Dental Hygienist / Alaska
2026 data Alaska board official source

Alaska Dental Hygienist License Requirements

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Alaska data shows for Dental Hygienists

Alaska's path to dental hygienist licensure runs through 2,649 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Alaska folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Budget $116 to get started, plus $72 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
52/100
Dental Hygienist · Alaska

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,649 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$116
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B-
$36/yr
$72 every 2 years
Continuing Education C-
12.0 hrs/yr
24 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Alaska

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,649 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$116
Renewal Fee
$72
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Alaska licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Alaska?
In Alaska, the license path calls for 2649 education/training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), and a $116 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Alaska?
Certification as a dental hygienist in Alaska means clearing the state's checklist: 2649 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Alaska licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Alaska from another state?
Reciprocity for dental hygienists nationally works like this: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Alaska. Verify the specifics with the Alaska licensing board.
Does Alaska require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing?
Alaska does require a background check before issuing a dental hygienist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Dental Hygienist in Alaska?
To stay licensed as a dental hygienist in Alaska, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $72.

What to do with this dental hygienist license

Dental Hygienist in Alaska, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a dental hygienist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Alaska's dental hygienist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Dental Hygienist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state dental hygienist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Alaska's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Alaska overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Alaska licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.