Bill > AB966

This bill addresses the licensure and accreditation of foreign dental schools in California, with a focus on extending approval for two specific schools - the University of De La Salle-Bajío in Mexico and the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Moldova. The bill would maintain the approval of these foreign dental schools until they complete or withdraw from the accreditation process with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), provided they apply for accreditation by January 1, 2026 and provide regular updates to the Dental Board of California. Graduates of these schools who were enrolled on or after July 1, 2025 would remain eligible for licensure, even if the school's extended approval expires. The bill also requires graduates of these foreign dental schools to agree to practice full-time for two years in underserved healthcare settings within the first three years of obtaining their license. Additionally, the Dental Board will be required to provide a comprehensive report by January 1, 2032, detailing workforce data, licensing information, and other metrics related to dentists graduated from these foreign dental schools. The bill is motivated by California's significant dental healthcare disparities, particularly in rural and low-income areas, and aims to address the shortage of dentists, especially Latino and Black dental professionals, by providing an alternative pathway to licensure.

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https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB966