Dental Hygienist / Alabama
2026 data Alabama board official source

Alabama Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

PlainCredential home → About this data

Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Alabama data shows for Dental Hygienists

To practice as a dental hygienist in Alabama, the state licensing board requires 2,811 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Alabama's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Upfront cost is $160, with renewal running $97 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 24-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For dental hygienists, the reciprocity picture is: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
46/100
Dental Hygienist · Alabama

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
2,811 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$160
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$49/yr
$97 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 Alabama

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,811 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$160
Renewal Fee
$97
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Dental Hygienist All Alabama licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Alabama licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Alabama? ▼
Alabama requires 2811 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)), and an initial fee of $160. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Alabama? ▼
Alabama licenses dental hygienists who complete its requirements (2811 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Alabama licensing board.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Alabama 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 Alabama. Verify the specifics with the Alabama licensing board.
Does Alabama require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Alabama. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Dental Hygienist in Alabama? ▼
Alabama ties continued dental hygienist licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $97 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

  • See how Alabama'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 Alabama's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Alabama overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Alabama 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.