ARTICLE 2.5. Special Permits [1640. - 1642.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 2.5.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 1640. Section 1640.

Any person meeting all the following eligibility requirements may apply for a special permit: (a) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having a pending contract with a California dental college approved by the board as a full-time professor, an associate professor, or an assistant professor. (b) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having graduated from a dental college approved by the board, or of having completed an advanced education program accredited by either the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or a national accrediting body approved by the board. (c) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of having been certified as a diplomate of a specialty board or, in lieu thereof, establishing his or her qualifications to take a specialty board examination or furnishing satisfactory evidence of having completed an advanced educational program in a discipline from a dental college approved by the board. (d) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of successfully completing an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. (e) Paying a fee for applications as provided by this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 1640.1. Section 1640.1.

As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply: (a) “Specialty” means an area of dental practice approved by the American Dental Association and recognized by the board. (b) “Discipline” means an advanced dental educational program in an area of dental practice not approved as a specialty by the American Dental Association; but offered from a dental college approved by the board. (c) “Dental college approved by the board” means a dental school or college that is approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, that is accredited by a body that has a reciprocal accreditation agreement with that commission, or that has been approved by the Dental Board of California through its own approval process.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 1640.2. Section 1640.2.

(a) The board shall limit the number of special permits to practice in a discipline at a college to the number that may be properly administered and supervised by the board. (b) The board shall allow a person who has held a special permit for at least the seven preceding years to enter into a part-time contract with a California dental college approved by the board, provided that the person notifies the board of this change and provides the board with a pending employment contract for part-time employment with a California dental college approved by the board. (c) A holder of a special permit shall practice no more than one day per week in the school’s faculty practice.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 1640.3. Section 1640.3.

The board may issue a special permit to a dentist who does not meet the eligibility requirements pursuant to Section 1640 if he or she provides evidence of compliance with the following requirements to the board: (a) A dentist shall satisfy either of the following conditions: (1) The dentist’s expertise or skill is in a specialty area of dental practice approved by the American Dental Association and recognized by the board, and the board has received verification, in writing, from the dean of the dental school where a contract is pending, that the addition of this dentist to the faculty will benefit the students and the dental program. (2) Verification, in writing, from the dean of the dental school where a contract is pending, that the addition of this general dentist to the faculty will benefit the students and the dental program. (b) A complete transcript of academic and clinical dental school records of the applicant is provided to the board. (c) A legible, true copy of the dental diploma or dental degree conferred upon the applicant is provided to the board. (d) A copy of the applicant’s valid dental license is provided to the board. (e) Satisfactory evidence of possessing a pending contract with a California dental college approved by the board as a full-time professor, associate professor, or as an assistant professor. (f) Satisfactory evidence that the applicant’s credentials were presented to the school’s faculty credentialing committee or similar faculty review committee and the dean of the dental school provides written acknowledgment that the applicant is an essential addition to the school’s faculty and strongly recommends to the dean that the applicant be offered an employment contract. (g) The number of special permits issued by the board under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is no more than five permits per dental school. The number of special permits issued by the board under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) is no more than five permits per dental school. (h) The board is furnished with satisfactory evidence that the applicant has successfully completed an examination in California law and ethics developed and administered by the board. (i) A fee for the application is paid as provided by this chapter.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 1642. Section 1642.

Every person to whom a special permit is issued shall be entitled to practice in their recognized specialty or discipline at the dental college at which he or she is employed and its affiliated institutions as approved by the board on the following terms and conditions: (a) The special permitholder shall file a copy of his or her employment contract with the board. The contract shall contain the following provision: That the holder understands and acknowledges that when his or her full-time or part-time employment is terminated at the dental college, his or her special permit will be automatically revoked and that he or she will voluntarily surrender the permit to the board and will no longer be eligible to practice unless or until he or she has successfully passed the required licensure examination as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 1625). (b) The holder shall be employed as a full-time or part-time professor, an associate professor, or as an assistant professor at a California dental college approved by the board. “Full-time employment” as used in this section means a minimum of four days per week. “Part-time employment” as used in this section, means a maximum of three days a week. (c) The holder shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter applicable to licensed dentists with the exception that the special permit shall be renewed annually.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026