California signs AB 1760 dentistry changes
Sep 20, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0019 · Published 2026-09-20 · Version 2 · Final
AB 1760’s enacted dentistry changes include revised radiation-safety course standards and a January 2028 approval transition.
What happened
California enacted AB 1760 as Chapter 167 on August 31. It revises dentistry licensure evidence and examination provisions, elective facial cosmetic surgery permit requirements, registered dental assistant provisions and radiation-safety course standards. These subjects do not share one immediate implementation date: the act follows ordinary January 1, 2027 commencement, while the course-approval transition identifies January 1, 2028. The chaptering event therefore establishes the final requirements without implying that every new provision was operative in September.
For radiation-safety courses, the enacted text requires at least 32 hours comprising eight didactic,12 laboratory and 12 clinical hours. Distance learning is permitted for didactic instruction with technology notice, assistance and completion before laboratory work; it does not replace required supervised laboratory or patient instruction. Existing approvals under the specified regulations remain until January 1, 2028, after which providers must apply under the new approval process. The act also preserves supervision, competency and scope conditions for dental-assistant duties. Credentialing and education programs need to map the relevant provision to their own role rather than treating a course certificate as expanded clinical authority.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- Operationally relevant
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
Why it matters
Dental education and credentialing teams have different statutory changes to prepare for, with ordinary commencement separate from the course-approval transition.
Recommended action
Review the enacted provisions with dental credentialing and education owners, confirm January 2027 commencement and the January 2028 course approval transition, and preserve required supervision and competency documentation.
Sources
- AB 1760, chaptered textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-31 · Source review 2026-09-06
- AB 1760, legislative historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-31 · Source review 2026-09-06
- Official retained source documentOfficial · Official issuing agency · Source review 2026-10-16
Complete edition and supplemental material
This finding in the complete approved report →Regulatory horizons, CIA trends and implementation trackers remain in the full report.
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