Dental Hygienist / Delaware
2026 data Delaware board official source

Delaware Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

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Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Delaware data shows for Dental Hygienists

Becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Delaware means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,054 training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Delaware regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Budget $227 to get started, plus $133 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
41/100
Dental Hygienist · Delaware

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
3,054 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$227
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$67/yr
$133 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 Delaware

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
3,054 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$227
Renewal Fee
$133
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 Delaware licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Delaware licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Delaware? ▼
Delaware requires 3054 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)), and an initial fee of $227. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Delaware? ▼
Delaware licenses dental hygienists who complete its requirements (3054 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Delaware licensing board.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Delaware 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 Delaware. Verify the specifics with the Delaware licensing board.
Does Delaware require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for dental hygienist licensing in Delaware. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Dental Hygienist in Delaware? ▼
Licensed dental hygienists in Delaware must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $133.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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