Texas Dental Hygienist License

Last Updated:
Table of Contents: hide

Types of Hygienist License in Texas

All dental hygienist license applicants must use the most current version of the paper application to avoid process delays. October 2020 is the latest version, but you should always check to ensure you have the most recent version.

Hygienist License – By Exam

General Qualifications for Licensure

Anyone hoping to get this type of license must meet the following requirements:

  • Should be at least 18 years old,
  • Must have graduated from an accredited high school or must hold a certificate equivalent to a GED.
  • Must have graduated with:
  • A degree in dental hygiene from a college of dental hygiene or CODA-accredited school, or
  • A degree in dentistry from a CODA-accredited dental school, or
  • A degree or certificate in dental hygiene from a CODA-accredited dental school, and
  • Must have passed the American Dental Association Joint Commission examination for dental hygienists, and
  • Must have passed a clinical examination designated by a regional examining board in the last five years.

Hygienist License – Faculty

General Qualifications for Licensure

To get this hygienist license, you must pay the fee set by the board and meet the following SBDE requirements:

  • You must have graduated from a dental hygiene school, and
  • You must be a member of a dental school faculty accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) that provides direct patient care, and
  • The faculty position must be full-time or part-time and salaried, and
  • You must get an endorsement to apply for the hygienist license. This endorsement can be from the department chair, the dean, or the program director in your faculty’s school.

Hygienist License – By Credentials

General Qualifications for Licensure

To qualify for this license, you must:

  • Have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental or dental hygiene school, and
  • Have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and
  • Have passed the regional dental hygiene clinical exam, and
  • Have practiced dentistry or dental hygiene:
  • As a dental educator at least five years before applying for the dental hygienist license, or
  • At least three out of the five years before applying for the dental hygienist license, and
  • Not have any disciplinary actions or felony convictions to your name,
  • Possess a hygienist license in another state, the District of Columbia, and another territory of the United States. The license must be valid and in good standing.
  • Have completed at least 12 hours of continuing education in the last 12 months in line with TSBDE (Texas State Board of Dental Examiners) Rule §104.1,
  • Have finished the TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment in the 12 months before applying for the dental hygienist license,
  • Possess BLS CPR certification complete with a demonstration of practical skills gained from the course.

Additional Information

To obtain and maintain your license, you must:

  • Demonstrate your CPR skills on a manikin and complete a written assessment of CPR skills. All CPR courses undertaken must have a practical side to be acceptable by the TSBDE, and you must pass the demonstrations.
  • Inform the TSBDE within 60 days if you change your address.

Texas Dental License Application

Do you want to get a dental license in Texas? You must follow the steps below:

Step 1. Graduate from an Approved Dental Hygiene School

To get a dental hygienist license, you must possess an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from an ADA-accredited school. These programs combine clinical training and didactic coursework. As such, you will delve into the following fields during your study:

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Contemporary dental hygiene
  • Dental hygienist clinical experience
  • Dental nutrition
  • Dental radiology
  • Microbiology
  • Oral pathology
  • Pharmacology for the dental hygienist
  • Preventative dental hygiene
  • Sociology, psychology, and communication

Step 2. Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)

Once you complete or are close to completing your ADA-approved dental hygiene associate or bachelor’s degree, you can register for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The ADA sponsors this examination through the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). The exam comprises 350 multi-choice questions that delve into theoretical and hypothetical learning materials, including:

  • Community health
  • Obtaining and interpreting x-rays
  • Patient assessment
  • Performance of periodontal procedures
  • Preventative agents
  • Professional responsibility
  • Research principles
  • Supportive treatment
  • Supportive treatment services

You can take the exam at various locations in Texas as well as in neighboring states.

