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

Renewal of Licenses - The Committee on Dental Auxiliaries (COMDA) renews all California dental auxiliary licenses for the Dental Board of California.

Each licensee must renew their license every two years by the last day of the month of their birthday.  As a courtesy, renewal notices are sent about 60 days prior to expiration, but the licensee is ultimately responsible for renewing his or her license.  IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO PERFORM LICENSED DUTIES WITH AN EXPIRED, CANCELLED, OR INACTIVE  LICENSE!

You can process your renewal and address changes on the internet  - click here for more information. You can also request a replacement pocket card online.  Both renewals and replacement pocket cards must be paid for by credit card.

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 clicking here.

Until March 1, 2006, the two-year renewal fee is $35: on and after March 1, 2006, the two-year renewal fee is $55.  If the required renewal fee is sent after the date of expiration, a $25 delinquency fee must be submitted before the license will be renewed.  Dishonored checks will be charged a $15 fee, which must also be submitted before the license will be renewed. 

On the renewal form, the licensee must certify, under penalty of perjury, the completion of 25 continuing education units during the prior two years.  NO continuing education units are required for the first renewal period.  For more information about the continuing education requirements, go to the Continuing Education section below.

Expired and Cancelled Licenses - A license which has expired can only be renewed by payment of the required renewal fees and delinquency fees for each renewal period.

A license which has been expired for more than five years is automatically cancelled, and cannot be renewed.  The holder of a cancelled certificate must either apply for a new license, and pass the associated examination(s), or petition the Dental Board, through COMDA, for the Issuance of a New License to Replace a Cancelled License.  Contact COMDA for the procedures involved in this process.

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 except for the last two-year renewal period preceding the request to again become active.

Activate Licenses - To reinstate an inactive license to active status, the license must submit a completed Inactive/Active Form requesting the change to active status, along with evidence of having completed the required 25 units of continuing education during the immediately preceding two years (including a course in basic life support, 2 hours of infection control and 2 hours Dental Practice Act).  Click here for a copy of the form to inactivate or activate a license.

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

Continuing Education Requirements - Each auxiliary licensee must complete 25 units, of an approved type, during each 2-year renewal cycle, except that RDHAPs must complete 35 units.  Units are not required for the very first renewal after a license is first issued. 

The provider giving the courses must be registered with the Board for the courses to be approved.  Each individual course is not approved by the Board.  If you have questions about whether the provider has a current registration with the Board, call (916) 263-2300.

Following are changes to the CE requirements effective January 1, 2006. Any continuing education units accumulated before January 1, 2006, that meet the requirements in effect on the date the units were accumulated will be accepted by the board for license renewals taking place on or after January 1, 2006.

1. At least 80% of the required units (20 units or more) must be in Category I subjects which are defined as courses in the actual delivery of dental services to the patient or the community, including two units of continuing education in infection control and two units in the California Dental Practice Act (no longer just "Califorria Law"). Such courses shall include:
     (A) Mandatory courses required by the Board for license renewal, such as Infection Control, California Dental Practice Act and a course in Basic Life Support as approved by American Red Cross or American Heart Association. At a minimum, course content for Infection Control shall include all content of Section 1005. At a minimum, course content for the Dental Practice Act [Division 2, Chapter 4 of the Code (beginning with § 1600)] shall instruct on acts in violation of the Dental Practice Act and attending regulations, and other statutory mandates relating to the dental practice. This includes utilization and scope of practice for auxiliaries; scope of practice for dentists; laws governing the prescribing of drugs; citations, fines, revocation, and suspension, and license renewal.
     (B) Courses in preventive services, diagnosis (including physical evaluation, radiography, dental photography) and comprehensive treatment planning.
     (C) Courses dealing primarily with nutrition counseling of the patient.
     (D) Courses in corrective and restorative oral health treatment.
     (E) Courses in dentistry’s role in individual and community health emergencies and disasters.
     (F) Courses that pertain to the legal requirement governing the licensee in the areas of auxiliary employment and delegation of responsibilities; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); actual delivery of care; and workplace, environmental and general safety.
     (G) Courses addressing office instrument sterilization systems.

2. No more than 20% of their required units (5 units or less) may be in Category II subjects. Category II courses include other courses directly related to the practice of dentistry. Such courses shall include:
     (A) courses addressing the evaluation, improvement and/or methods of correction for recall and scheduling systems.
     (B) courses in organization and management of the dental practice including office design, and ergonomics, and the improvement of office operations for the patient’s benefit and/or to improve the continuity of care provided to the patient.
     (C) courses addressing the implementation and/or mechanism of alternative delivery systems.
     (D) courses addressing patient record keeping.
     (E) courses in skills such as communication, behavioral sciences, patient management and motivation when oriented specifically to the needs of the dental practice and will improve the health of the patient.
     (F) courses in other subjects of direct concern to dentistry such as dentolegal matters, including but not limited to risk management, liability, and malpractice, employment law and employment practices.
     (G) courses in methods of health care delivery and sociopolitical problems directly involving dentistry.

3. Courses considered to be outside the scope of the continuing education program include, but are not limited to, those in the following areas:
     (A) money management, the licensee’s personal finances or personal business matters;
     (B) basic educational or cultural subjects not related to the practice of dentistry;
     (C) general physical fitness or the licensee’s personal health;
     (D) presentations by political or public figures or other persons that do not deal primarily with dental practice;
     (E) basic skills such as memory training and speed reading;
     (F) courses addressing the computerized dental office when the topic involves record management or new technology designed primarily for the licensee’s understanding and benefit;
     (G) courses designed to make the licensee a better business person or designed to improve licensee or staff motivation;
     (H) courses pertaining to the improvement of office operations, licensee and staff convenience, or profit motive;
     (I) courses which address increased office production; financial planning; employee benefits; marketing or motivational topics to increase productivity or profitability;
     (J) courses in which the primary beneficiary is the licensee.

4. Tape recorded courses, home study materials, video courses, and computer courses are considered correspondence courses, and if from registered providers, will be accepted for credit up to, but not exceeding, half of the total required credits. Interactive instruction courses, such as live lecture, live telephone conferencing, live video conferencing, or live classroom study from registered providers, will be accepted for full credit.

Each licensee must retain copies of their continuing education certifications for a period of 4 years, and may be audited by the Board during that time.  A licensee must NOT send evidence of completion of their required units with their renewal form, UNLESS requested to do so.

Duplicate Licenses - There is a charge of $10 for a duplicate pocket identification card, and an additional $10 charge for a duplicate wall certificate. Your request must be submitted in writing with the appropriate fees, and your existing ID card or wall certificate, as appropriate, or provide a statement signed under penalty of perjury that it has been lost, stolen, or misplaced.  Click here for a copy of the form to request a replacement license.

If you are requesting a name change at the same time, you must submit appropriate documentation, such as a court order, showing the name change.   Click here for a copy of the form to request a name change.

You can also request a replacement pocket card on the internet - payment must be by credit card -  click here for more information

License Certifications - For a letter certifying an auxiliary’s license status, commonly referred to as a "license certification", the request must be submitted in writing, with a $10 fee.

Address Changes - You can process your renewal and address changes on the internet  - click here for more information.

You may also change your address by writing COMDA at 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1050, Sacramento, CA  95815, or call (916) 263-2595.

Name Changes - To request a name change, you must submit appropriate documentation, such as a court order, showing the name change. Click here for a copy of the form to request a name change.

If you also wish to receive a new pocket identification card or wall certificate reflecting the name change, you must follow the procedures above for "Duplicate Licenses".  If you wish to simply wait for your next renewal pocket identification card to be issued to avoid the $10 charge, you may do so.   Simply send the name change documentation with your renewal statement and fee at your next renewal.

Required and Prohibited Licensee Conduct - For information on the acts and conduct which auxiliaries are required to perform, or prohibited from performing, click here.