# California dental license renewal

> Renewal CE summary, official board source, and filing checklist for dental professionals renewing in California.

URL: https://dentovio.com/dental-license-renewal/california

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not compliance advice. Renewal dates, filing windows, fees, approved-provider rules, audit rules, and mandatory topics can change. Confirm current instructions with the California dental board before filing a renewal.

## Direct answer

For dental license renewal in California, use the official board for filing forms, fees, deadlines, and final instructions. Dentovio summarizes the renewal CE signals: dentists need 50 units / 2 years (biennial); dental hygienists need 25 units / 2 years (biennial) [regulated by the Dental Hygiene Board of California]; dental assistants: RDA (Registered Dental Assistant): 25 units / 2 years. First renewal is CE-exempt. RDAEF/Orthodontic/Dental Sedation assistant permits follow the same DBC assistant CE rules.. Renewal-cycle notes: Biennial cycle. Dentists (Dental Board of California): 50 units per 2 years including mandatory 2-unit Infection Control, 2-unit California Dental Practice Act, 2-unit course on Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs, and up to 4 units Basic Life Support (BLS) from an approved provider — BLS must be in-person/hands-on, online-only BLS is not accepted. No more than 50% of required units may be non-live/correspondence (live video conferencing/webinars/lectures count as live); max 8 units per day. Courses must be from a DBC CE Registered Provider or ADA CERP / AGD PACE provider. Retain certificates for three renewal periods. Hygienists (RDH) 25 units and RDAs 25 units per 2 years follow the same 50%-non-live and 8-units/day caps; first renewal CE-exempt for licensees/permit holders. RDH mandatory-course specifics are set by the Dental Hygiene Board of California.

## Renewal CE snapshot

- Dentists: 50 units / 2 years (biennial)
- Dental hygienists: 25 units / 2 years (biennial) [regulated by the Dental Hygiene Board of California]
- Dental assistants: RDA (Registered Dental Assistant): 25 units / 2 years. First renewal is CE-exempt. RDAEF/Orthodontic/Dental Sedation assistant permits follow the same DBC assistant CE rules.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory-topic notes

Biennial cycle. Dentists (Dental Board of California): 50 units per 2 years including mandatory 2-unit Infection Control, 2-unit California Dental Practice Act, 2-unit course on Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs, and up to 4 units Basic Life Support (BLS) from an approved provider — BLS must be in-person/hands-on, online-only BLS is not accepted. No more than 50% of required units may be non-live/correspondence (live video conferencing/webinars/lectures count as live); max 8 units per day. Courses must be from a DBC CE Registered Provider or ADA CERP / AGD PACE provider. Retain certificates for three renewal periods. Hygienists (RDH) 25 units and RDAs 25 units per 2 years follow the same 50%-non-live and 8-units/day caps; first renewal CE-exempt for licensees/permit holders. RDH mandatory-course specifics are set by the Dental Hygiene Board of California.

## Before filing

- Open the official board source and confirm the current filing window, fee, form, and renewal status.
- Confirm required CE hours, mandatory topics, approved-provider rules, and live/self-study limits.
- Keep completion certificates and audit documentation for the retention period stated by the board.
- Use Dentovio's CE tracker as a planning aid, not as a board filing system.

## Official board source

- <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/continuing_education.shtml>

## References

- <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/continuing_education.shtml>
- <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dentist_continuing_education.shtml>
- <https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/assistant_continuing_education.shtml>
- <https://www.dhbc.ca.gov/licensees/ce_course_requirement.shtml>
- <https://www.dhbc.ca.gov/licensees/cont_ed.shtml>

## Related

- [California dental CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/california/index.html.md)
- [California dental CPR/BLS requirements](https://dentovio.com/dental-cpr-requirements/california/index.html.md)
- [California online dental CE](https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/california/index.html.md)
- [California dental license lookup](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-lookup/california/index.html.md)
- [California dental renewal CE page](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/california/license-renewal/index.html.md)
- [California dental board](https://dentovio.com/dental-boards/california/index.html.md)
- [All dental license renewal pages](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-renewal/index.html.md)
- [Dental CE hours tracker](https://dentovio.com/tools/ce-tracker/index.html.md)