Step 3. Pass an Approved Regional or State Dental Hygiene Clinical Examination

You must undertake a dental hygienist clinical examination now that you have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. The exam covers various segments, including:

  • Intra and extra-oral assessment procedures,
  • Periodontal examination and probing techniques,
  • Removal of supra-gingival deposits and calculus, and

You can take your exam in any of the following TSBDE-approved agencies:

Step 4. Apply for a Dental Hygienist License with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners

You are now close to qualifying for a dental hygienist license. But before you can make an application, you must meet the following requirements:

Background Investigation

Some state and national criminal convictions can hamper you from getting a dental hygienist license. The TSBDE will want to delve into your criminal history, and to facilitate this, you must complete fingerprint criminal record checking. If you pass, you will be one step closer to licensure.

Basic Life Support CPR Certification

The board requires that you possess both theoretical and practical CPR skills. Thus, you must undertake a CPR course where you demonstrate your skills on a manikin and complete a written assessment on CPR skills. The course provider will present you with a certificate which you will use to apply for your license.

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Jurisprudence Assessment

All dental hygienists must observe the Dental Practice Act and the rules and regulations set out by the Board of Dental Examiners. The TSBDE will want to confirm that you understand the rules which apply to you. Thus, you must complete the Jurisprudence Assessment online before submitting your license application.

Submitting an Application

If you meet the requirements set out above, you can now proceed with your dental hygienist license application to the TSBDE. You will need to include:

  • Dental Hygienist License Application,
  • A certified or notarized copy of your hygienist school diploma from an ADA-approved school,
  • Proof that you passed the online jurisprudence assessment,
  • Evidence that you passed the regional or state dental hygienist clinical exam, and
  • Your official score from the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

Once you present these application documents, you will wait an average of six to eight weeks before you hear back from the board. The processing time could be longer if you use an outdated application form, so it’s advisable to use the most recent version. If your application is successful, you can start working as a dental hygienist right away.

To get an edge over the competition and broaden your skillset, you can consider the following certifications too:

Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification

You must hold a dental hygienist license to apply for this certification, enabling you to administer nitrous oxide to patients. To get the certification, you must undertake a nitrous oxide monitoring course at an approved school. You can then apply for the Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification from the TSBDE. Once you get it, you do not need to renew it over the years.

Out-of-State Candidates

Dental hygienists working in other states can obtain dental hygienist licenses in Texas based on their credentials. To get a license this way, you must send the following supporting documents to the Professional Background Information Service (PBIS).

  • Proof that you have graduated from an ADA-accredited dental or dental hygiene school,
  • Evidence that you have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination,
  • Have passed the state or regional dental hygiene clinical exam,
  • Proof that you have practiced dentistry or dental hygiene:
  • As a dental educator at least five years before applying for the dental hygienist license, or
  • At least three out of the five years before applying for the dental hygienist license, or
  • Hold a temporary dental hygienist license if you do not meet the two requirements above.
  • Results of a background check to prove that you do not have any disciplinary actions or felony convictions to your name,
  • Proof that you possess a hygienist license in another state, the District of Columbia, and another territory of the United States. The license must be valid and in good standing.
  • Proof that you have completed at least 12 hours of continuing education in the last 12 months in line with Texas Standards
  • Proof that you have finished the TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment,
  • Proof that you possess BLS CPR certification, complete with demonstrating practical skills gained from the course.

The TSBDE works with the PBIS to verify the information on your documents. If everything checks out, you will receive a verification letter from the PBIS. You can then submit this letter and your application for licensure based on credentials to the TSBDE.

Temporary Dental Hygienist License for Out-of-State Candidates

If you meet all the out-of-state candidates’ requirements save for the work experience, you can still get a dental hygienist license. However, it will be temporary to enable you to work and meet the required work experience to convert your license into a regular dental hygienist license. To hold this license, you must work with an employer whose business is a non-profit corporation that accepts Medicaid patients.

You can apply for this license by applying for a temporary license to the TSBDE. It expires every year, enabling you to renew it until you meet the required work experience for a regular dental hygienist license.

Step 5. Maintain Your Dental Hygienist License

To maintain your dental hygienist license, you must renew it upon expiry. The initial license will expire within 6 to 18 months from the date of issue. Subsequent licenses will expire every year, thus prompting you to renew your license annually.

