(a) The dental hygiene board shall grant or renew approval of only those educational programs for RDHs that continuously maintain a high-quality standard of instruction and, where appropriate, meet the minimum standards set by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or an equivalent body, as determined by the dental hygiene board.

(b) A new educational program for RDHs shall submit a feasibility study demonstrating a need for a new educational program and shall apply for approval from the dental hygiene board before seeking any required approval for initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or an equivalent body, as determined by the dental hygiene board. The dental hygiene board may approve, provisionally approve, or deny approval of a new educational program for RDHs.

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(c) For purposes of this section, a new or existing educational program for RDHs means a program provided by a college or institution of higher education that is accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that has as its primary purpose providing college level courses leading to an associate or higher degree, that is either affiliated with or conducted by a dental school approved by the dental board, or that is accredited to offer college level or college parallel programs by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or an equivalent body, as determined by the dental hygiene board.

(d) For purposes of this section, “RDHs” means registered dental hygienists, registered dental hygienists in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienists in extended functions.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 491, Sec. 5. (SB 534) Effective January 1, 2022.)