Registered Dental Hygiene (RDH) Licensure by WREB/CRDTS/ADEX or CA Graduate
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 to dhbcapplicantsinfo@dca.ca.gov. 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.
Note: This information is also on the online application www.breeze.ca.gov.
If Applicable Additional Forms
- Out-of-State Licensure Certification Form
- Out-of-State Applicants ADA Radiation Safety Program
- CA Graduates Completion of ADA Radiation Safety Program
- Livescan Fingerprint Form
- Request for Hard Fingerprints Cards
- Request for Special Accommodations for taking the Law and Ethics Written Exam
Links to:
- CA Approved providers for - Soft Tissue Curettage, Nitrous Oxide, Local Anesthetic Courses (SLN)
- Mandatory California Board-approved Continuing Education Providers [Twenty-five (25) hours of continuing education is required. This includes the mandatory California Board approved courses inf Infection Control (minimum of 2 hours), California Dental Practice Act (minimum of 2 hours) and a Basic Life Support with CPR component provided by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross (maximum of 4 hours.)]
- National Board Dental Hygiene Examination Scorecard Request
Equivalent Out-of-State SLN Training Application
Certification of Out-of-State Dental Hygiene Education in Soft Tissue Anesthesia, and Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen Analgesia (SLN) Application As of July 1, 2022, the DHBC has a new provision that will sanction a review of Out-of-State Dental Hygiene SLN education and training application to determine if it’s equivalent to the SLN training received in CA.