RDHAP LAW AND ETHICS COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Except as otherwise provided in this article, an expired license may be renewed at
any time within - ✔✔five years after its expiration by filing an application for renewal on
a form prescribed by the dental hygiene board and payment of all accrued renewal and
delinquency fees
✔✔If the license is renewed after its expiration, the licensee, as a condition precedent of
renewal, shall - ✔✔also pay the delinquency fee prescribed by this article. Renewal
under this section shall be effective on the date on which the application is filed, on the
date on which the renewal fee is paid, or on the date on which the delinquency fee, if
any, is paid, whichever last occurs. If so renewed, the license shall continue in effect
until the expiration date provided in Section 1935 that next occurs after the effective
date of the renewal.
✔✔True or False
A license issued under this article and a license issued under this chapter to a
registered dental hygienist, to a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or to a
registered dental hygienist in extended functions may be revoked or suspended by the
dental hygiene board for any reason specified in this article for the suspension or
revocation of a license to practice dental hygiene. - ✔✔True
✔✔A licensee may have their license revoked or suspended, or may be reprimanded or
placed on probation by the dental hygiene board for - ✔✔unprofessional conduct,
incompetence, gross negligence, repeated acts of negligence in the licensee's
profession, receiving a license by mistake, or for any other cause applicable to the
licentiate provided in this article. The proceedings under this article 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 therein.
✔✔True or False
A licensee may have their license revoked or suspended, or may be reprimanded or
placed on probation by the dental hygiene board, for conviction of a crime substantially
related to the licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties. The record of conviction or a
copy certified by the clerk of the court or by the judge in whose court the conviction
occurred shall be conclusive evidence of conviction. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
The dental hygiene board shall undertake proceedings under this section upon the
receipt of a certified copy of the record of conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a
,conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge of a felony or of any
misdemeanor substantially related to the licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties is
deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section. - ✔✔True
✔✔The dental hygiene board may reprimand a licensee or order a license suspended
or revoked, or placed on probation or may decline to issue a license, when any of the
following occur: - ✔✔(1) The time for appeal has elapsed.
(2) The judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal.
(3) An order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence,
irrespective of a subsequent order under any provision of the Penal Code, including, but
not limited to, Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, allowing a person to withdraw their
plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or
dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment.
✔✔An association, partnership, corporation, or group of three or more registered dental
hygienists in alternative practice engaging in practice under a name that would
otherwise be in violation of Section 1960 may practice under that name if the
association, partnership, corporation, or group: - ✔✔Holds an unexpired, unsuspended,
and unrevoked permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section:
✔✔An individual registered dental hygienist in alternative practice or a pair of registered
dental hygienists in alternative practice who practice dental hygiene under a name that
would otherwise violate Section 1960 may practice under that name if: - ✔✔The
licensees hold a valid permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section.
✔✔The dental hygiene board shall issue a written permit authorizing the holder to use a
name specified in the permit in connection with the holder's practice if the dental
hygiene board finds all of the following: - ✔✔(1) The applicant or applicants are duly
licensed registered dental hygienists in alternative practice.
(2) The place where the applicant or applicants practice is owned or leased by the
applicant or applicants, and the practice conducted at the place is wholly owned and
entirely controlled by the applicant or applicants and is an approved area or practice
setting pursuant to Section 1926.
(3) The name under which the applicant or applicants propose to operate contains at
least one of the following designations: "dental hygiene group," "dental hygiene
practice," or "dental hygiene office," contains the family name of one or more of the
past, present, or prospective associates, partners, shareholders, or members of the
group, and is in conformity with Section 651 and not in violation of subdivisions (i) and
(l) of Section 1950.5.
, (4) All licensed persons practicing at the location designated in the application hold valid
licenses and no charges of unprofessional conduct are pending against any person
practicing at that location.
✔✔True or false
A permit issued under this section shall expire and become invalid unless renewed in
the manner provided for in this article for the renewal of permits issued under this
article. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
A permit issued under this section may be revoked or suspended if the dental hygiene
board finds that any requirement for original issuance of a permit is no longer being
fulfilled by the permitholder. Proceedings for revocation or suspension shall be
governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section
11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
If charges of unprofessional conduct are filed against the holder of a permit issued
under this section, or a member of an association, partnership, group, or corporation to
whom a permit has been issued under this section, proceedings shall not be
commenced for revocation or suspension of the permit until a final determination of the
charges of unprofessional conduct, unless the charges have resulted in revocation or
suspension of a license. - ✔✔True
✔✔"Standard precautions": - ✔✔are a group of infection prevention practices that apply
to all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status, in any setting in
which healthcare is delivered. These include hand hygiene, use of gloves, gown, mask,
eye protection, or face shield, depending on the anticipated exposure, and safe
handling of sharps. Standard precautions shall be used for care of all patients
regardless of their diagnoses or personal infectious status.
✔✔"Critical items" are - ✔✔confer a high risk for infection if they are contaminated with
any microorganism. These include all instruments, devices, and other items used to
penetrate soft tissue or bone.
