(a)The board may license as a registered dental assistant a person who files an application, pays the applicable fee, and submits written evidence, satisfactory to the board, of one of the following eligibility requirements:
(1)Graduation from an educational program in registered dental assisting approved by the board.
(2)Completion of satisfactory work experience performing the duties of a dental assistant, as defined in Section 1750.1, which includes at least 15 months and a minimum of 1,280 hours before the submission of the application.
(3)Current, valid certification as a certified dental assistant, as issued
by the Dental Assisting National Board.
(4)Completion of an alternative dental assisting program as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1741 that includes all the fo
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(a)
The board may license as a registered dental assistant a person who files an application, pays the applicable fee, and submits written evidence, satisfactory to the board, of one of the following eligibility requirements:
(1)
Graduation from an educational program in registered dental assisting approved by the board.
(2)
Completion of satisfactory work experience performing the duties of a dental assistant, as defined in Section 1750.1, which includes at least 15 months and a minimum of 1,280 hours before the submission of the application.
(3)
Current, valid certification as a certified dental assistant, as issued
by the Dental Assisting National Board.
(4)
Completion of an alternative dental assisting program as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1741 that includes all the following:
(A)
At least 500 hours of didactic and laboratory coursework in dental assisting-related topics that shall encompass all aspects of clinical chairside assisting, including, but not limited to, medical and dental emergencies, first aid and safety precautions, protocols and armamentaria associated with a variety of dental assisting chairside procedures, dental materials, and skill development courses associated with operative and specialty dentistry and that include education as specified in subdivision (c).
(B)
At least 300 hours of clinical chairside work experience, involving the allowable duties described in Section 1750.1, directly
supervised, evaluated, and documented by a supervising licensed dentist.
(5)
Completion of a preceptorship in dental assisting that includes all the following:
(A)
At least 500 hours of clinical chairside work experience documented on a form furnished by the board, involving allowable duties described in Section 1750.1, directly supervised, evaluated, and documented by a preceptor, who certifies under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California to the applicant’s completion of the clinical chairside work experience. Clinical work experience that meets the eligibility requirements of this term performed as a dental assistant within the two years immediately preceding the effective date of this section may be used to satisfy this requirement.
(B)
At least 300 hours documented on a form furnished by the
board of coursework in dental assisting-related topics, inclusive of the education required in subdivision (c), which may be obtained concurrent to the work experience and satisfies all the following:
(i)
The coursework shall include education defined in subdivision (c) and encompass all aspects of clinical chairside assisting, including, but not limited to, medical and dental emergencies, first aid and safety precautions, protocols and armamentaria associated with a variety of dental assisting chairside procedures, dental materials, and skill development courses associated with operative and specialty dentistry.
(ii)
Courses shall be obtained through a board-approved dental assisting educational program or course provider, a board-registered provider of continuing education courses, the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or a provider approved
by the Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education.
(iii)
The preceptee’s completion of the coursework shall be verified by the preceptor, who shall certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California verification of the preceptee’s completion of the required coursework.
(b)
The board shall give credit toward the work experience referred to in this section to persons who have graduated from a dental assisting program in a postsecondary institution approved by the Department of Education or in a secondary institution, regional occupational center, or regional occupational program, that are not, however, approved by the board pursuant to subdivision (a). The credit shall equal the total weeks spent in classroom training and internship on a week-for-week basis. The board, in cooperation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
shall establish the minimum criteria for the curriculum of nonboard-approved programs. Additionally, the board shall notify those programs only if the program’s curriculum does not meet established minimum criteria, as established for board-approved registered dental assistant programs, except any requirement that the program be given in a postsecondary institution. Graduates of programs not meeting established minimum criteria shall not qualify for satisfactory work experience as defined by this section.
(c)
In addition to the requirements specified in subdivision (a), individuals applying for registered dental assistant licensure shall provide written evidence of successful completion of all of the following:
(1)
Within two years before the date of the application received by the board:
(A)
A board-approved
two-hour course in the Dental Practice Act.
(B)
A board-approved eight-hour course in infection control.
(2)
Within five years before the date of the application received by the board:
(A)
A board-approved course in pit and fissure sealants.
(B)
A board-approved course in coronal polishing.
(3)
Within 10 years before the date of the application received by the board, a board-approved course in radiation safety.
(4)
Current certification in basic life support issued by American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or
Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education.
(5)
Satisfactory performance on the Registered Dental Assistant Combined Written and Law and Ethics Examination administered by the board.
(d)
Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, individuals with current and active California licensure as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions whose initial license was issued on or after January 1, 2006, applying for licensure as a registered dental assistant shall comply with this subdivision and satisfy all of the following:
(1)
File an application with the board and pay the applicable fee.
(2)
Submit evidence of current
certification in basic life support issued by American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education.
(3)
Demonstrate satisfactory performance on the Registered Dental Assistant Combined Written and Law and Ethics Examination administered by the board.
(e)
Individuals applying for registered dental assistant licensure shall submit a full set of fingerprints for purposes of conducting a criminal history record check.
(f)
A registered dental assistant with permits in either orthodontic assisting or dental sedation assisting shall be referred to as an “RDA with orthodontic assistant permit,” or “RDA with dental sedation assistant permit,” as
applicable. These terms shall be used for reference purposes only and do not create additional categories of licensure.
(g)
Completion of the continuing education requirements established by the board pursuant to Section 1645 by a registered dental assistant who also holds a permit as an orthodontic assistant or dental sedation assistant shall fulfill the continuing education requirements for the permit or permits.
(h)
The Registered Dental Assistant Combined Written and Law and Ethics Examination required by this section shall comply with Section 139.
(i)
This section shall become operative on July 1, 2025.