Licensing

Renewing Your License

The Dental Hygiene Board shall grant initial licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) to a person who satisfies all the requirements.

Effective January 01, 2024, Graduation from a California accredited dental hygiene educational program approved by the Board within the preceding three (3) years satisfies the requirement for satisfactory performance of the dental hygiene examination given by the CDCA/WREB/CITA (ADEX) and CRDTS or any other clinical or dental hygiene examination approved by the Board.

Notes: A registered dental hygienist applicant must apply for a California dental hygiene license within three (3) years of graduation to waive the clinical examination requirement. Those who apply after three (3) years of graduation must submit a passing score on a Board–approved clinical examination to apply for licensure. Any out–of–state applicant for licensure must provide proof of passage of a Board approved dental hygiene clinical examination unless applying through the Licensure By Credential (LBC) pathway. Any applicant who obtains a license through the pathway in item three (3) above may be required to complete a dental hygiene clinical examination if they relocate to another state or jurisdiction in the future. Be sure to review the chosen state or jurisdiction’s laws and requirements for licensure prior to completing a clinical examination.

How To Submit An Application

Online Application Submission:
Applicants are encouraged to use the online portal to apply for licensure to become a RDH. Applicants can upload the required licensing documents and pay the application fees online through the BreEZe computer system at www.breeze.ca.gov. The online BreEZe system allows one opportunity to upload your documents with your initial application. All documents must be in either the .pdf or .jpeg format when uploading to your application. Applicants can email subsequent documents in the same format by first contacting the DHBC using the contact form or by calling (916) 263–1978. The accepted method of payment for fees is with a credit card for online applications only.

Paper Application Submissions:
Applicants may submit a hard copy paper application with the required licensing documents and application fee through the following link: RDH Application

Please make the check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to: DHBC and mail completed application to:
Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC)
ATTN: Licensing Program
2005 Evergreen Street, Ste. 1350
Sacramento, CA 95815

Please use the following documents and links to complete the RDH Application process:

RDH Application Information and Checklist
Application Processing Time
Note: This information is also on the online application www.breeze.ca.gov.

Renewal of Licenses

The Dental Hygiene Board of CA (DHBC) renews all California dental hygiene licenses.

Each licensee must renew their license every two years by the last day of the month of their birthday.

In a continued effort to conserve resources, the Board is encouraging all licensees to renew their licenses online through the BreEZe computer system where you can renew in real time by completing the required License Renewal Application and survey and pay all license renewal fees with a credit card. You can access BreEZe at www.breeze.ca.gov. Create an account if you do not already have one, and follow the instructions to renew the license after log in. If you have any issues with BreEZe, there are tutorials available in the upper right corner of the BreEZe homepage to review. As a result of these efforts to renew the license online, hard copy License Renewal Applications and surveys are no longer sent to licensees. However, for those who want to renew through a hard copy renewal application, please request one by completing the contact form or by calling (916) 263-1978 and one will be sent to your address of record. Please keep in mind that the processing time of hard copy renewals can take 4–6 weeks in addition to the time for the postal service to deliver it. Note: It is the licensee who is ultimately responsible for renewing his or her license on time prior to its expiration to continue to legally practice dental hygiene.

IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO PERFORM LICENSED DUTIES WITH AN EXPIRED, CANCELLED, OR INACTIVE LICENSE!
The status of a particular license (but not the status of applicants until they are actually licensed) can also be checked on the internet by visiting our license status web page.

If the required License Renewal Application and Renewal Fee payment are not postmarked on or before the date of expiration, the license is expired. If the license is renewed more than 30 days after its expiration, a Delinquency Fee equivalent to half the License Renewal Fee will be required to be paid before the license will be renewed.

Dishonored checks will be charged a Dishonored Check Fee, which must be submitted and processed before the license will be renewed.

On the renewal form, the licensee must certify, under penalty of perjury, whether the license is being renewed in an active or inactive status, or if it is the first time renewing. You must also answer the conviction disclosure question and survey as part of the license renewal. NO continuing education (CE) units are required for the first renewal period.

CE Units Required

For the purposes of renewal of a license or permit, the following total CE units are required:

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Registered Dental Hygienist in Extended Functions (RDHEF): 25 CE Units (including the required mandatory coursework)
Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP): 35 CE Units (including the required mandatory coursework)

Pertaining to licensees holding more than one license or permit, the license or permit that requires the largest number of CE units for renewal shall equal or exceed the licensee’s full license renewal requirement. Dual licensure, or licensure with permit, shall not require duplication of CE requirements. As an example, if a licensee maintains both an RDH and RDHAP licenses, they are only responsible to complete 35 CE hours to renew both licenses, as this number is the required number of CE units to renew the RDHAP license every two years.