Medical Assistants Working with Dually Licensed Providers

The following question is not asked frequently. However, it raises important legal considerations:

I work for an oral surgeon who is both a licensed physician and a licensed dentist. Is my scope of practice determined by the state medical practice act or the state dental practice act?

Many oral surgeons have both an MD/DO degree (doctor of medicine or osteopathy) and a DDS/DMD degree (doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine) and are licensed as both physicians and dentists.

When medical assistants perform a dental task, they function as dental assistants. Thus, the state dental practice act and the regulations and policies of the state board of dental examiners determine the legal scope of practice—including supervision requirements by the delegating oral surgeon. If state law allows delegation of certain dental tasks only to individuals who meet dental assisting education and credentialing requirements, medical assistants must meet these requirements or obtain a waiver from the board of dental examiners to perform such tasks.

When medical assistants perform a medical task, the scope of practice is established by the state medical practice act and the regulations and policies of the state board of medical examiners. Go to the State Scope of Practice Laws webpage on the AAMA website to find the medical assisting law of all states.