To renew your license, you must earn at least 12 hours of continuing education each year. Suppose you earn more than 12 hours of continuing education. You can carry the extra hours over to the following year. Please note that the state boasts at least 22 continuing education providers, and you can choose any board-approved school, including:

Please note that for your continuing hours to be valid; they must meet the following criteria:

Type of Education Number of Hours
Clinical Care- Technical or Scientific Teaching At least 8 hours
Risk management Up to 4 hours
Self-study courses Up to 6 hours
OSHA & CPR N/A

Besides the continuing education hours, you must also take the jurisprudence assessment once every three years. Please note that this time is not part of continuing education, and you thus cannot treat it as such.

If you want to undertake more courses and increase your networking reach, you can always consult the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association (TDHA). Continuing education providers can also guide you on other avenues to broaden your education and career paths.

The dental hygienist career has taken off in Dallas, as shown by the number of licensed dental hygienists in the state below:

City Region Number of Licensed Dental Hygienists
Dallas Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area 4,210
Dallas Dallas-Plano-Irving metropolitan area 2,910
Houston Houston metropolitan area 2,650
Fort Worth Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area 1,300
Austin Metropolitan area 820
El Paso   380
McAllen McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area 220
Beaumont Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area 180
Corpus Christi   150
Fort Hood Metropolitan Area 140
Lubbock   130
Longview   120

Purpose of a Fingerprint Criminal Background Check

All dental professionals who want licenses to work in Texas must complete criminal background checks. The TSBDE requires that you provide your fingerprints to MorphoTrust (IdentoGO). The FBI and the Texas Department of Safety then assess the prints and send the results to the TSBDE. Only then can the board determine your eligibility as a dental hygienist.

Please note that the board does not accept results mailed to you and will only consider those obtained through the process outlined. Even if you have a previous FBI background check, the TSBDE will not use it and instead will insist on a current check using its standard procedures.

Texas Dental License Lookup

The TSBDE maintains a website where you can verify the information on dental hygienist licenses. TSBDE employees regularly update and secure the website to ensure that the data is updated and unaltered. Click here to perform a license search.

Texas Dental Hygiene Schools

Do you want to embark on a dental hygienist education program in Texas? The list below takes you through board-approved schools in the region where you can kickstart your career:

Dental Hygienist Renewal Instructions

In the past, dental hygienist license holders renewed their licenses every year. However, recent rule changes have since changed the renewal terms to every two years. To enforce this, the TSBDE relies on a system that distributes renewals, changing one-year periods to two-year terms.

As the system stabilizes, applicants requested to pay one-year renewal fees will do so, while those asked to pay for two-year terms will do as much. However, the next time you renew your license, you should enjoy a two-year validity period before your license expires. Once you get these two years, all the subsequent licenses will last two years.

The TSBDE sends out postcards approximately 60 days before the renewal date to enable license holders to renew their licenses on time. If you do not receive your postcard on time or have questions about the renewal guidelines, please reach out to licensinghelp@tsbde.texas.gov.

Renewing Online

The online renewal process is relatively easy. All you need to do is:

  • Create an account under the online licensing system. To do so, you will need to provide:
  • A valid email address,
  • Your current license number,
  • Your date of birth,
  • Your ZIP code, and
  • Your social security number.
  • Log into your account,
  • Head to the “Quick Start Menu” and choose the “It’s Time to Renew” option,
  • Click on the “Select” Option next to your RDH license number,
  • Complete the online renewal instructions and submit the application.

You will receive an online payment receipt in your email. To check the expiry date on your license, use the license search option. Please note that the expiry date will reflect the next business day after renewal. If the information does not update on the site after one business day, you may:

  • Not have a valid BLS CPR certification: You will need to provide valid BLS CPR certification; else, the renewal will not go through,
  • Be facing child support holds from the Office of the Attorney General,
  • Not have kept up with your jurisprudence assessment as required,
  • Need to prove that you have met your continuing education hours. The TSBDE often takes your word for it but can perform a random audit on you to ensure that you have kept up your end of the bargain. Sign up to proceed.
  • Need to provide more information about the corporation you work for if you stated that you work for one.

