Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed House Bill 2594 into law on May 28, 2025, establishing a new registration framework for dental laboratories. The law will be codified within Oregon Revised Statutes under Title 52, governing occupations and professions. Implementation and enforcement responsibilities will fall to the Oregon Health Licensing Office (OHLO).
The registration requirement applies to dental laboratories that manufacture, provide, repair or modify dental prosthetic devices at facilities located in Oregon or that provide products for Oregon-licensed dentists. Importantly, this includes out-of-state laboratories that fulfill orders for Oregon practitioners. An exemption applies to facilities that are owned and operated by licensed dentists and do not accept external work orders. However, exempt dental laboratories still need to file limited information annually with OHLO to maintain the exemption.
Registration Requirements
Beginning July 1, 2026, dental laboratories must register with OHLO in order to operate or otherwise conduct business lawfully in Oregon. Applicants must submit applications and associated fees along with general identifying information. Applications require attestations regarding the dental laboratory’s compliance with infectious disease control obligations and an agreement to provide notifications to prescribing dentists who order products from the lab.
To qualify for registration, a laboratory applicant, or an employee who works a minimum of 30 hours per week at the facility, must satisfy and maintain one of the following:
- Be a licensed dentist;
- Be a certified dental laboratory technician; or
- Have completed at least 12 hours of continuing education in dental laboratory technology within the previous 12 months.
The dental laboratory registration is effective for one year. Once registered, facilities must include their registration numbers on their invoices and other communications. Additionally, registered dental laboratories will be required to provide a “material content” and “point of origin” disclosure with each work order. The legislature received testimony in support of this increased measure of transparency.
Transition to Technician Certification
Although initially allowed under the statute, beginning Jan. 1, 2030, technician-in-training status will no longer meet the staffing qualifications necessary for dental lab registration. To remain in compliance, laboratories must employ a certified dental laboratory technician who works at least 30 hours per week in the dental laboratory or operate under a licensed dentist’s supervision at least 30 hours per week. The certification requirement does not apply to dental laboratories that have, since Jan. 1, 2013, been continuously owned and operated by the same individual.
Recommended Next Steps
Dental laboratories that serve Oregon-licensed dentists should assess their staffing structures and initiate any required registration processes well in advance of July 1, 2026. Facilities relying on technician-in-training personnel should plan to transition to the necessary certified staff to ensure compliance by the 2030 deadline.
Special thanks to summer associate Isabel Weber who contributed to the alert. She is not licensed to practice law.