12.5 Renewal Basics After Licensure

Know the Maintenance Duties Before the First Renewal

The RDA exam gets you to licensure, but license maintenance keeps the credential in good standing. The Dental Board renewal information for dental auxiliaries states that renewal requires paying the renewal fee, satisfactorily completing continuing education when required, making required disclosures, submitting fingerprints if required, and completing workforce survey prompts. CE is not required the first time a licensee renews.

For later renewal cycles, the Board lists 25 CE units for Registered Dental Assistants. The Board's continuing education page also identifies mandatory education areas for dental assisting licensees and permit holders. Candidates should not wait until the renewal deadline to learn which courses count or which providers are approved.

Provider approval matters. With exceptions for BLS and mandatory-course rules described by the Board, CE courses generally must come from a Board-licensed CE Registered Provider or a provider approved by ADA CERP or AGD PACE. Mandatory California Infection Control and California Dental Practice Act courses must come from providers approved by the Board to teach that specific mandatory course.

BLS should not be treated like a generic video certificate. The Board page states that acceptable BLS for this context must include a live, in-person skills practice session, a skills test, and a written examination. Keep the provider, completion date, and certificate accessible.

The Board also conducts random CE audits of active licensees. If audited, a licensee needs records that show the required units and courses were completed in the appropriate renewal period. The Board states that licensees must retain CE certificates for three renewal periods. This is why renewal maintenance should start with recordkeeping, not with a last-minute search.

One RDA-specific point is especially important for newer licensees. The Board renewal page notes that an RDA licensed on or after January 1, 2010 must successfully complete a pit and fissure sealant course before the second license renewal, in addition to meeting CE requirements for that renewal. Keep this requirement on the post-licensure calendar.

Renewal also includes professional disclosures. The Board page lists disclosure of license discipline by a governmental agency or other disciplinary body and criminal convictions since the last renewal. Fingerprints may be required if the Board notifies the licensee in writing. Answer renewal questions accurately and keep Board contact information current.

For exam candidates, the point is not to memorize every renewal form before test day. The point is to understand that RDA status carries ongoing responsibilities after passing and issuance. Good recordkeeping, current BLS, verified CE providers, and honest renewal disclosures protect the license you worked to earn.