California Dental Practice Act

To be licensed as a dentist in the State of California, an application must be submitted to the Board of Dental Examiners along with: [16 CCR 1028]

the application fee
satisfactory evidence of graduation from an approved dental school,
two classifiable sets of fingerprints
any records of any previous dental practice and verification of license status in other states
satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility or of liability insurance for the clinical examination.
Liability insurance that is considered satisfactory must be either the occurrence-type liability insurance or claims-made type with a minimum five years reporting endorsement. It must be issued by an insurance carrier authorized by the Insurance Commissioner, in the amount of $100,000 for a single occurrence and $300,000 for multiple occurrences. It must cover injuries sustained by a dental patient in the licensing examination as a result of the applicant's actions. A $300,000 surety bond posted with the Board would be considered satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Applications must be filed with the Board at least 45 days before the date of the examination. If the applicant is expected to graduate less than 45 days before the examination, a certification from the school must accompany the application. Certification of actual graduation must be received by the Board at least 15 days before the examination.