Renewals and License Maintenance

The DHBC issues and renews all Registered Dental Hygienist, Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice and Registered Dental Hygienist in Extended Functions licenses.

Following is information about:

Renewal of Licenses
Expired and Cancelled Licenses
Inactive Licenses
Disabled Licensees
Retired Licensure
Reactivation of a Retired License
Continuing Education Requirements
Duplicate Licenses
License Certifications
Change of Address or Name
Required and Prohibited Licensee Conduct

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 at dhbcapplicatsinfo@dca.ca.gov 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. For information about CE requirements, go to the Continuing Education section below.

Expired and Cancelled Licenses

A license that has been expired for more than five years is automatically cancelled, and cannot be renewed, reinstated restored or reissued. The holder of a cancelled certificate must apply as a first time applicant for RDH Licensure.

Inactive Licenses

A licensee can place their license on inactive status, which means that he or she must continue to pay their renewal fee, but is not required to complete the required continuing education requirements. A license can be renewed with an inactive status indefinitely.

How To Activate A License

To activate an inactive license at the time of renewal, a licensee must have completed the required continuing education (CE) within the prior two-year renewal period, and certify as such by marking the appropriate box on the renewal application.

To activate an inactive license at any other time during the renewal cycle, a licensee must complete the Inactive/Active Form and attach copies of all CE taken within 2 years of the request to activate the license, return the original inactive pocket license, and attach a $25 fee.

Disabled Licensees

A licensee who has not practiced in California for more than one year because he or she is disabled is not required to comply with the continuing education requirements during the renewal period within which such disability falls. However, the licensee must pay the required renewal fee.

The licensee must certify that he or she is eligible for a waiver of the continuing education requirements due to a disability, by submitting a statement from their medical provider that includes the dates of the disability. The licensee must also provide a statement that he or she did not practice as a licensed auxiliary during the period of the disability.

Retired Licensure

Reactivation of a Retired License

Continuing Education Requirements

Duplicate Licenses

There is a charge of $25 for a duplicate pocket license, and an additional $25 charge for a duplicate wall license.

Your request must be submitted in writing with the form, appropriate fees, and your existing pocket license and/or wall license, as appropriate, or provide a statement signed under penalty of perjury that it has been lost, stolen, or misplaced.

If you are requesting a name change at the same time, you must submit the form, appropriate documentation, such as a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order, showing the name change.

License Certifications

To request an official Certification of Licensure document for your California dental hygiene license, please complete the Request for Certification of RDH License form and pay the processing fee listed on the request.

Email And Address Changes

By law, all licensees are required to report a change of email address and physical address within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in a fine. You can change your address and email address by submitting a form to DHBC at 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1350, Sacramento, CA 95815, or fax (916) 623-4093.

Name Changes

Current law requires licensees to report a change in their legal name within 10 days. Failure to do so may result in a fine. To request a name change, you must submit a form, legal documentation, such as a court order, marriage certificate or naturalization certificate. A social security card or driver’s license is not acceptable documentation.

If you also wish to receive a new pocket identification card or wall certificate reflecting the name change, you must return the original issued pocket and wall certificate, pay the $25.00 fee for each license and follow the procedures above for "Duplicate Licenses." If you wish to wait for your next renewal pocket identification card to be issued to avoid the $25 charge, you may do so.

Required and Prohibited Licensee Conduct

Visit our Acts and Conduct web page for information on the acts and conduct which auxiliaries are required to perform.