California Dental License

Are you interested in becoming a dentist in California? If so, you need to take steps to get your license. Find out what you need to do to get a dental license. You can also discover how to use the California dental license lookup to find licensing information for dentists. Let’s begin with how to get a dental license. Then, you will learn about conducting a California dental license lookup.

How Do I Get a Dental License in California?

California offers four paths to licensure. Many people choose the licensure by clinical exam path. This path opens the door to practice dentistry in California and different states.

Begin by completing dental school. You must go to a school approved by the Dental Board of California and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. Upon graduating from dental school, you will be ready to take the National Board Dental Examination. Pass parts I and II and then take the California Law and Ethics Examination. Finally, you will be ready to take the Western Regional Examining Board Examination. Passing it will allow you to practice in some other states if you wish.

Licensure by residency is another option. Instead of taking the Western Regional Examining Board Examination, you will complete a year of residency or spend a year in an advanced general dentistry program. Some states do not accept residency in place of the Western Regional Examining Board Examination, so you might have trouble practicing elsewhere.

You can also choose the licensure by credential pathway. You will only be eligible for this if you have practiced dentistry for a minimum of five of the last seven years somewhere else in the United States. You will need to have accumulated at least 5,000 work hours during that time. If you don’t have enough work hours, you do have the option of practicing for at least two years at a hospital or primary care clinic, or you can teach or practice in a dental education program. You also need a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education credit.

Finally, you can choose the licensure by portfolio examination route. You will take competency exams and gain clinical experience to build your portfolio while you are in dental school. After graduating, you must pass Parts I and II of the national exam and the Law and Ethics exam.

Regardless of the route you choose, you will need to submit your application to the Dental Board of California. After getting approval, you will receive your license, and you can then practice in the state. At that point, if someone uses a tool to perform a dental license lookup in California, they can find your information.

How Long Does It Take to Get a California Dental License?

It normally takes two weeks for the Dental Board of California to process and issue dental licenses. You can use the CA dental license lookup on the government’s website to check your license status. If you find your information when using the California dentist license lookup tool, you will know you’ve been approved. You will receive your license in the mail soon.

How Much Is the RDA Exam in California?

You need to take the Registered Dental Assistant Examination if you want to become a dental assistant. You must submit the $120 fee with your application for the exam and licensure. You also have to pay an additional $38.50, so you can take the RDA General and Law and Ethics exam. This is a written examination.

Who Licenses Dentists in California?

The Dental Board of California licenses dentists. If you want to find information about a dentist, you can use the Dental Board of California license lookup. The California Dental Board license lookup is available on the Department of Consumer Affairs’ website. If you don’t want to visit that website to use the California Dental Board license lookup, you can use this website. Type in the license number, name, or practice at the top of this page to use the California dentist license lookup. Then, it will pull up the results.

Start Preparing for a Career in Dentistry

Imagine using the California dental license lookup tool on this website to pull up your credentials. You can turn that dream into a reality by getting your license. Start the process soon, and it won’t be long before you are practicing dentistry in the state. Until then, you can use the California dental license lookup at the top of this website to check a dentist’s credentials before scheduling an appointment.