California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §1960: For the first offense, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonme

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A first offense involving fraudulent dental hygiene credentials or unlicensed practice is a misdemeanor; a second or subsequent offense is a felony punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text
For the first offense, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for not to exceed six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment, 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 that fine and imprisonment, who does any of the following: (a) Sells or barters or offers to sell or barter a dental hygiene degree or transcript or a license issued under, or purporting to be issued under, laws regulating licensure of registered dental hygienists, registered dental hygienists in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienists in extended functions. (b) Purchases or procures by barter a diploma, license, or transcript with intent that it shall be used as evidence of the holder’s qualification to practice dental hygiene, or in fraud of the laws regulating the practice of dental hygiene. (c) With fraudulent intent, makes, attempts to make, counterfeits, or materially alters a diploma, certificate, or transcript. (d) Uses, or attempts or causes to be used, any diploma, certificate, or transcript that has been purchased, fraudulently issued, counterfeited, or materially altered or in order to procure licensure as a registered dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist in alternative practice, or registered dental hygienist in extended functions. (e) In an affidavit required of an applicant for an examination or license under this article, willfully makes a false statement in a material regard. (f) Practices dental hygiene or offers to practice dental hygiene, as defined in this article, either without a license, or when his or her license has been revoked or suspended. (g) Under any false, assumed or fictitious name, either as an individual, firm, corporation or otherwise, or any name other than the name under which he or she is licensed, practices, advertises, or in any other manner indicates that he or she practices or will practice dental hygiene, except a name specified in a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 1962.

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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.