California Code, Financial Code - FIN § 3221

(a) An applicant shall not be denied a license on the basis of a criminal conviction, or on the basis of acts underlying a criminal conviction, if the convicted person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code or has been granted clemency or a pardon by a state or federal executive.

(b) An applicant shall not be denied a license on the basis of a conviction that has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, or 1203.425 of the Penal Code.  An applicant who has a conviction that has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, 1203.41, or 1203.425 of the Penal Code shall provide the commissioner with proof of the dismissal if it is not reflected in the applicant's criminal history record report.

(c) An applicant shall not be denied a license on the basis of an arrest that resulted in a disposition other than a conviction, including an arrest that resulted in an infraction, citation, or juvenile adjudication.

(d) If an applicant is denied a license based solely or in part on conviction history, the applicant shall be notified in writing of all of the following: