The Illinois State Dental Society requested the deadline for dentists and hygienists to renew their licenses be extended because of a delay in the opening of the online renewal portal.
According to an update on the dental association's website, the online portal used by dental professionals during the renewal process has not been opened because of an IT conversion process, which has delayed the process for dentists and hygienists in the state.
In an Aug. 18 letter to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Dave Marsh, the dental association's government relations director, asked for the deadline to be pushed from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, to give providers sufficient time to complete the process and additional time for the department to process the licenses.
The group said all continuing education requirements and basic life support certification will still need to be completed by Sept. 30. The requested deadline extension aims to ensure dentists and hygienists do not practice without a license and will not have to show physical proof of continuing education requirements.