✔✔"Semi-critical items" are - ✔✔instruments, devices and other items that are not used
to penetrate soft tissue or bone, but contact oral mucous membranes, non-intact skin or
other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
✔✔"Non-critical items" are - ✔✔instruments, devices, equipment, and surfaces that
come in contact with soil, debris, saliva, blood, OPIM and intact skin, but not oral
mucous membranes.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Except as otherwise provided in this article, an expired license may be renewed at
any time within - ✔✔five years after its expiration by filing an application for renewal on
a form prescribed by the dental hygiene board and payment of all accrued renewal and
delinquency fees
✔✔If the license is renewed after its expiration, the licensee, as a condition precedent of
renewal, shall - ✔✔also pay the delinquency fee prescribed by this article. Renewal
under this section shall be effective on the date on which the application is filed, on the
date on which the renewal fee is paid, or on the date on which the delinquency fee, if
any, is paid, whichever last occurs. If so renewed, the license shall continue in effect
until the expiration date provided in Section 1935 that next occurs after the effective
date of the renewal.
✔✔True or False
A license issued under this article and a license issued under this chapter to a
registered dental hygienist, to a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or to a
registered dental hygienist in extended functions may be revoked or suspended by the
dental hygiene board for any reason specified in this article for the suspension or
revocation of a license to practice dental hygiene. - ✔✔True
✔✔A licensee may have their license revoked or suspended, or may be reprimanded or
placed on probation by the dental hygiene board for - ✔✔unprofessional conduct,
incompetence, gross negligence, repeated acts of negligence in the licensee's
profession, receiving a license by mistake, or for any other cause applicable to the
licentiate provided in this article. The proceedings under this article 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 therein.
✔✔True or False
A licensee may have their license revoked or suspended, or may be reprimanded or
placed on probation by the dental hygiene board, for conviction of a crime substantially
related to the licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties. The record of conviction or a
copy certified by the clerk of the court or by the judge in whose court the conviction
occurred shall be conclusive evidence of conviction. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
The dental hygiene board shall undertake proceedings under this section upon the
receipt of a certified copy of the record of conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a
,conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge of a felony or of any
misdemeanor substantially related to the licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties is
deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section. - ✔✔True
✔✔The dental hygiene board may reprimand a licensee or order a license suspended
or revoked, or placed on probation or may decline to issue a license, when any of the
following occur: - ✔✔(1) The time for appeal has elapsed.
(2) The judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal.
(3) An order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence,
irrespective of a subsequent order under any provision of the Penal Code, including, but
not limited to, Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, allowing a person to withdraw their
plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or
dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment.
✔✔An association, partnership, corporation, or group of three or more registered dental
hygienists in alternative practice engaging in practice under a name that would
otherwise be in violation of Section 1960 may practice under that name if the
association, partnership, corporation, or group: - ✔✔Holds an unexpired, unsuspended,
and unrevoked permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section:
✔✔An individual registered dental hygienist in alternative practice or a pair of registered
dental hygienists in alternative practice who practice dental hygiene under a name that
would otherwise violate Section 1960 may practice under that name if: - ✔✔The
licensees hold a valid permit issued by the dental hygiene board under this section.
✔✔The dental hygiene board shall issue a written permit authorizing the holder to use a
name specified in the permit in connection with the holder's practice if the dental
hygiene board finds all of the following: - ✔✔(1) The applicant or applicants are duly
licensed registered dental hygienists in alternative practice.
(2) The place where the applicant or applicants practice is owned or leased by the
applicant or applicants, and the practice conducted at the place is wholly owned and
entirely controlled by the applicant or applicants and is an approved area or practice
setting pursuant to Section 1926.
(3) The name under which the applicant or applicants propose to operate contains at
least one of the following designations: "dental hygiene group," "dental hygiene
practice," or "dental hygiene office," contains the family name of one or more of the
past, present, or prospective associates, partners, shareholders, or members of the
group, and is in conformity with Section 651 and not in violation of subdivisions (i) and
(l) of Section 1950.5.
, (4) All licensed persons practicing at the location designated in the application hold valid
licenses and no charges of unprofessional conduct are pending against any person
practicing at that location.
✔✔True or false
A permit issued under this section shall expire and become invalid unless renewed in
the manner provided for in this article for the renewal of permits issued under this
article. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
A permit issued under this section may be revoked or suspended if the dental hygiene
board finds that any requirement for original issuance of a permit is no longer being
fulfilled by the permitholder. Proceedings for revocation or suspension shall be
governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section
11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False
If charges of unprofessional conduct are filed against the holder of a permit issued
under this section, or a member of an association, partnership, group, or corporation to
whom a permit has been issued under this section, proceedings shall not be
commenced for revocation or suspension of the permit until a final determination of the
charges of unprofessional conduct, unless the charges have resulted in revocation or
suspension of a license. - ✔✔True
✔✔"Standard precautions": - ✔✔are a group of infection prevention practices that apply
to all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status, in any setting in
which healthcare is delivered. These include hand hygiene, use of gloves, gown, mask,
eye protection, or face shield, depending on the anticipated exposure, and safe
handling of sharps. Standard precautions shall be used for care of all patients
regardless of their diagnoses or personal infectious status.
✔✔"Critical items" are - ✔✔confer a high risk for infection if they are contaminated with
any microorganism. These include all instruments, devices, and other items used to
penetrate soft tissue or bone.
✔✔"Semi-critical items" are - ✔✔instruments, devices and other items that are not used
to penetrate soft tissue or bone, but contact oral mucous membranes, non-intact skin or
other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
✔✔"Non-critical items" are - ✔✔instruments, devices, equipment, and surfaces that
come in contact with soil, debris, saliva, blood, OPIM and intact skin, but not oral
mucous membranes.
