Business and Professions Code section 1755
(a)
A course in infection control is one that has as its main purpose providing theory and clinical application in infection control practices and principles where the protection of the public is its primary focus.(b)
An unlicensed dental assistant not enrolled in a board-approved program for registered dental assisting or an alternative dental assisting program as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1741, shall successfully complete either the Dental Assisting National Board’s Infection Control examination or one of the following infection control certification courses:(1)
A board-approved eight-hour infection control course provided by a board-approved registered dental assisting education program.(2)
A board-approved eight-hour infection control course pursuant to Section 1070.6 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.(3)
(A)Notwithstanding Section 1070, 1070.1, and 1070.6 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, a course with at least four hours of didactic instruction, as described in subdivision (e), and at least two hours of laboratory instruction using video or a series of video training tools, all of which may be delivered using asynchronous, synchronous, or online learning mechanisms or a combination thereof, offered by the California Dental Association or a provider approved by the California Dental Association, the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education.(B)
For purposes of this paragraph, “laboratory instruction” means instruction in which students perform procedures using study models, mannequins, or other simulation methods.(c)
A course shall establish specific instructional objectives. Instruction shall provide the content necessary for students to make safe and ethical judgments regarding infection control and asepsis.(d)
Objective evaluation criteria shall be used for measuring student progress. Students shall be provided with specific performance objectives and the evaluation criteria that will be used for didactic testing.(e)
Didactic instruction shall include, at a minimum, all of the following as they relate to Cal/OSHA regulations, as set forth in Section 300 to 344.85, inclusive, of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, and the board’s Minimum Standards for Infection Control, as set forth in Section 1005 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations:(1)
Basic dental science and microbiology as they relate to infection control in dentistry.(2)
Legal and ethical aspects of infection control procedures.(3)
Terms and protocols specified in Section 1005 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations regarding the minimum standards for infection control.(4)
Principles of modes of disease transmission and prevention.(5)
Principles, techniques, and protocols of hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, surface barriers and disinfection, sterilization, sanitation, and hazardous chemicals associated with infection control.(6)
Principles and protocols of sterilizer monitoring and the proper loading, unloading, storage, and transportation of instruments to work area.(7)
Principles and protocols associated with sharps management.(8)
Principles and protocols of infection control for laboratory areas.(9)
Principles and protocols of waterline maintenance.(10)
Principles and protocols of regulated and nonregulated waste management.(11)
Principles and protocols related to injury and illness prevention, hazard communication, general office safety, exposure control, postexposure requirements, and monitoring systems for radiation safety and sterilization systems.(f)
Upon successful completion of the course, students shall receive a certificate of completion as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 1741.(g)
The board may adopt regulations to implement this section.
Source:
Section 1755, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=1755. (updated Sep. 14, 2026; accessed Sep. 21, 2026).
