Dental Hygienist / Florida
2026 data Florida board official source

Florida 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 Florida data shows for Dental Hygienists

Becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Florida means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,122 training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Florida regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

The initial price tag is $246, and renewal costs $143 every 2 years. The license also carries an ongoing 24-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
40/100
Dental Hygienist · Florida

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
3,122 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$246
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$72/yr
$143 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 Florida

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
3,122 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$246
Renewal Fee
$143
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 Florida licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Florida licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Florida? ▼
Florida's requirements cover 3122 hours of education or training, the NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $246. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Florida? ▼
Certification as a dental hygienist in Florida means clearing the state's checklist: 3122 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Florida licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Florida from another state? ▼
Dental Hygienist licenses generally reciprocate as follows: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Florida licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Florida require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Florida. 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 Florida? ▼
Florida ties continued dental hygienist licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $143 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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