Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen wrote a letter to the Nebraska Board of Dentistry, asking the board to change its licensing standards to recruit more dentists to the state, according to a June 26 report by 1011Now.
The letter requests the board approve an additional examination pathway for initial licensure. Nebraska is facing a shortage of dentists, with the number of dentists practicing in the state dropping significantly since 2019 and dental residency programs are struggling to recruit applicants, the letter said.
Currently, Nebraska only accepts the Central Regional Dental Testing Service exam for initial licensure in the state, but the board has the ability to approve an additional pathway.
Mr. Pillen is calling on the board to approve the American Board of Dental Examiners as a pathway to licensure. The board has denied approval of the exam in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 testing cycles.
Nebraska is one of two states that does not accept the ADEX exam, the report said.