California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §1701: (a) Any person is for the first offense guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by impris

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

First offense is a misdemeanor; second or subsequent offense is a felony. The statute prohibits selling fake dental licenses, counterfeiting dental credentials, practicing dentistry without a license, and related fraud.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Any person is for the first offense guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for not to exceed six months, or both, and for the second or a subsequent offense is guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) nor more than six thousand dollars ($6,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by both such fine and imprisonment, who: (1) Sells or barters or offers to sell or barter any dental degree or any license or transcript made or purporting to be made pursuant to the laws regulating the license and registration of dentists. (2) Purchases or procures by barter any such diploma, license or transcript with intent that the same shall be used in evidence of the holder’s qualification to practice dentistry, or in fraud of the laws regulating such practice. (3) With fraudulent intent, makes or attempts to make, counterfeits or alters in a material regard any such diploma, certificate or transcript. (4) Uses, attempts or causes to be used, any such diploma, certificate or transcript that has been purchased, fraudulently issued, counterfeited or materially altered, either as a license to practice dentistry, or in order to procure registration as a dentist. (5) In an affidavit, required of an applicant for examination, license or registration under this chapter, willfully makes a false statement in a material regard. (6) Practices dentistry or offers to practice dentistry as it is defined in this chapter, either without a license, or when the license has been revoked or suspended. (7) Under any false, assumed or fictitious name, either as an individual, firm, corporation or otherwise, or any name other than the name under which the license is issued, the licensee practices, advertises or in any other manner indicates that the licensee is practicing or will practice dentistry, except such name as is specified in a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 1701.5. (b) The board may post an administrative citation issued pursuant to Section 148 on the board’s internet website for an offense described in subdivision (a).

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.