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Dental Hygienists

Special Requirements

In order to practice as a dental hygienist in the state of Virginia you must:

- Possesses a valid license from the Board of Dentistry. The licensee shall have the right to practice dental hygiene in this Commonwealth for the period of his license as set by the Board, under the direction of any licensed dentist.

- An application for such license shall be made to the Board in writing, and shall be accompanied by satisfactory proof that the applicant is of good moral character and a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program approved by the Board and offered by an accredited institution of higher education.

- A licensed dental hygienist may, under the direction or general supervision of a licensed dentist and subject to the regulations of the Board, perform services which are educational, diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive. These services shall not include the establishment of a final diagnosis or treatment plan for a dental patient.

Application for Licensure:

Applicants for licensure as a Dental Hygienist or Dental Hygienist Instructor In Virginia must apply for licensure. A completed application shall include the following unless otherwise stated below. An incomplete application and or fees could result in the delay of the processing or return of your application.

All of the following must accompany the enclosed application for licensure:

   •   Passport - type photo (full face and no older than 6 months);
   •   Form A - completed by dental hygiene school which granted degree or certificate;
   •   Form B - chronology, follow instructions on form;
   •   Form C - licensure verification from any jurisdiction in which you have or ever held a license to practice dental hygiene, copies of licensure permits are not accepted. Verifications cannot be older than 6 months;
   •   An original grade card issued by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations submitted directly to the Board from the Joint Commission. Scorecards will be kept on record for one year;
   •   Verification of degree issued from an accredited dental hygiene school (FINAL transcript bearing SEAL, date degree received and registrar’s signature;
   •   Passing score on jurisprudence exam. Contact PSI Examination Services at 1 - 800 - 733 - 9267 or www.psiexams.com for an application, dates and locations. Applicants for teacher’s license are not required to take the jurisprudence exam;
   •   Passing score on the Southern Regional Clinical Dental Exam;
   •   Certified check, cashier’s check or money order, made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia in the amount of $135 by exam and $135 by endorsement.

License Renewal:

Every person holding an active or inactive license or a full-time faculty license shall, on or before March 31, renew his license. Every person holding a teacher's license, temporary resident’s license, a restricted volunteer license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene or a temporary permit to practice dentistry or dental hygiene shall, on or before June 30, request renewal of his license.

Inactive License:
The Board shall provide for an inactive license for those dental hygienists who have been fully licensed in the Commonwealth and do not wish to practice in Virginia. No person shall practice in Virginia unless he holds a current, active license.

Educational Requirements:
An applicant for dental hygiene licensure shall have graduated from or have been issued a certificate by a program of dental hygiene accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Licensure by Examination:

1. All applicants are required to successfully complete the dental hygiene examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations prior to making application to this board for licensure.

2. All applicants to practice dental hygiene shall successfully complete the board-approved examinations in dental hygiene, except those persons eligible for licensure by endorsement.

3. If the candidate has failed any section of a board-approved examination three times, the candidate shall complete a minimum of seven hours of additional clinical training in each section of the examination to be retested in order to be approved by the board to sit for the examination a fourth time.

All applicants who successfully complete the board-approved examinations five or more years prior to the date of receipt of their applications for licensure by this board may be required to retake the board-approved examinations or take board-approved continuing education unless they demonstrate that they have maintained clinical, ethical, and legal practice for 48 of the past 60 months immediately prior to submission of an application for licensure.

All applicants for licensure by examination shall be required to attest that they have read and understand and will remain current with the applicable Virginia dental and dental hygiene laws and the regulations of this board.

Licensure by Endorsement:

An applicant for dental hygiene endorsement licensure shall:

1. Be a graduate or be issued a certificate from an accredited dental hygiene school/program of dental hygiene recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;

2. Be currently licensed to practice dental hygiene in another state, territory, District of Columbia, or possession of the United States, and have clinical, ethical, and legal practice for 24 out of the past 48 months immediately preceding application for licensure;

3. Be certified to be in good standing from each state in which he is currently licensed or has ever held a license;

4. Have successfully completed a clinical licensing examination substantially equivalent to that required by Virginia;

5. Not have failed the clinical examination accepted by the board within the last five years;

6. Be of good moral character;

7. Not have committed any act which would constitute a violation of § 54.1-2706 of the Code of Virginia;

8. Have successfully completed the dental hygiene examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations prior to making application to this board; and

9. Attest to having read and understand and to remain current with the laws and the regulations governing the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in Virginia.

Required Fees:

Renewal fee of an active license or permit to practice or teach dental hygiene	$ 75
Renewal fee of an inactive license	$40
Application fee for a temporary resident’s license	$60
Annual renewal fee	$35
Late renewal of licensure fee	$15
Reinstatement fee (after 1 year)	$ 200
Reinstatement fee (revoked)	$ 500
Reinstatement fee (indefinite suspension)	$ 400
Application fee for licensure by exam	$ 175
Application fee for licensure by endorsement	$ 275
Duplicate wall certificate	$ 60
Duplicate license	$ 20
Licensure certification	$ 35
Restricted license	$ 285
Returned check	$ 35
Inspection fee	$ 350

For More Information, Contact:

Virginia Department Of Health Professions
Board Of Dentistry
6603 West Broad St., 5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23230-1717
Phone: 804.662.9906
Phone: 800.533.1560
TTY: 804.662.7197
Fax: 804.662.7244
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/dentistry/

The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research.