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Regulations - Chapter 3, Article 4

TITLE 16. PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL REGULATIONS
DIVISION 10. DENTAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER 3. DENTAL AUXILIARIES
ARTICLE 4. EXAMINATIONS

Section 1080. General Procedures for Dental Auxiliary Written and Practical Examinations.
Section 1080.1. General Procedures for Dental Auxiliary Clinical Examinations.
Section 1080.2. Conduct of Dental Auxiliary Examinations.
Section 1080.3. Dental Auxiliary Licensure Examination Review Procedures; Appeals.
Section 1081. RDA Examination.
Section 1081.1. RDA Practical Examination - Requirements.
Section 1081.2. RDAEF Examination Requirements.
Section 1082. RDH Written Examination.
Section 1082.1. RDH Clinical Examination Requirements.
Section 1082.2. RDHEF Examination Requirements.
Section 1082.3. Supplemental Examinations in California Law and Ethics.
Section 1083. Passing Grades.

Section 1080. General Procedures for Dental Auxiliary Written and Practical Examinations.
The following rules, which are in addition to any other examination rules set forth elsewhere in this chapter, are adopted for the uniform conduct of all dental auxiliary written and practical examinations.
(a) The ability of an examinee to read and interpret instructions and examination material is a part of the examination.
(b) No person shall be admitted to an examination room or laboratory unless he or she is wearing the appropriate badge.
(c) An examinee may be dismissed from the entire examination, and a statement of issues may be filed against the examinee, for acts which interfere with the Board's objective of evaluating professional competence. Such acts include, but are not limited to the following:
  1. (1) Allowing another person to take the examination in the place of, and under the identity of, the examinee.
  2. (2) Copying or otherwise obtaining examination answers from other persons during the course of an examination.
  3. (3) Bringing any notes, books, pictures, tape recorders, or other unauthorized materials into the examination area.
  4. (4) Assisting another examinee during the examination process.
  5. (5) Using the equipment, instruments, or materials belonging to another examinee.
  6. (6) Copying, photographing or in any way reproducing or recording examination questions or answers.
  7. (7) Bringing a previously prepared procedure or any portion thereof into a laboratory examination.
  8. (8) Leaving the assigned examination area without the permission of an exam administrator.
  9. (9) Failing to follow directions relative to the conduct of the examination, including termination of the examination at the scheduled or announced time.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1753, 1756, 1758 and 1761, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 2-13-98; operative 3-15-98 (Register 98, No. 7).
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Section 1080.1. General Procedures for Dental Auxiliary Clinical Examinations.
The following rules, which are in addition to any other examination rules set forth elsewhere in this chapter, are adopted for the uniform conduct of all dental auxiliary clinical examinations.
(a) Each examinee shall furnish patients, instruments, engines and materials necessary to carry the procedures to completion. The board will provide chairs.
(b) A patient provided by an examinee must be at least 18 years of age and shall be in a health condition acceptable for dental treatment. If conditions indicate a need to consult the patient's physician or for the patient to be premedicated (e.g. high blood pressure, heart murmur, rheumatic fever, heart condition, prosthesis), the examinee must obtain the necessary written medical clearance and/or evidence of premedication before the patient will be accepted. The examiners may, in their discretion, reject a patient who in the opinion of at least two examiners has a condition which interferes with evaluation or which may be hazardous to the patient, other patients, examinees or examiners. A hazardous condition includes, but is not limited to, acute symptomatic hepatitis, active herpetic lesions, acute periodontal or periapical abscesses, or necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Whenever a patient is rejected, the reason for such rejection shall be noted on the examination record and shall be signed by both rejecting examiners.
(c) No person shall be admitted to an examination clinic unless he or she is wearing the appropriate identification badge.
(d) An examinee may be dismissed from the entire examination, and a statement of issues may be filed against the examinee, for acts which inter
  1. (1) Allowing another person to take the examination in the place of, and under the identity of, the examinee.
  2. (2) Bringing any notes, books, pictures, tape recorders, or other unauthorized materials into the examination area.
  3. (3) Assisting another examinee during the examination process.
  4. (4) Using the equipment, instruments, or materials belonging to another examinee.
  5. (5) Presenting radiographs which have been altered, or contrived to represent other than the patient's true condition, whether or not the misleading radiograph was created by the examinee.
  6. (6) Failing to comply with the board's infection control regulations.
  7. (7) Failing to use an aspirating syringe for administering local anesthesia.
  8. (8) Premedicating a patient for purposes of sedation.
  9. (9) Dismissing a patient without the approval and signature of an examiner.
  10. (10) Leaving the assigned examination area without the permission of an exam administrator.
  11. (11) Failing to follow directions relative to the conduct of the examination, including termination of the examination at the scheduled or announced time.
(e) An examinee may be declared by the board to have failed the entire examination for demonstration of gross incompetence in tr Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1753, 1756, 1758 and 1761, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 2-13-98; operative 3-15-98 (Register 98, No. 7).
  2. New subsection (b) and subsection relettering filed 3-26-99; operative 3-26-99 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 99, No. 13).

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Section 1080.2. Conduct of Dental Auxiliary Examinations.
Examinations shall be anonymous. An anonymous examination is one conducted in accordance with procedures, including but not limited to those set forth below, which ensure and preserve anonymity of applicants.
(a) The board shall randomly assign each applicant a number, and said applicant shall be known by that number throughout the entire examination.
(b) Grading examiners shall not view examinees during the performance of the examination assignments.
(c) There shall be no communications between grading examiners and floor examiners except for oral communications conducted in the presence of board staff. There shall be no communication between grading examiners and examinees except written communications on board approved forms.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1753, 1756, 1758 and 1761, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 2-13-98; operative 3-15-98 (Register 98, No. 7).

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Section 1080.3. Dental Auxiliary Licensure Examination Review Procedures; Appeals.
(a) An examinee who has failed an examination shall be provided with notice, upon written request, of those areas in which he/she is deficient in the practical or clinical phases of such examination.
(b) An unsuccessful examinee who has been informed of the areas of deficiency in his/her performance on the practical or clinical phases of the examination and who has determined that one or more of the following errors was made during the course of his/her examination and grading may appeal to the board within sixty (60) days following receipt of his/her examination results:
  1. (1) Significant procedural error in the examination process;
  2. (2) Evidence of adverse discrimination;
  3. (3) Evidence of substantial disadvantage to the examinee. Such appeal shall be made by means of a written letter specifying the grounds upon which the appeal is based. The Board shall respond to the appeal in writing and may request a personal appearance by the examinee. The Board shall thereafter take such action as it deems appropriate.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1753, 1756, 1758 and 1761, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 2-13-98; operative 3-15-98 (Register 98, No. 7).

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Section 1081. RDA Examination.
An applicant for licensure as an RDA shall complete a written, task-oriented examination encompassing all duties assignable to RDAs and the settings in which they may be performed. Such examination may also include any or all of the following subjects:
Nutrition and preventive dentistry; materials; oral anatomy and physiology; oral pathology; pharmacology; morphology; microbiology; dental assisting procedures in general and special dentistry; principles of business and practice management; legal/ethical aspects of dentistry; patient-dental personnel psychology; four-handed chairside dental assisting; X-ray; sterilization; laboratory and office emergency procedures.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1614 and 1753, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. Editorial correction filed 7-17-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter Register 85, No. 29).

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Section 1081.1. RDA Practical Examination - Requirements.
(a) In addition to the written examination, each applicant for licensure as an RDA shall also take a practical examination consisting of any or all of the procedures listed below. The specific procedures will be assigned by an RDA examination committee appointed by the board. The procedures shall be performed on a full articulated maxillary and mandibular typodont secured with a bench clamp and shall be graded by examiners appointed by the board for that purpose. Each applicant shall furnish the required materials necessary to complete all of the following procedures.
  1. (1) Placement of a rubber dam;
  2. (2) Placement of a matrix band for amalgam preparation;
  3. (3) Placement of a base into a prepared tooth (For purposes of the examination, "prepared tooth" means a tooth from which material has been removed so as to simulate the surgical excision of dental caries);
  4. (4) Placement of a liner into a prepared tooth;
  5. (5) Placement of orthodontic separators;
  6. (6) Placement of a periodontal dressing;
  7. (7) Placement of a temporary sedative dressing into a prepared tooth.
  8. (8) Sizing and placement, or intra-oral fabrication, of a temporary crown.
  9. (9) Temporary cementation of a temporary crown.
  10. (10) Removal of excess cement from supragingival surfaces with a hand instrument or floss.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1614 and 1753, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 2-4-92; operative 3-5-92 (Register 92, No. 12).
  2. Amendment filed 5-2-96; operative 6-1-96 (Register 96, No. 18).
  3. Amendment of subsection (a)(8) filed 3-9-2000; operative 4-8-2000 (Register 2000, No. 10).

