AB 1952 Outreach Toolkit

Overview

Assembly Bill 1952 (AB 1952), authored by Assemblymember Berman, proposes to require the Dental Hygiene Board of California to create an alternative licensure pathway for internationally trained dentists to practice as dental hygienists in California.

While CDHA supports thoughtful solutions that strengthen California’s oral health workforce, AB 1952 takes the wrong approach. This bill places inappropriate regulatory responsibility on the Dental Hygiene Board and shifts financial, professional, and public-safety burdens onto dental hygienists.

This toolkit provides CDHA members with the resources needed to understand the issue, communicate effectively with legislators, and advocate for a fair and appropriate solution.

CDHA Position Statement

The California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) must oppose AB 1952 unless amended.

AB 1952 would require the Dental Hygiene Board of California to oversee and regulate a licensure pathway for internationally trained dentists—individuals whose education, training, and professional scope are fundamentally different from those of dental hygienists. Dental hygiene education is not comparable to dental education, and foreign dental education is not equivalent to California’s dental hygiene curriculum or clinical standards.

Dental hygiene programs focus on preventive care, periodontal therapy, public health, patient education, and pharmacology. Allowing foreign dental training to substitute for an approved dental hygiene education pathway risks creating uneven standards of preparation and could directly impact the quality and consistency of care provided to the public.

Further, AB 1952 would impose new programmatic and oversight costs on the Dental Hygiene Board, which would ultimately be passed on to licensed dental hygienists—forcing hygienists to subsidize a program designed for dentists. This is unworkable and unjust.

Why This Matters to Dental Hygienists

AB 1952 directly affects the dental hygiene profession in several critical ways:

• Professional Integrity: Dental hygienists complete specialized education and clinical training that is distinct from dental education. This bill undermines the value and rigor of dental hygiene licensure.
• Regulatory Overreach: Oversight of dentists—whether domestic or international—belongs with the Dental Board of California, not the Dental Hygiene Board.
• Financial Impact: The cost of developing and administering a new licensure pathway could fall on dental hygienists through increased fees and regulatory burden.
• Workforce Reality: California already produces more than 800 new registered dental hygienists annually. Workforce challenges are driven by regional cost-of-living issues, workplace culture, part-time positions, and lack of benefits—not a shortage of qualified hygienists.
• Better Solutions Exist: CDHA supports the creation of a restricted dental license for internationally trained dentists, regulated by the Dental Board of California, allowing them to work while completing requirements for full licensure—without compromising dental hygiene standards.

Take Action: Outreach Resources

Use the tools below to help educate policymakers and advocate against AB 1952 unless it is amended to reflect an appropriate regulatory solution.

• AB 1952 Position Statement: A comprehensive summary of CDHA’s opposition and recommended alternative approach.
• Draft Email / Letter / Call Script: A customizable template for contacting your Assemblymember or Senator directly.
• AB 1952 Talking Points: Clear, concise messaging outlining CDHA’s key concerns with AB 1952, including workforce data, education standards, and why the bill should be opposed unless amended.
• Dental Hygiene Workforce & Education Analysis: An evidence-based analysis of workforce data and accreditation standards relevant to AB 1952.
• AB 1952 Bill Text: Review the bill language
• Find Your Legislator: Identify your elected representatives to take action.

Stand With CDHA

AB 1952 is not about access—it is about accountability, appropriate regulation, and protecting the integrity of the dental hygiene profession. CDHA urges members to stay informed, speak out, and engage in advocacy to ensure solutions that support both patient safety and professional fairness.

Together, our collective voice makes an impact.