If you are a dentist and you feel like the island life in Hawaii is begging you to move out of your city and get on the plane to the Aloha State, there are essential things you should know first about starting your dental practice or working as a dentist in Hawaii.
In Hawaii, everyone seeking to be a dentist must meet these requirements:

• At least 18 years of age
• A graduate from an accredited dental school. At present, there are 66 schools of Dentistry in 36 states as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Unfortunately, there is no accredited dental school in Hawaii which awards Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine. A copy of your dental school diploma or certificate of graduation must be attached in your application.
• Pass the National Board Dental Examination Part I & II. The NBDE fulfills the written examination requirement which is one of the basic three requirements necessitated by all jurisdictions along with educational and clinical requirement. The dental examination aims to test the ability to understand and apply pertinent information from the biomedical and dental sciences.
• Pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) Dental Examination which consists of four required sections and an optional section. The four required sections include Computer-based Diagnostic Skills Examination, Manikin-based Endodontic Clinical Examination, Manikin-based Fixed Prosthodontic Clinical Examination, and Patient-based Restorative Clinical Examination. The optional section comprises Patient-based Periodontal Clinical Examination. All five sections (four required sections and one optional section) are required to be passed in Hawaii. The original verification of having passed the examination including the date passed must be sent directly to the Hawaii Board of Dental Examiners.

Aside from the above requirements, a person seeking to be a licensed dentist in Hawaii must be a US citizen, a US national, or an alien who is authorized to work in the United States and have a US Social Security Number.

Application for Licensure

Applicants must complete the fillable application form online or writing in legible print in dark ink. The application form must be signed.

All requirements required to be attached must be done so as an incomplete application may delay the processing of the application or be denied. Aside from the needed documentation, the appropriate amount of application fee must be attached. The amount must be made check payable in US dollars and from a US financial intuition to the Commerce & Consumer Affairs.

If the license is expected to be received in an even-numbered year, the fee is 448 US dollars. If the license is expected to be received in an odd-numbered year, the fee is 294 US dollars. All licenses are subjected for renewal on or before December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Processing of Application

An application will take 15 to 20 business days to be processed to ensure the completeness of all fields and requirements. If no issue is found, a license may then be issued.

If you wish to follow up your application, you may do so by calling the Licensing Branch at (808) 586-3000.

Renewal of License

All licenses are subjected for renewal on or before December 31 of each odd-numbered year. You will be notified on the renewal about two months before December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

To be eligible for renewal, all licensed dentists must complete continuing education credit hours from an approved sponsor before the renewal period. If you initially received your license in the first year of the biennium (even-numbered year), you will be required to fulfill 16 CE credit hours. If you initially received your license in the second year of the biennium (odd-numbered year), you will not be required to fulfill any CE credit hours. All other licenses must complete 32 CE Credit hour and six hours of ethics training.

Failure to Renew the License

Licenses which are renewed by December 31 of each odd-numbered year will be forfeited and can only be restored after two years following the forfeiture. To restore your forfeited license, you are required to submit:

• A written application and payment of all applicable fees
• Evidence of practicing Dentistry for at least three years preceding the date of the written application
• Proof of completion of CE requirements
• A self-query report issued by the National Practitioner Data Bank
• A background check derived from an independent background check service accepted by the Board

If those requirements were unmet, the individual might be asked to reapply as a new applicant and take and pass the licensure examination.

If five years have passed and the license has not been restored, the individual will need to:

• Apply again as a new applicant
• Retake and pass the licensure examination
• Submit a self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank
• Submit a background check from an independent background check service approved by the Board.

General Anesthesia Authorization

A separate application, requirements, and fee are needed to administer deep sedation, general anesthesia, or moderate sedation.

If you want to have a permit to administer deep sedation, general anesthesia, or moderate sedation, you, a licensed dentist, must:

• Apply to the Board
• Pay the appropriate amount of application fee
• Submit the needed documentary evidence to show that educational and training requirements, per Chapter 16-79, Subchapter 8 Anesthesia, Hawaii Administrative Rules.

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Sources:

• Hawaii Board of Dental Examiners – Frequently Asked Questions

When you think of Hawaii, the word “paradise” always comes to mind because, indeed, Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with all the greeneries, pristine waters, panoramic views, and scenic landscape coupled by the warmth of the sun and the comfort of the island. It’s the perfect vacation destination to unwind and escape from the busyness of the urban cities of the mainland — to take a step back and to slow down.

It’s beautiful that when you step into the island state, the thought of living here and starting anew crosses your mind. Still, you are still hesitant because taking the one-way ticket to Hawaii will mean leaving your job — your source of income. You began to ask: Is it worth the risk? Why should I leave my job and work in Hawaii?

And really, why should you work in Hawaii?

Recommended: Are You A Dentist? Here Are 5 Reasons You Should Work In Hawaii

Low Unemployment Rate

As of August 2018, Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate in the United States at 2.1. The figure is even lower than the national average of 3.9.

Favorable Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Hawaii, which is at 10.10 US Dollars per hour, is higher compared to the minimum wage in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. Although it is lower than the hourly minimum wage in California, New York, and Washington, the wages in Hawaii are favorable.

The mean hourly wage across all occupations in Hawaii is at 25.02 US Dollars, based on the May 2017 State Occupational Employment & Wage Estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, the annual mean wage across all occupations amounts to 25,050 US Dollars.

No Daylight Saving

If you work in Hawaii, you save yourself from the confusion and hassle of having to change your clock by daylight saving time or the practice of advancing the time on your clocks during the summer months to make evening daylight last longer.

Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time since abandoning the Uniform Time Act in 1967. The state, which is one of the two states along with Arizona not to practice daylight saving time, is close to the equator where the sun rises and sets almost around the same time every day making the idea of daylight saving unnecessary and redundant.

Hawaii is a Happy State

Hawaii is the “happiest state” in the United States. According to a survey conducted by personal finance website WalletHub, people in Hawaii ranks number one regarding emotional and physical well-being and have low instances of adult depression.

Efficient Public Transportation

The only public transportation available in Hawaii is buses. Still, they work efficiently, considered as one of the best transit systems in the world. Buses service more than 75 million bus riders every year on 518 buses in 110 routes.

Tropical Paradise

The beauty of Hawaii will draw you in, no doubt. Although it still has the busyness of the urban and suburbs, the good thing about Hawaii is you need not go far to see nature. The freshness of the grasses and the clarity of the water are easily accessible and viewed right out your window.

It has a year-round warm temperature in most areas. Still, chilly weather also comes on the island as 11 of the 13 climate zones on Earth are found here.

Moreover, it teems with a lot of recreational activities you can enjoy while taking a break from your hectic schedule.

Relaxed and Laid-Back Lifestyle

If you are tired of the hectic city life, Hawaii is a good place slow down. The island is peaceful, calming, and everything is a little slow. Additionally, life is simple in Hawaii.

Ohana

Working may tire you down and having the comfort of your family or friends is helpful. If you decide to move to Hawaii and leave your family and friends behind, you need not worry about being lonely. In Hawaii, people are friendly and accommodating. They value relationships, giving you a new family or ohana in the Aloha State.

Still, along with the pros of living and working in Hawaii, there are some drawbacks about it as well.

“Island Fever”

If you are used to being surrounded by land and buildings back home, you may have to program yourself to set aside the thought of everything interconnected. Being an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii can feel secluded and isolated.

Expensive

Hawaii’s minimum hourly wage may be higher than the national minimum hourly wage, but the cost of living in Hawaii may be too heavy on the pocket especially when it comes to housing.

According to the personal finance website MoneyRates, the average cost of living on the island is two-thirds higher than the rest of the country that four rolls of toilet paper can cost 6 US dollars. Gas prices in Hawaii are also the priciest in the country.

The high prices of goods in the state are driven by it being an island where transportation of goods can take up expenses.

Traffic

When they said, everything is a little slow in Hawaii, that included traffic. In fact, it ranked as the 19th worst traffic in the nation in 2018, which is a lot better than its 2012 ranking of number one city with the worst traffic. Despite the improving ranking of Hawaii particularly Honolulu, the traffic condition is not still favorable for people who want everything fast. According to the study by Inrix, drivers spend 37 hours per year in traffic during rush hours.

So, will you work in Hawaii?

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Sources:

• U.S. Bereau of Labor Statistics
• Moving to Hawaii – Huffington Post
• Honolulu, Hawaii: 40 Things to Know
• What’s it Really Like to Work in Hawaii
• 10 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Hawaii