California Business And Professions Code Section 1917

The committee shall license as a registered dental hygienist a person who satisfies all of the following requirements: (a) Completion of an educational program for registered dental hygienists, approved by the committee, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and conducted by a degree-granting, postsecondary institution. (b) Satisfactory performance on a clinical examination and an examination in California law and ethics as prescribed by the committee. (c) Satisfactory completion of a national written dental hygiene examination approved by the committee.