# California dental assistant online dental CE

> Role-specific live, online, correspondence, webinar, home-study, and self-study CE signals for dental assistants renewing in California.

URL: https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/california/dental-assistant

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not compliance advice. CE course-format and provider rules can change. Confirm current dental assistant online, live, webinar, correspondence, home-study, self-study, provider, and audit rules with the California dental board before enrolling.

## Direct answer

Dental assistants in California: 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.. Online/live-course signal from Dentovio's sourced CE notes: 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. 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. Confirm the current dental assistant live, webinar, correspondence, home-study, self-study, provider, and audit rules with the California dental board before enrolling.

## Dental assistant CE snapshot

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.

## Online and live-course notes

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. 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.

## Full renewal-cycle note

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.

## 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 online dental CE](https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/california/index.html.md)
- [California dental assistant CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/california/dental-assistant/index.html.md)
- [California dental license renewal](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-renewal/california/index.html.md)
- [All online dental CE pages](https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/index.html.md)
- [Dental CE hours tracker](https://dentovio.com/tools/ce-tracker/index.html.md)