Dental Hygienist / Missouri
2026 data Missouri board official source

Missouri 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 Missouri data shows for Dental Hygienists

Becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Missouri means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 2,838 training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Missouri regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Upfront cost is $168, with renewal running $101 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
45/100
Dental Hygienist · Missouri

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
2,838 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$168
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$51/yr
$101 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 Missouri

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,838 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$168
Renewal Fee
$101
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 Missouri licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Missouri licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Missouri? ▼
Missouri requires 2838 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)), and an initial fee of $168. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Missouri? ▼
To become a licensed dental hygienist in Missouri, you must meet the state's requirements including 2838 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Missouri licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Missouri 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 Missouri licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Missouri require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Missouri. 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 Missouri? ▼
Licensed dental hygienists in Missouri must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $101.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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