Dentistry: foreign dental schools.

Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of dentists and dental assistants by the Dental Board of California. The act, prior to January 1, 2020, required a foreign dental school seeking approval to submit an application to the board, including, among other things, a finding that the educational program of the foreign dental school is equivalent to that of similar accredited institutions in the United States and adequately prepares its students for the practice of dentistry. The act also required an approved institution to submit a renewal application every 7 years and to pay a specified renewal fee. The act, beginning on January 1, 2020, prohibits the board from accepting new applications for approval of foreign dental schools, and instead requires foreign dental schools seeking approval to complete the international consultative and accreditation process with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) or a comparable accrediting body approved by the board. The act requires previously approved foreign dental schools to complete the CODA process or comparable accreditation by January 1, 2024, to remain approved, unless the foreign dental school was renewed by the board prior to January 1, 2020, through a date between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, in which case the act provides the foreign dental school's approval is maintained through that date. The also act provides that graduates of a foreign dental school whose program was approved by the board prior to January 1, 2020, through any date before January 1, 2024, and who enrolled in the program prior to January 1, 2020, are eligible for licensure. This bill would require previously approved foreign dental schools to complete the CODA process or comparable accreditation by January 1, 2024, to remain approved, unless the foreign dental school was renewed by the board prior to January 1, 2020, through June 30, 2026, in which case the foreign dental school's approval would be maintained through that date. The bill would repeal the provision providing that a graduate of a foreign dental school whose program was approved by the board prior to January 1, 2020, through any date before January 1, 2024, and who enrolled in the program prior to January 1, 2020, is eligible for licensure.