Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in California means applying through the Dental Board of California, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles California licensing and credentialing for you.
Official CA boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Dental Board of California websiteHow to get licensed in California
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam results (INBDE + a clinical exam), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Dental Board of California, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, California issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Dental Board of California
The CA board sets California's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$1,050
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Dental Board of California. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free CA checklist
Get the complete California dentist licensing checklist
Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your California dental license
Once you're licensed, the Dental Board of California requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Expires on the last day of your birth month; born in an even-numbered year renew in even years, odd-numbered year in odd years
- Renewal fee
- $680 active dentist renewal (includes the $15-a-year CURES fee); $650 inactive; $355 reduced fee for qualifying licensees (B&P 1716.1) (late fee: $325 delinquent fee (charged once the renewal is more than 30 days late); $162 on the reduced fee)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 50 units every 2 years, including mandatory courses (none due at the first renewal)
- 2 units Board-approved infection control
- 2 units Board-approved California Dental Practice Act
- Basic Life Support with in-person skills test (up to 4 units count)
- 2 units Board-approved responsibilities and requirements of prescribing Schedule II opioid drugs
- How to renew
- Online through BreEZeOpen the renewal portal
- NoteNo more than 50% of units may be non-live/correspondence; live webinars and video conferences count as live
- NoteNo more than 8 units per day count; courses must fall within the current 2-year period
- NoteFingerprints are required only if the Board notifies you in writing, but the fingerprint question must be answered on every renewal
- NoteComplete the HCAI Health Workforce Survey and the Dental Workforce Survey with renewal
- NoteKeep CE certificates for three renewal periods
- NoteInactive licenses need no CE; reduced-fee uncompensated practice needs 30 units
Last verified October 17, 2026 from the Dental Board of California. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesDental Board of California - Registered Dentist Renewal InformationDental Board of California - Dentist Continuing Education
Comparing states? See how often dentists renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: dental license renewal requirements by state.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a California renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in California
A California license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your California license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your California license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each dental plan (and any medical plan you'll bill) that you want to join in California. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with California Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in California? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles California licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your California license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Dental Board of California. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire California application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
California dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in California?
Most California dentist applications take about 60 days once the Dental Board of California has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses dentists in California?
Dentists in California are licensed by the Dental Board of California, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the California dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the California dentist application fee is around $1,050. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Dental Board of California before you apply.
How do I renew my California dental license?
In California, renewals are filed with the Dental Board of California. How to renew: Online through BreEZe. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires on the last day of your birth month; born in an even-numbered year renew in even years, odd-numbered year in odd years. Renewal fee: $680 active dentist renewal (includes the $15-a-year CURES fee); $650 inactive; $355 reduced fee for qualifying licensees (B&P 1716.1) (late fee: $325 delinquent fee (charged once the renewal is more than 30 days late); $162 on the reduced fee). Continuing education: 50 units every 2 years, including mandatory courses (none due at the first renewal). Required topics include 2 units Board-approved infection control; 2 units Board-approved California Dental Practice Act; Basic Life Support with in-person skills test (up to 4 units count); 2 units Board-approved responsibilities and requirements of prescribing Schedule II opioid drugs. This is as published by the board (last verified October 17, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a dental license in California?
50 CE hours. The Dental Board of California publishes the requirement as: 50 units every 2 years, including mandatory courses (none due at the first renewal). Required topics include 2 units Board-approved infection control; 2 units Board-approved California Dental Practice Act; Basic Life Support with in-person skills test (up to 4 units count); 2 units Board-approved responsibilities and requirements of prescribing Schedule II opioid drugs. Last verified October 17, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a California dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Dental Board of California's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in California?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In California that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — California Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a California license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in California — including by telehealth — you typically need a California license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle California dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every California license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the California application and payer enrollment end to end.