It’s advisable to get started on the renewal once you receive a postcard from the TSBDE to account for any processing delays. If you encounter any of the following problems, please use the resources stipulated in the table:

Problem Resource Response Time
Common online errors Read this Troubleshooting Guide –
Technical Support Problems Contact Help with a clear explanation of the issue 2-3 business days
Payment processing difficulties Call 1-800-399-2969 (toll-free) Accessible 24/7
Challenges using the online licensing system Request a paper renewal application form with the subject line “License renewal.”  

Hygienist Continuing Education

Requirements

To maintain your dental hygienist license in Texas, you must earn at least 24 hours of continuing education before each renewal. Doing this aligns with the Occupations Code at Section 257.005 and the TSBDE Rules and Regulations at Chapter 104. You can complete these hours in class or through live interactive webinars at any board-approved courses.

Dental hygienists who want to use laser equipment in dental procedures must complete at least 12 hours of in-person continuing education in laser utilization. Of these, at least 3 hours must cover clinical simulations.

To understand how you should divide your continuing hours per TSBDE Rule 104.1, please refer to this table:

Type of Training Counts as Continuing Education Hours Required Hours
Clinical Care (Technical and Scientific teaching) geared towards providing clinical care to patients Yes At least 16
Risk management (including record keeping and ethics courses) Yes Up to 8
Self-study hours under section §104.2, e.g., audio courses and correspondence courses Yes Up to 8
Occupational safety and health standards No  
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation No  
Hands-on BLS CPR No  
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Yes Not Stipulated (counts towards total hours)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Yes Not Stipulated (counts towards total hours)
Practice finance No  
Jurisprudence assessment No  
Anesthesia jurisprudence    
Human trafficking prevention Yes Not Stipulated (counts towards total hours)

You must complete all your continuing education hours at a board-approved school. This list takes you through the approved courses in the state.

CE Carried Forward or Banked CE

Suppose you earn extra continuing education hours. You can carry a maximum of 24 of these hours over to the next year and use them as credit hours. Please note that you must have earned these hours in the year immediately preceding the renewal period.

Attesting to Completing CE and Sending Proof of Completion of CE

Before renewing your license, you will sign an attestation confirming that you have met your continuing education requirements. The board will not ask for any proof. However, it can select you as part of the 5% license holders called on each month for random audits. If you have not completed your hours, you cannot renew your license until you meet the requirements.

Approved CE Course Providers

You can undertake your continuing education hours at any of the following board-approved course providers:

  • All American Medical Association approved specialty organizations,
  • All American Medical Association approved hospital courses,
  • All Medical schools and programs accredited by the Standards of the Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, the Advisory Board for Osteopathic Specialists and Boards of Certification or the American Osteopathic Association,
  • All Dental/dental hygiene schools and programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association,
  • All American Dental Association approved specialty organizations,
  • Dental Compliance Specialists, LLC; and
  • The American Dental Association–Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP),
  • The American Dental Association, its component, and its constituent organizations,
  • The Academy of General Dentistry, and its constituents and approved sponsors,
  • The American Dental Hygienists’ Association, its component, and its constituent organizations,
  • The National Dental Association, its constituent, and its component societies,
  • The National Dental Hygienists’ Association, its constituent, and its component societies,
  • The Western Regional Examining Board,
  • The American Academy of Dental Hygiene,
  • The American Dental Education Association,
  • The American Heart Association,
  • The Dental Hygiene Educators of Texas, Inc (DHET, Inc), formally known as Texas Dental Hygiene Educators’ Association,
  • The Dental Laboratory Association of Texas,
  • The Dental Assisting National Board,
  • The American Dental Assistants Association and its constituent organizations,
  • The Compliance Division, LLC,
  • Any Other entities approved by the Board, including:
  • Dental Quality Assurance,
  • The Texas School of Sleep Medicine and Technology,
  • Dentist Secure Labs; and
  • Boyd W. Shephard, D.D.S., J.D