The California Department of Consumer Affairs on June 3 temporarily waived license-renewal requirements for dental professionals in the state whose licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and July 31, 2021. 

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, dentists and other prescribers in California must issue electronic-data prescriptions for both controlled and noncontrolled substances with very few exceptions. Paper prescriptions will no longer be allowed by state law. All pharmacies in California must be capable of accepting those prescriptions.

Dentists registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration should be aware that the DEA is no longer sending renewal notices by U.S. Postal Service as of last June. Instead, registrants will receive several renewal notifications by email. 

The Department of Consumer Affairs on March 30 issued two waivers that expand COVID-19 vaccinator eligibility to include California-licensed dentists and other health care providers with recently expired, inactive or lapsed licenses and health care students, including dental students.

Licensees whose licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2021, now have until September 2021 to complete C.E. and to take and pass examinations required for license renewal.

Dentists, registered dental hygienists and other professionals who have active California licenses that expire between March 1 and March 31 now have additional time to satisfy the examination and continuing education requirements for license renewal.

An expedited licensure application review process is now available for individuals in specific categories who apply for a professional license through California licensing boards, including dentists, RDAs and RDAEFs who apply for licensure through the Dental Board of California. 

The Dental Board of California will stop sending California-licensed dentists and others licensed by the board automated renewal application forms in the mail beginning July 2021. Licensees can expect to receive instead a postcard reminding them to renew online through BreEZe Online Services.

CDA has learned that dentists are receiving offers for COVID-19 rapid-test products and related services. For now, dentists should ignore the emails and other marketing outreach. Current state law prohibits dentists from obtaining the requisite lab licensure to perform and process rapid COVID-19 tests.