One of the leading dental schools in the world, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry offers an RDAEF program for licensed RDAs and RDAEFs in California. This comprehensive program satisfies the Dental Board of California’s requirements for preparing RDAs and existing RDAEFs for extended functions licensure. Our program goes above and beyond the board’s requirements for instructional time to ensure participants receive the highest quality training and education available today and to prepare them for these new responsibilities. 

Held at the Dugoni School of Dentistry’s state-of-the-art campus in San Francisco, this in-person program will be led by dental faculty members from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Participants will receive the same outstanding quality of education that predoctoral students receive at our premier dental school. 

The Dugoni School of Dentistry Difference 

• A comprehensive program with 410 hours of instruction (342 for existing RDAEFs), combining in-person lectures, online modules, group discussions, hands-on laboratory and live patient clinical experiences 
• Certification program for both RDAs and existing RDAEFs at a fully accredited dental school 
• Personalized instruction led by dental faculty members from the Dugoni School of Dentistry 
• The only Dental Board of California-approved provider of the RDAEF program at a dental school in Northern California 
• Interest-free, flexible payment plans available to qualified candidates 
• Funding available through the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan® 
• Convenient weekend schedule at the Dugoni School of Dentistry’s state-of-the-art campus in San Francisco 

Modules and Dates 

The RDAEF program is divided into three modules held on Saturdays and Sundays—two to three weekends per month—throughout the eight-month period. Both RDAs and existing RDAEFs maintain the same course schedule for Modules 1 and 2. However, existing RDAEFs will take fewer classes in Module 3.* In addition, students will be required to complete restorations in their supervising dentist’s office.

MODULE 1 
September 12, 2026–November 22, 2026 (6 weekends)

MODULE 2 
December 5, 2026 – January 31, 2027 (5 weekends)

MODULE 3 
February 6, 2027 – May 23, 2027 (9 weekends)

Program for RDAs 

This 410-hour program trains and prepares currently licensed RDAs to perform all of the new procedures in extended functions which include: 

• Performing patient oral health evaluations, charting and evaluating soft tissue, classifying occlusion and myofunctional evaluation 
• Performing oral health assessments in community and school-based settings under the direction of a dentist, RDH or RDHAP 
• Sizing and fitting endodontic master points and accessory points 
• Making final impressions for tooth-borne removable prostheses 
• Polishing and contouring existing amalgam restorations 
• Placing, contouring, finishing and adjusting all direct restorations 
• Adjusting and cementing permanent indirect restorations 

Additionally, participants will be trained to perform: 

• Cord retraction and final impressions procedures for indirect restorations 
• Fitting and cementing endodontic master points and accessory points 
• Making final impressions for permanent indirect restorations 
• All other procedures authorized and adopted by the Dental Board* 

*Please see Section 1753.6 of the California Business and Professions Code 

Program for Existing RDAEFs 

This 342-hour program updates existing RDAEFs (who were licensed prior to January 1, 2010) in the new, allowable procedures for RDAEFs described above. RDAEFs who successfully complete this program will be able to perform all of the expanded duties approved for currently licensed California RDAEFs. 

Tuition and Fees 

Tuition for the 2026-2027 RDAEF program is $22,495 for RDAs and $18,495 for existing RDAEFs, along with a student kit fee of $2,995. Flexible, interest-free payment plans are available to qualified applicants, and funding may also be available through the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan.® Prospective students are required to make a $2,000 nonrefundable deposit when submitting their online registration for the program. 

Application deadline: August 10, 2026 

Visit dental.pacific.edu/RDAEF for more information about program requirements, tuition, modules and to register online. 

Questions?
Contact Continuing Dental Education at 415.929.6486 or cedental@pacific.edu.