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Section 1081.2. RDAEF Examination Requirements.
(a) Each applicant for licensure as an RDAEF shall successfully complete an examination on a patient consisting of the procedures set forth below.
  1. (1) Cord retraction of gingivae for impression procedures;
  2. (2) Taking impressions for cast restorations.
  3. The total examination period shall not exceed two and one-half hours.
(b) Each applicant shall provide one patient upon whom the retraction and impression procedures shall be performed. If a patient is deemed unacceptable by the examiners, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide another patient who is acceptable. The applicant's ability to select an appropriate patient is considered part of the examination. An acceptable patient shall meet the criteria set forth in Section 1080.1 and the following additional criteria:
  1. (1) Must have a minimum of ten teeth per arch.
  2. (2) Must have a prepared tooth, which is a bicuspid or molar and which, prior to preparation, had mesial and distal contact. The preparation performed shall have margins at or below the free gingival crest and shall be one of the following: 7/8 crown, 3/4 crown, or full crown, including porcelain fused to metal. Alginate impression materials alone are not acceptable.
(c) These procedures shall be graded by examiners appointed by the Board. These procedures may be tested, at the Board's discretion, in a Board-approved dental office or other facilities, by examiners appointed by the Board.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 1756, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 1-22-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 4).
  2. Amendment filed 1-11-96; operative 2-10-96 (Register 96, No. 2).
  3. Amendment of subsection (b) and new subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) filed 3-26-99; operative 3-26-99 pursuant to Government Code section11343.4(d) (Register 99, No. 13).
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Section 1082. RDH Written Examination.
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Each applicant for licensure as an RDH shall successfully complete the National Board of Dental Examiner's examination for dental hygienists and shall submit confirmation thereof to the board in sufficient time for the board to receive it prior to the date set for the practical examination.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1614 and 1758, Business and Professions Code.

Section 1082.1. RDH Clinical Examination Requirements.
(a) Every applicant shall be given a clinical examination which shall consist of the examination of a patient, complete scaling of one or two quadrants (depending upon patient selection), and root planing. Scaling and root planing includes but is not limited to the complete removal of calculus, soft deposits and plaque, and smoothing of the unattached tooth surfaces. Unattached tooth surface means the portion of the crown and root surface to which no tissue is attached. Ultrasonic, sonic, handpiece or other mechanical scaling devices may be used only at the direction of the Board. If so permitted, an applicant who chooses to use an ultrasonic or sonic scaling device shall bring to the exam and use the services of an assistant to perform high volume evacuation at all times when the ultrasonic or sonic scaling device is being used. Only the services of a dental assistant or registered dental assistant shall be permitted.
The clinical examination shall be completed within a two hour period. Such period shall commence with the acceptance or rejection of the initial patient presented by the applicant.
(b) One patient shall be provided by the applicant. If a patient is deemed unacceptable by the examiners, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide another patient who is acceptable. The applicant's ability to select an appropriate patient is considered part of the examination. An acceptable patient shall meet the criteria set forth in Section 1080.1 and the following additional criteria:
  1. (1) Does not have extreme tissue or tooth sensitivity which would interfere with proper probing and exploring by examiners.
  2. (2) Has at least one quadrant with the following:
  3. (A) At least 6 natural teeth which are free of conditions which would interfere with evaluation, including but not limited to probing depths greater than 6mm, class 3 furcation, class 3 mobility, gross decay, faulty restorations, or full or partial veneer crowns. Crowns with smooth margins are acceptable. A patient will not be rejected because he/she has one tooth with a probing depth greater than 6mm.
  4. (B) At least 3 of the natural teeth in the quadrant must be posterior teeth with interproximal pocket depths of 4 to 6mm. Two of these posterior teeth must be molars.
  5. (C) Demonstrable, explorer-detectable moderate to heavy subgingival calculus must be present on a majority of the subgingival tooth surfaces and there must be some subgingival calculus on every tooth. Explorer-detectable moderate to heavy interproximal ledges must be present.
(c) If an applicant is unable to find a patient with one quadrant which meets the requirements of subsection (b)(2) above, the applicant may provide a patient in which those requirements can be found in two quadrants. An applicant who presents such a patient shall be required to scale all teeth in both quadrants in the same time allotted for scaling one quadrant.
(d) The applicant shall provide full mouth radiographs of the patient, which shall consist of 18 radiographs at least 4 of which must be bite-wing and the radiographs must be of diagnostic quality. All radiographs shall have been taken not more than one year prior to the examination at which they are presented.
(e) The applicant shall provide the following instruments:
  1. (1) Color coded Marquis-type periodontal probe.
  2. (2) Sharp explorers.
  3. (3) Clear-plane mouth mirror.
  4. (4) Saliva ejector.
  5. (5) All necessary armamentarium for local anesthesia, including an aspirating syringe.
  6. (6) Any other scaling or root planing instruments which he/she intends to use.
(f) The applicant shall offer to the patient the option of the administration of local anesthetic in the area(s) to be scaled, except that anesthesia shall not be administered to both mandibular quadrants of a patient during the same day.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1614 and 1766, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) filed 9-11-89 pursuant to Section 100, Title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 89, No. 37).
  2. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 12-18-95; operative 1-17-95 (Register 95, No. 51).
  3. Amendment of subsection (e)(2) filed 2-3-98; operative 3-5-98 (Register 98, No. 6).
  4. Amendment of subsections (a) and (b), repealer of subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4) and (a)(5), subsection renumbering, and amendment of newly designated subsection (a)(2) filed 4-29-99; operative 5-29-99 (Register 99, No. 18).
  5. Amendment of subsections (a), (b)(2)(A), (c) and (f) and amendment of Note filed 2-6-2003; operative 3-8-2003 (Register 2003, No. 6).

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Section 1082.2. RDHEF Examination Requirements.
(a) Each applicant for licensure as an RDHEF shall successfully complete an examination on a patient consisting of the procedures set forth below.
  1. (1) Cord retraction of gingivae for impression procedures;
  2. (2) Taking impressions for cast restorations.
  3. The total examination period shall not exceed two and one-half hours.
(b) Each applicant shall provide one patient upon whom the retraction and impression procedures shall be performed. If a patient is deemed unacceptable by the examiners, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide another patient who is acceptable. The applicant's ability to select an appropriate patient is considered part of the examination. An acceptable patient shall meet the criteria set forth in Section 1080.1 and the following additional criteria:
  1. (1) Must have a minimum of ten teeth per arch.
  2. (2) Must have a prepared tooth, which is bicuspid or molar and which, prior to preparation, had mesial and distal contact. The preparation performed shall have margins at or below the free gingival crest and shall be one of the following:7/8 crown,3/4 crown, or full crown, including porcelain fused to metal. Alginate impression materials alone are not acceptable.
(c) These procedures shall be graded by examiners appointed by the Board. These procedures may be tested, at the Board's discretion, in a Board-approved dental office or other facilities, by examiners appointed by the Board.

Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 1761, Business and Professions Code.

HISTORY
  1. New section filed 1-22-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 4).
  2. Amendment of subsections (a)(3), (c) and NOTEfiled 2-28-92; operative 3-30-92 (Register 92, No. 12).
  3. Amendment of subsections (a)-(b), repealer of subsection (c) and subsection relettering, and amendment of newly designated subsection (c) and Notefiled 1- 11-96; operative 2-10-96 (Register 96, No. 2).
  4. Amendment of subsection (b) and new subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) filed 3-26-99; operative 3-26-99 pursuant to Government Code section11343.4(d) (Register 99, No. 13).

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Section 1082.3. Supplemental Examinations in California Law and Ethics.
Prior to issuance of a license, an applicant for licensure as a registered dental hygienist shall successfully complete a supplemental written examination in California Law and Ethics.
(a) The examination on California law shall test the applicant's knowledge of California law as it relates to the practice of dental hygiene.
(b) The examination on ethics shall test the applicant's ability to recognize and apply ethical principles as they relate to the practice of dental hygiene.
(c) An examinee shall be deemed to have passed the examination if his/her score is at least 75% in each examination.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1749.1 and 1766, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
  1. New section filed 9-7-2004; operative 10-7-2004 (Register 2004, No. 37).
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Section 1083. Passing Grades.

(a) Registered Dental Hygienist. Each applicant for licensure as a registered dental hygienist who attains a grade of 75% in the practical examination designated by the Board shall be considered as having passed the examination.
(b) Registered Dental Assistant. An applicant for licensure as a registered dental assistant shall be deemed to have passed the required examination only if the applicant has obtained a score of at least 75 on the written examination and at least 75% on the practical examination; provided, however, that an applicant who attains a grade of less than 75% in any single procedure shall be considered to have failed the entire practical examination.
(c) Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions. Each applicant for licensure as an RDAEF who attains a grade of at least 75% on each procedure in the examination shall be deemed to have passed the required examination.
(d) Registered Dental Hygienist in Extended Functions. Each applicant for licensure as an RDHEF who attains a grade of at least 75% on each procedure in the examination shall be deemed to have passed the required examination. A registered dental hygienist who has passed the RDAEF examination prior to December 31, 1991 shall be eligible for licensure as an RDHEF without further examination.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1614 and 1762, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1611, 1614, 1634, 1753, 1758 and 1759, Business and Professions Code.

HISTORY
  1. New subsections (c) and (d) filed 1-22-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 4).
  2. Amendment of subsection (d) and NOTE filed 2-28-92; operative 3-30-92 (Register 92, No. 12).
  3. 3. Amendment of subsection (b) and Note filed 3-21-2002; operative 4-20-2002 (Register 2002, No. 12).