Skip to content
VerifyED

Healthcare License

How to Verify a Dental Hygienist License

Dental hygienists are licensed by state dental boards — there is no national licensing body equivalent to NURSYS for nurses. Verification requires a direct lookup with the dental board in the state where the hygienist intends to practice. Here is what to check and what the results mean.

· 7 min read

Quick answer

Verify directly with the state dental board in the state where the hygienist will work. Each state maintains its own public license lookup. Search for the hygienist by name and confirm Active status, expiration date, and any disciplinary history. There is no centralized national database for dental hygienist licenses — you must check each state separately.

Why state-by-state verification is required

Unlike nursing, which has NURSYS as a national lookup tool covering 47 states, dental hygiene licensing is entirely state-administered with no equivalent national database. The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) maintain exam records, but neither runs a license verification system.

A dental hygienist licensed in one state is not automatically licensed in another, even for temporary or travel assignments. Some states participate in compact agreements that streamline multi-state licensure, but the hygienist must still obtain a license in each practice state.

Dental hygienists licensed in states that allow expanded functions (local anesthesia administration, restorative procedures, orthodontic procedures) may not have those permissions in states where they hold additional licenses. Function authorizations are state-specific and must be verified separately.

NBDHE: the national board exam

The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) and is required for licensure in all states. However, passing the NBDHE is a condition for obtaining a license — it does not itself constitute a license.

Candidates also complete a clinical examination, which varies by state. Most states accept exams from regional testing agencies including:

  • ADEX (American Dental Examining Board): Used by many states; verify through adex.net
  • CRDTS (Central Regional Dental Testing Service): Used in the Midwest; crdts.org
  • WREB (Western Regional Examining Board): Western states; wreb.org
  • NERB (North East Regional Board): Northeast states; nerb.org

These bodies confirm exam passage but are not the license issuing authority. The dental board, not the testing agency, issues the license and is the source of truth for license status.

How to verify: state dental board lookups

Every state dental board maintains a public license lookup for dental hygienists. The process varies slightly by state but typically involves:

  1. Navigate to the state dental board website (usually under the state health or regulatory agency)
  2. Find the license verification or licensee search tool
  3. Search by the hygienist's name, license number, or both
  4. Review returned information: license type, status (Active/Inactive/Suspended/Revoked), expiration date, and any public disciplinary orders

State dental board portals (selected)

  • California: Dental Board of California — dbc.ca.gov; License/Registration Lookup
  • Texas: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners — tsbde.texas.gov; License Verification
  • New York: NYS Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov/verification
  • Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Dental Hygienist
  • Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov/LicenseLookup
  • Pennsylvania: PA State Board of Dentistry — licensepa.pa.gov
  • Ohio: Ohio State Dental Board — dental.ohio.gov; license verification

For states not listed, search "[State] dental board license verification" to find the relevant portal. All state dental board lookups are publicly accessible and free.

Expanded function authorizations

Many states grant dental hygienists authorization to perform expanded functions beyond standard hygiene scope. These vary significantly by state and may include:

  • Local anesthesia administration (requiring additional training and state permit)
  • Nitrous oxide administration
  • Restorative procedures (placing and finishing composite restorations)
  • Orthodontic bracket bonding and debanding
  • Public health-directed practice (independent practice without dentist supervision)

Expanded function permits and endorsements typically appear on the state board license record. When hiring for a role that requires specific expanded functions, confirm the hygienist holds the relevant permit in the state where they will practice — not just a general hygiene license.

ADHA membership: professional affiliation, not licensure

The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) is the primary professional organization for dental hygienists. ADHA membership can be verified at adha.org but membership is not a license and does not indicate license status. Hygienists can be licensed without being ADHA members, and ADHA members can have expired licenses.

ADHA membership in good standing indicates professional engagement with the field but should not substitute for state board verification.

What disciplinary records reveal

State dental board license lookups include public disciplinary records. Common discipline categories for dental hygienists include:

  • Practicing beyond authorized scope (e.g., performing functions requiring a dentist)
  • Drug diversion or substance use violations
  • Fraud or insurance billing violations
  • Failure to complete continuing education requirements
  • Infection control or sterilization violations

Even an Active license can have an associated disciplinary order that restricts practice scope. Always review the full record entry — not just the status field — before completing a hire.

Verification checklist

  • 1. Collect the hygienist's name, license number, and state of licensure at intake
  • 2. Identify the state(s) where they will practice — verify the license in each state separately
  • 3. Search the state dental board license lookup — confirm Active status and expiration date
  • 4. Review the full disciplinary record — an Active license can still carry restrictions
  • 5. For expanded function roles, confirm the relevant permit or endorsement is on the state record
  • 6. Check continuing education compliance if the role requires specific CE documentation
  • 7. Set renewal reminders — dental hygienist licenses typically renew every 1–2 years depending on state

Verify dental hygiene program accreditation

Dental hygiene programs must be accredited by CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation). Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's program was CODA-accredited before accepting their educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →