California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1311 into law, allowing unlicensed dental assistants in California to complete required infection control training through virtual courses.
Five notes:
- The law, which went into effect Sept. 21, gives unlicensed dental assistants three ways to satisfy the state’s infection control training requirement before performing duties that involve exposure to blood and saliva: the Dental Assisting National Board’s Infection Control exam; a new, six-hour virtual course from the California Dental Association or another accredited provider; or an in-person, board-approved course.
- The CDA said Oct. 7 that the change addresses a pain point created by SB 1453, a 2025 bill that required unlicensed dental assistants to complete an in-person infection control course. Practices — particularly in rural and underserved areas — struggled to find in-person training options for new hires, creating hiring delays.
- CDA noted the requirement put dental practices at a staffing disadvantage compared to medical assistant employers, who face no equivalent pre-employment course requirement despite working in similar clinical environments.
- The eight-hour in-person course remains required for registered dental assistant licensure.
- CDA said it is preparing to launch its own six-hour, virtual on-demand infection control training course for members.
