AB-966 • 2026

Dental Practice Act: foreign dental schools.

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Carrillo
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how many dentists will be affected or the exact impact on the shortage or maldistribution of dentists in California.

Foreign Dental Schools for Dentist Licensing

This law changes how foreign dental schools are approved and extends approval for certain schools until they receive a denial from CODA or withdraw their application, with requirements for graduates to practice in specific settings.

What This Bill Does

Extends the approval period for foreign dental schools that were approved before January 1, 2024, until these schools receive a denial of accreditation from CODA and do not appeal it, or if they withdraw their application for accreditation by CODA.
Requires foreign dental school graduates with extended approval to agree to practice dentistry full-time in one of five specified settings for at least two years within their first three years after getting licensed.
Specifies that graduates who were enrolled in the approved foreign dental schools on or after July 1, 2025, are eligible for licensure even if the school's approval expires before they graduate.
Requires the Dental Board of California to report workforce data about dentists and graduates from these extended-approved foreign dental schools by January 1, 2032.

Who It Names or Affects

Foreign dental schools approved before January 1, 2024
Graduates from those foreign dental schools

Terms To Know

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA): An organization that evaluates and accredits dental education programs.
Sunset review: A process to evaluate the effectiveness of a program or law before it expires.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a foreign dental school withdraws its application for accreditation.
It is unclear how many dentists will be affected by this change in approval requirements.
The impact on the shortage or maldistribution of dentists in California remains uncertain.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 966, as amended, Carrillo.
Dental Practice Act: foreign dental schools.
Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of dentists by the Dental Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires an applicant for licensure to meet specified requirements, including, among others, furnishing satisfactory evidence of having graduated from a dental college approved by the board or by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA). Prior law provided for the approval of foreign dental schools by the board. Beginning January 1, 2024, existing law requires foreign dental schools seeking approval by the board to complete the international consultative and accreditation process with CODA. Notwithstanding that requirement, existing law maintained the approval of any foreign dental schools whose program was renewed by the board prior to January 1, 2020, through any
date between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, through that renewal date.
This bill would instead maintain the approval of any foreign dental school whose program was approved by the board prior to January 1, 2024, until the school has been issued a denial of accreditation by CODA and the school does not appeal, the school has been issued a denial by CODA following the completion of the appeals process, or the school withdraws its application for accreditation by CODA, provided the school applies for accreditation on or before January 1, 2026, and updates the board on the accreditation process, as specified. The bill would specify that a graduate of a foreign dental school with this extended approval is eligible for licensure to practice dentistry pursuant to the requirements of the Dental Practice Act, including graduates who were enrolled in the school at the time the extended approval expires, provided they were enrolled on or after July 1, 2025. The bill would
require an applicant who is a graduate of a foreign dental school with this extended approval to agree to practice dentistry full time in one of 5 specified practice settings for at least 2 years within the first 3 years of licensure. The bill would require the board, as part of the board’s first sunset review report following January 1, 2032, to report specified information regarding workforce data of licensees and graduates of foreign dental schools with extended approval, as specified.
The bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the shortage or maldistribution of dentists in California.

Current Bill Text

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