What constitutes a new offense when practicing without a license?

The concept of what constitutes a new offense when practicing without a license is critical in understanding the legal implications of unlicensed dental assisting. Each day of unlicensed practice is viewed as a separate occurrence because the offense is continuously ongoing. This can lead to significantly increased penalties, as each day can be counted as a new violation.

Practicing without a license is treated seriously in the context of healthcare due to concerns for patient safety and professionalism. The law recognizes that allowing an individual to practice without proper licensure every single day poses continual risk and undermines the regulatory frameworks in place to ensure qualified care.

In contrast, viewing unlicensed practice as a single violation—whether occurring just once or over an extended period—would not adequately convey the seriousness of the infringement or give sufficient weight to the ongoing nature of such behavior. This helps to ensure that authorities can impose appropriate consequences for recurrent violations, reflecting the legitimate interest in maintaining high standards in health care practice.