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Dental Hygiene Board cites Cabrillo College, orders remediation and three‑year probation
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Summary
The Dental Hygiene Board of California voted to require Cabrillo College’s dental hygiene program to make students complete missing clinical hours, fined the program $5,000 and placed it on three years’ probation with quarterly reporting and potential site visits following an unannounced Feb. 12, 2026 site visit that identified multiple deficiencies.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California voted March 28 to require Cabrillo College’s dental hygiene program to ensure the class of 2026 completes all deficient clinical hours and competencies before graduation, issue a $5,000 citation and place the program on a three‑year probation with quarterly reporting and the possibility of announced and unannounced site visits.
Julie Elginer, a board member who moved the action, said the site visit showed “repeated violations of California laws, regulations, and CODA standards,” and recommended a combination of remediation, fine and probation to protect patients and students. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote.
Board staff reported an unannounced site visit to Cabrillo College on Feb. 12, 2026 that identified eight violations, the most serious being that some students had not completed required clinical hours and competency requirements the board and accreditation standards require. The board’s motion requires corrective measures, quarterly reports on progress and reassessment of the program; staff also may conduct announced or unannounced follow‑up visits during the probation period.
Member Nicholas Quach, who does not sit on the education committee, described the findings he observed in the committee’s review as “incredibly embarrassing” and urged the board to ensure protective steps for patients and students moving forward.
The board’s action formalizes both disciplinary and remediation steps rather than merely issuing guidance. The decision followed the education committee’s earlier review of the site‑visit report and reflects the board’s statutory mandate to protect consumers and ensure graduates are competent at licensure.
Next steps: staff will track quarterly reports from Cabrillo and schedule follow‑up site visits as specified in the board motion; the board will receive updates on the program’s progress during the probation period.
