The dental hygiene board shall grant initial licensure as a registered dental hygienist to a person who satisfies all of the following requirements:
(a) Completion of an educational program for registered dental hygienists, approved by the dental hygiene board, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and conducted by a degree-granting, postsecondary institution.
(b) Within the preceding three years, a person completed either of the following:
(1) Satisfactory completion of the dental hygiene examination given by the Western Regional Examining Board or any other clinical or dental hygiene examination approved by the dental hygiene board.
(2) Graduation from a California accredited dental hygiene college approved by the dental hygiene board.
(c) Satisfactory completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
(d) Satisfactory completion of the examination in California law and ethics as prescribed by the dental hygiene board.
(e) Submission of a completed application form and all fees required by the dental hygiene board.
(f) Satisfactory completion of dental hygiene board-approved instruction in gingival soft-tissue curettage, nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia, and local anesthesia.
(g) Current, valid certification in basic life support offered by a course consistent with Section 1016, 1016.2, or 1017 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 677, Sec. 3. (AB 1257) Effective January 1, 2024.)