(a) The dental hygiene board may, in its sole discretion, issue a probationary license to an applicant who has satisfied all requirements for licensure as a registered dental hygienist, a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or a registered dental hygienist in extended functions. The dental hygiene board may require, as a term or condition of issuing the probationary license, that the applicant comply with certain additional requirements, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Successfully completing a professional competency examination.

(2) Submitting to a medical or psychological evaluation.

(3) Submitting to continuing medical or psychological treatment.

(4) Abstaining from the use of alcohol or drugs.

(5) Submitting to random fluid testing for alcohol or controlled substance abuse.

(6) Submitting to continuing participation in a dental hygiene board-approved rehabilitation program.

(7) Restricting the type or circumstances of practice.

(8) Submitting to continuing education and coursework.

(9) Complying with requirements regarding notifying the dental hygiene board of any change of employer or employment.

(10) Complying with probation monitoring.

(11) Complying with all laws and regulations governing the practice of dental hygiene.

(12) Limiting the applicant’s practice to a supervised, structured environment in which the applicant’s activities are supervised by a specified person.

(b) The term of a probationary license is three years. During the term of the license, the licensee may petition the dental hygiene board for a modification of a term or condition of the license or for the issuance of a license that is not probationary.

(c) The proceedings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the dental hygiene board shall have all the powers granted in that chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 456, Sec. 26. (SB 786) Effective January 1, 2020.)