Dental Hygienist / Kentucky
2026 data Kentucky board official source

Kentucky Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Kentucky data shows for Dental Hygienists

To practice as a dental hygienist in Kentucky, the state licensing board requires 2,770 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 Kentucky's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Budget $149 to get started, plus $91 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.

On reciprocity, dental hygienists should know: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Dental Hygienist · Kentucky

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
2,770 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$149
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C+
$46/yr
$91 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 Kentucky

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,770 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$149
Renewal Fee
$91
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 Kentucky licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Kentucky licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Kentucky? ▼
Kentucky requires 2770 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)), and an initial fee of $149. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Kentucky? ▼
Certification as a dental hygienist in Kentucky means clearing the state's checklist: 2770 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Kentucky licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Kentucky 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 Kentucky licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Kentucky require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky? ▼
Licensed dental hygienists in Kentucky must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $91.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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