Onboarding Recent Dental School Graduates
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Quick Tips for the Dental Office
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Onboarding Recent Dental School Graduates
Hiring a recent dental school graduate can help expand your busy practice, and there are several things to consider when onboarding a recent graduate. If you are at a point in your career where you have been in practice for years, you may not remember the various elements required to get a new dentist up and running. There are several things to consider when hiring a recent graduate.
Licensing
Any individual who intends to practice dentistry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must first obtain a license to practice. A recent graduate that has not yet obtained a license can complete their application on the Pennsylvania Licensing System’ s( PALS) website: pals. pa. gov /#!/ page / default.
First, the applicant must create an account to complete the application and upload supporting materials.
A full checklist of the requirements necessary to apply for a license can be found on the PALS website. The average processing time for a license is 7-10 business days.
If you need to verify an individual license, you can do so through the PALS website: pals. pa. gov /#!/ page / search.
Dental licenses must be displayed in a place of prominence in the dental office.
Professional Liability Insurance
An individual licensed and practicing dentistry in Pennsylvania must maintain professional liability insurance in the minimum amount of one million dollars per occurrence and three million per annual aggerate. Coverage can include a personally purchased policy or insurance coverage through the employer.
Applicants for licensure must submit proof of insurance to the State Board of Dentistry within 60 days of the policy being issued.
2025