License by Credential Pathway: Pending Faculty Practice Contract

This pathway requires a signed, full–time (minimum average of 40 hours per week), 2–year contract to teach or practice dentistry as specified in BPC section 1635.5, subdivision (a)(3)(C) in at least one accredited dental education program approved by the Board.

*Requires a completed form, which is available by using this link:

Application Requirements

Before applying to the Board for a dentist license, all applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Submit a completed application online through BreEZe or by mail using a paper application.
  • The paper application can be found at the following link: Licensure by Credential. It should be mailed to the following address:
    • Dental Board of California
      2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550
      Sacramento, CA 95815
  • Pay a non–refundable application fee of $525.00.
  • Provide a color passport–style photo. Please ensure the photo is clear with a plain background and the applicant's entire profile is visible. The photo should be included with the initial application, or it can be emailed to the Board for processing.
  • Submit proof of having an active and unrestricted license issued by another state, district, or territory of the United States to practice dentistry that is not subject to any current or pending disciplinary action such as revocation, suspension, or probation. Submit an Out of State Certification Form.
    NOTE: The Board will accept an electronic copy only if emailed directly from the licensing agency. The Board will not accept license verifications directly from the applicant, whether via BreEZe, email, or mail (unless delivered in a sealed unopened envelope.)
  • Submit proof that the applicant has either been in active clinical practice in another state, district, or territory of the United States, has been engaged in full–time nonclinical practice requiring an active dentist's license for federal, state, or local public health programs in another state, district, or territory of the United States for at least five years immediately preceding the application, or has been a full–time faculty member in an accredited dental education program and in active clinical practice for a total of at least 5,000 hours within the past five years immediately preceding the date of the application.
  • Submit proof that the applicant has not failed a state, regional, or national examination for licensure to practice dentistry within five years prior to the date of the application. If the applicant subsequently passed the examination for licensure, the prior failure shall not make the applicant ineligible. Acceptable proof is as follows:
    • Complete and submit the Certification of Non–Failure of Licensure form. This can be emailed to the Board for processing. This form is required even if you have never taken the WREB or ADEX examination or a state, regional, or national exam for licensure.
  • Submit classifiable sets of fingerprints. (Click link for more information)
    • For Live Scan service (only available in California) once you have submitted this application, Board staff will review and send you the Live Scan forms via email with instructions.
    • Applicants located outside of California must use hard cards provided by the Board or Standard FBI fingerprint cards. If submitting hard cards, the applicant must pay a non–refundable processing fee of $49 at the time of application submission or mailed to the Board along with the hard cards with a check or money order made payable to the Dental Board of California. You can send a message to the Board to request a set of fingerprint hard cards.
  • Submit acceptable proof of fifty (50) continuing education (CE) courses that are patient-centered related care. CEs must be completed within two (2) years of the date of the application. Authority: 16 California Code of Regulations 16 CCR § 1016. Courses focused on office or practice management will not be accepted by the Board. Additionally, pursuant to Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 1645 (d), courses related to the following are acceptable:
    • Licensee mental health and wellness and its impact on the delivery of dental services.
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion and its impact on the delivery of dental services.
    • Completion of the mandatory courses count for up to (10) CE units:
      • Basic Life Support (BLS) – This course must be provided by the American Red Cross (ARC) or American Heart Association (AHA) or approved by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), American Dental Association's Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP) or the Academy of General Dentistry's Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE). A maximum of 4 units will be awarded for completion of this course.
      • NOTE: Online courses will not be accepted for the BLS requirement. The course must include a live, in–person skills practice session, a skills test, and a written examination.
    • California Infection Control* – This course must be taken through a Registered Provider who has been approved by the Board to offer this mandatory course. A maximum of 2 units will be provided for this course.
    • California Dental Practice Act* – This course must be taken through a Registered Provider who has been approved by the Board to offer this mandatory course. A maximum of 2 units will be provided for this course.
    • Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioids* – This course must be taken through a Registered Provider who has been approved by the Board to offer this mandatory course. A maximum of 2 units will be provided for this course.
    *In order for the mandatory course certificates to be accepted by the Board, the course must be taken from a Board–approved mandatory course provider. To verify whether a provider is Board–approved to teach the mandatory course you wish to take from them, please see the Mandatory Course Provider Lookup.

For more information, call (916) 263–2300 or send a message to the Board.