laws permit qualified internationally educated dentists to seek Virginia dental hygiene licensure once regulatory requirements are established.
Although the legislation allows the Board to bypass standard Administrative Process Act (APA) procedures, including the three-step regulatory process and most standard steps for Executive Branch review, new regulations must still be promulgated before any licenses can be issued under this pathway.
The Board will consider and draft regulations regarding:
• Foreign-education evaluation criteria
• Supervision requirements
• Minimum training and examination standards (including potential clinical exam requirements)
Projected Timeline
Despite expedited rulemaking authority granted by the legislation, implementation remains dependent on the Board’s ability to convene after the law’s effective date. The Board expects to:
• Hold a regulatory committee meeting in October 2026 to develop draft regulatory language
• Present draft language to the full Board in December 2026 for consideration and approval.
Following adoption of regulatory language to implement HB1036/SB282, the regulatory amendments will be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General and the Governor’s office for approval. Following approval by the Governor’s office, the Board will publish the regulations for a 30-day comment period. The regulations will only become effective after all of these steps are completed. The Board estimates the regulations may be effective in late winter or early spring of 2027.
That timeframe is dependent on
(1) a Board vote regarding final regulations at the December 2026 meeting; and
(2) relatively swift approval of the draft regulations by the OAG and the Governor.
Virginia Board of Dentistry
denbd@dhp.virginia.gov | Contact the Board