Dental Hygienist / Colorado
2026 data Colorado board official source

Colorado Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Colorado data shows for Dental Hygienists

Becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Colorado means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,351 training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Colorado regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Budget $309 to get started, plus $178 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 24 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
35/100
Dental Hygienist · Colorado

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
3,351 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$309
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$89/yr
$178 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 Colorado

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
3,351 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$309
Renewal Fee
$178
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 Colorado licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Colorado licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Colorado? ▼
In Colorado, the license path calls for 3351 education/training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), and a $309 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Colorado? ▼
Colorado licenses dental hygienists who complete its requirements (3351 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Colorado licensing board.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Colorado from another state? ▼
For dental hygienists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Colorado licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Colorado require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Colorado. 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 Colorado? ▼
To stay licensed as a dental hygienist in Colorado, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $178.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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