Special Permits - Licensed Dentists

A Special Permit allows a person to be a full-time professor, an associate professor, or an assistant professor for a California dental college.

Qualifying for a Special Permit

Effective January 1, 2006, new qualification methods under Business and Professions Code, Sections 1640 and 1640.3.

Requirements - Choose from the following:

QUALIFICATION METHOD #1 – Business and Professions Code, Section 1640

Any person meeting all the following eligibility requirements may apply for a special permit:

  • (a) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having a pending contract with a California dental college approved by the board as a full-time professor, an associate professor, or an assistant professor. Submit copy.
  • (b) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having graduated from a dental college approved by the board or of having completed an advanced education program accredited by either the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or a national accrediting body approved by the board.
  • (c) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having been certified as a diplomate of a specialty board or, in lieu thereof, establishing his or her qualifications to take a specialty board examination or furnishing satisfactory evidence of having completed an advanced educational program in a discipline from a dental college approved by the board.
  • (d) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of successfully completing an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. Visit our Law and Ethics web page for scheduling information and applications.
  • (e) Paying a fee for applications as provided by this chapter.

QUALIFICATION METHOD #2 –Business and Professions Code, Section 1640.3

The board may issue a special permit to a dentist who does not meet the eligibility requirements pursuant to Section 1640 if he or she provides evidence of compliance with the following requirements to the board:

  1. (a) A dentist shall satisfy either of the following conditions:
  2. (1) The dentist's expertise or skill is in a specialty area of dental practice approved by the American Dental Association and recognized by the board, and the board has received verification, in writing from the dean of the dental school where a contract is pending, that the addition of this dentist to the faculty will benefit the students and the dental program.
  3. (2) Verification, in writing, from the dean of the dental school where a contract is pending, that the addition of this general dentist to the faculty will benefit the students and the dental program.
  4. (b) A complete transcript of academic and clinical dental school records of the applicant is provided to the board. Submit certified copies and translations if applicable.
  5. (c) A legible, true copy of the dental diploma or dental degree conferred upon the applicant is provided to the board. Translated if applicable.
  6. (d) A copy of the applicant's valid dental license is provided to the board.
  7. (e) Satisfactory evidence of possessing a pending contract with a California dental college approved by the board as a full-time professor, associate professor, or as an assistant professor. Submit copy.
  8. (f) Satisfactory evidence that the applicant's credentials were presented to the school's faculty credentialing committee or similar faculty review committee and the dean of the dental school provides written acknowledgment that the applicant is an essential addition to the school's faculty and strongly recommends to the dean that the applicant be offered an employment contract.
  9. (g) The number of special permits issued by the board under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is no more than five permits per dental school. The number of special permits issued by the board under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) is no more than five permits per dental school.
  10. (h) The board is furnished with satisfactory evidence that the applicant has successfully completed an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. The application is online. Call Board for scheduling.
  11. (i) A fee for the application is paid as provided by this chapter.

Applying for a Special Permit

Submit all documentation mentioned under Qualification method #1 or #2. In addition, submit:

Renewing Your Special Permit

A Special Permit must be renewed annually. The fee for renewal is $125.00 ($6.00 CURES Fee). The continuing education requirement for renewal is twenty–five units of approved courses including the mandatory basic life support, two units in California Infection Control, and two units in California Dental Practice Act. In addition, you must complete and submit renewal Declarations, a new schedule and a current contract.

Automatic Revocation

Every person to whom a special permit is issued shall be entitled to practice in their recognized specialty or discipline at the dental college at which he or she is employed and its affiliated institutions as approved by the board on the following terms and conditions:

  1. (a) The special permitholder shall file a copy of his or her employment contract with the board. The contract shall contain the following provision:
  2. That the holder understands and acknowledges that when his or her full-time or part-time employment is terminated at the dental college, his or her special permit will be automatically revoked and that he or she will voluntarily surrender the permit to the board and will no longer be eligible to practice unless or until he or she has successfully passed the required licensure examination as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 1625).
  3. (b) The holder shall be employed as a full-time or part-time professor, an associate professor, or as an assistant professor at the California dental college approved by the board. "Full-time employment" as used in this section means a minimum of four days per week. "Part-time employment" as used in this section, means a maximum of three days a week.
  4. (c) The holder shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter applicable to licensed dentists with the exception that the special permit shall be renewed annually. (Business and Professions Code, Section 1642)