To expedite dentists’ ability to get started in their field post-graduation, Wisconsin’s Dentistry Examining Board, under the Department of Safety and Professional Services, recently voted to make the state’s only dental school — Marquette University’s School of Dentistry — a testing organization, Channel3000 reports.
Applicants seeking licensure to be a dentist in Wisconsin must pass a written national exam during their schooling, followed by a practical exam administered by a third party after they graduate — a requirement that costs thousands of dollars. The board determined that Marquette’s curriculum already assesses the same skills, which eliminates the need for graduates to take an additional practical exam.
The move creates an incentive for dentists who are trained in the state to stay and work there. At present, Wisconsin only keeps half of the state’s graduating dentist class every year.
The field is also experiencing a shortage of dental hygienists. There is currently a five-year waiting list for the dental hygienist program at Madison College.
Gov. Tony Evers invested $20 million for oral health workforce programs at state technical colleges in the 2023–25 state budget. Increasing the pipeline for dental careers will be crucial in addressing current shortages.
