Registered Dental Hygiene (RDH) Licensure by Credential (LBC)
Applicants who are licensed as a Dental Hygienist in another state for 5 years or more may qualify to receive a Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) license through the Licensure by Credential (LBC) pathway rather than through the completion of a clinical examination if all the requirements are met.
Dental hygiene education and licensure in another country, even in dentistry, is not recognized or accepted in California.
How To Submit An Application
Online Application Submission:
Applicants are encouraged to use the online portal to apply for licensure to become an RDH. You 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. You can email subsequent documents in the same format to dhbcapplicantsinfo@dca.ca.gov. The accepted method of fee payment is through 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 at the following link: LBC 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 LBC Application process.
Note: This information is also on the online application www.breeze.ca.gov.
If Applicable Additional Forms
- Certification of Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice Form
- 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
- Manpower Shortage Areas in California
Equivalent Out-Of-State SLN Training 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.