Opinion No. 55-6139
April 12, 1955
TO: Dr. J. J. Clarke, Secretary, New Mexico Board of Dental Examiners, Artesia, New Mexico
On March 25, 1955 you addressed an inquiry to this office concerning the eligibility of a certain person to take the examination given by the New Mexico Board of Dental Examiners. You state that this person has graduated from a Mexican dental college and has taken post graduate work from the University of Michigan.
Section 67-4-22, NMSA, 1953 Compilation, provides as follows:
"Eligibility. -- Any person of good moral character, over eighteen (18) years of age who is a citizen of the United States, a graduate of an accredited high school who has successfully completed training in a school of dental hygiene that is recognized by the board and that requires a course of training of not less than two (2) years of eight (8) months each."
This provision does not require that the educational council recognize the school but only that the Board recognizes the school. The law gives to the Board of Dental Examiners the full power to recognize the educational qualifications within the limits provided in the above cited section. If the school from which this man graduated is not recognized by the Board of Dental Examiners then the man cannot be permitted to take the examination unless the Board should construe the post graduate work as a successful completion of the course of training required.
I do not have before me the regulations of your Board and, therefore, decline to state whether or not you have recognized the school in Mexico City nor whether the post graduate work would constitute a successful completion of the requirements.
I sincerely hope this answers your inquiry.
By Fred M. Standley
Assistant Attorney General