Free South Dakota Jurisprudence Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the South Dakota Jurisprudence Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A hygienist does not renew the South Dakota license by the statutory July 1 deadline. What is the immediate status of the license?

   1. A. It remains active for 30 days
   2. B. It converts to temporary registration
   3. C. It is placed on probation
   4. D. It is suspended

   Answer: D

   Explanation: SDCL 36-6A-52 provides: “Failure of a licensee or registrant to renew a license or registration on or before the first day of July constitutes a suspension.” The missed deadline therefore suspends the license.

   Reference: SDLRC - Codified Law 36-6A - DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND DENTAL AUXILIARIES — SDCL 36-6A-52

2. 2A South Dakota dental hygienist is planning the annual license renewal. By which date must the renewal be completed?

   1. A. March 1
   2. B. May 1
   3. C. July 1
   4. D. September 1

   Answer: C

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:03:06 requires annual renewal “by July first.” Therefore July 1 is the controlling deadline.

   Reference: Arsd 20 43 Api — ARSD 20:43:03:06

3. 3Which examination activity is expressly permitted to a licensed hygienist by ARSD 20:43:04:04?

   1. A. Final diagnostic examination
   2. B. Preliminary examination of the oral cavity and surrounding structures
   3. C. Independent treatment-planning examination
   4. D. Surgical preoperative examination

   Answer: B

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:04:04 permits a licensed hygienist to “perform preliminary examination of the oral cavity and surrounding structures.”

   Reference: Arsd 20 43 Api — ARSD 20:43:04:04

4. 4A South Dakota dental office is assigning a person to perform dental radiography. The person holds only the credential stated below. Which person is authorized under the dental-radiography rule?

   1. A. A registered dental assistant without dental-radiographer registration
   2. B. A dental-assisting program graduate without dental-radiographer registration
   3. C. A dental-radiography course graduate without dental-radiographer registration
   4. D. A South Dakota-licensed dental hygienist without separate radiographer registration

   Answer: D

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:07:12 states that "Only a person registered to practice as a dental radiographer or licensed to practice as a dentist or dental hygienist may perform dental radiography." A licensed hygienist therefore qualifies without a separate radiographer registration. Assisting status, program completion, or course completion alone is not one of the authorized credentials.

   Reference: South Dakota Administrative Rules, Article 20:43 — ARSD 20:43:07:12

5. 5The supervising dentist will be away from the clinic while an assistant takes intraoral photographs, a duty listed for that circumstance. What authorization condition must the dentist satisfy before the assistant performs it?

   1. A. The dentist authorizes the duty only after reviewing the completed photographs
   2. B. The patient authorizes the duty in writing before photographs are taken
   3. C. The hygienist authorizes the duty while personally supervising the assistant
   4. D. The dentist knows of and authorizes the duty before photographs are taken

   Answer: D

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:08:02 permits listed assistant duties when the dentist is absent only if the dentist "has prior knowledge of and has authorized the performance". Intraoral photographs are listed. Later dentist approval, patient consent, and hygienist authorization alone do not meet that specific prior dentist-authorization condition.

   Reference: South Dakota Administrative Rules, Article 20:43 — ARSD 20:43:08:02, absent-dentist paragraph and item (3)

6. 6Which life-support qualification is required before the Board may issue a hygienist a nitrous-oxide administration permit?

   1. A. Current certification in an accepted basic-life-support program
   2. B. Completion of an advanced trauma course
   3. C. Certification as a paramedic
   4. D. Completion of a pediatric residency

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:09:06 requires the applicant to be “certified in administering basic life support” by an accepted or Board-approved program.

   Reference: Arsd 20 43 Api — ARSD 20:43:09:06(1)

7. 7Which location is expressly listed as an eligible collaborative-supervision practice setting?

   1. A. A qualifying school
   2. B. A private retail store
   3. C. An unlicensed residential facility
   4. D. An employer-selected workplace

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:10:01 permits collaborative supervision for services provided “In a school as defined in § 24:43:01:01(38).”

   Reference: Arsd 20 43 Api — ARSD 20:43:10:01(1)

8. 8For an adult dental patient, how long must the responsible practice retain the medical record after the last treatment, examination, or prescription?

   1. A. Seven years
   2. B. Five years
   3. C. Six years
   4. D. Ten years

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARSD 20:43:11:03(1) requires adult records to be retained “for seven years from the date of the last treatment, examination, or prescription.”

   Reference: Arsd 20 43 Api — ARSD 20:43:11:03(1)

9. 9A South Dakota dental practice organized as an entity subject to Chapter 47-12 is choosing an individual owner. Which individual may own part of that entity under the chapter's ownership rule?

   1. A. A South Dakota-licensed dental hygienist who works for the entity
   2. B. A South Dakota-registered dental assistant who manages the clinic
   3. C. A South Dakota-registered radiographer who operates its X-ray machine
   4. D. A South Dakota-licensed dentist who practices through the entity

   Answer: D

   Explanation: SDCL 47-12-3 states, "No person other than a licensed dentist or a qualified entity may have any part in the ownership or control of an entity subject to this chapter". Among the individual candidates, the licensed dentist qualifies. The other dental credentials do not independently confer ownership eligibility; a qualified entity is a separate statutory category.

   Reference: South Dakota Codified Laws, Chapter 47-12 — SDCL § 47-12-3, first paragraph

10. 10A dental office reviews the schedule for a survey verifying that its X-ray machine meets South Dakota radiation-control standards. What is the maximum interval between those machine surveys?

    1. A. One year between required machine surveys
    2. B. Two years between required machine surveys
    3. C. Three years between required machine surveys
    4. D. Five years between required machine surveys

    Answer: C

    Explanation: ARSD 44:03:01:12.01 states, "Any X ray machine must be surveyed by the department or a qualified expert every three years to verify the X ray machine meets the standards of this chapter." Thus the standards survey is due every three years; the other intervals belong to different requirements, not this machine survey.

    Reference: South Dakota Administrative Rules, Chapter 44:03:01 — ARSD 44:03:01:12.01, second paragraph