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AB-1952 • 2026

Dentistry: dental hygienists: licensure.

Dentistry: dental hygienists: licensure.

Education Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Berman
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a requirement for submitting proof of degree equivalence, which was not explicitly stated in the official source material. The bill text implies this through certification eligibility but does not directly state it as a separate requirement.

Dental Hygienists: Licensing Changes

This law changes how dental hygienists can get licensed in California by allowing them to take a different exam and adding new requirements for certain courses.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Dental Hygiene Board of California to license dental hygienists who pass an exam given by the American Board of Dental Examiners instead of the Western Regional Examining Board.
  • Requires applicants to complete specific coursework, including training in soft-tissue curettage, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia within two years before applying for a license.
  • Certifies individuals as eligible to take the dental hygiene exam if they have an equivalent degree from a non-accredited dental school and meet other requirements like passing certain exams.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Dental hygienists applying for licensure in California
  • The Dental Hygiene Board of California

Terms To Know

soft-tissue curettage
A dental procedure to remove diseased tissue from the gums.
local anesthesia
Medication that numbs a specific area of the body during medical procedures.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
  • It is unclear how many dental hygienists will be affected by these changes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  3. 2026-04-21 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 21).

  4. 2026-04-14 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  5. 2026-04-13 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

  6. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on B. & P.

  7. 2026-02-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.

  8. 2026-02-13 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1952, as amended, Berman.
Dentistry: dental hygienists: licensure.
Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of dental hygienists by the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Existing law requires the board to license as a registered dental hygienist a person who satisfies specified requirements, including completion of a prescribed education program, satisfactory completion of an examination in California law and ethics, and satisfactory performance, within the preceding 3 years, of the dental hygiene examination given by the Western Regional Examining Board or any other clinical or dental hygiene examination approved by the board.
This bill would require the board to license as a registered dental hygienist an applicant who has successfully completed the dental hygiene examination given by the American Board of Dental Examiners and submitted an application and
appropriate fees. The bill would require the board to certify an individual as eligible to take that dental hygiene examination if they have earned a degree from a nonaccredited dental school
equivalent to a doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine degree
and they meet certain other requirements. Among those requirements, the bill would include submission of verification of their degree’s equivalence, as specified, satisfactory completion of specified examinations within the 5 years preceding application, and satisfactory completion of certain coursework, including, among other things, a board-approved course in soft-tissue curettage, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia, within the 2 years preceding application. The bill would deem an individual eligible to enroll in a board-approved course in soft-tissue curettage, local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia if they have otherwise
satisfied certain verification, examination, and coursework requirements, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF