Dental Hygienist / North Dakota
2026 data North Dakota board official source

North Dakota 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 North Dakota data shows for Dental Hygienists

To practice as a dental hygienist in North Dakota, the state licensing board requires 2,608 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 North Dakota's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Upfront cost is $105, with renewal running $66 on a 2-year cycle. 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

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Dental Hygienist · North Dakota

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
2,608 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$105
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$33/yr
$66 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 North Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,608 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$105
Renewal Fee
$66
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 North Dakota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Dakota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in North Dakota? ▼
In North Dakota, the license path calls for 2608 education/training hours, a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam), and a $105 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in North Dakota? ▼
Certification as a dental hygienist in North Dakota means clearing the state's checklist: 2608 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The North Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to North Dakota from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for dental hygienists: Dental Hygiene Compact: 20+ states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the North Dakota licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does North Dakota require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
North Dakota does require a background check before issuing a dental hygienist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Dental Hygienist in North Dakota? ▼
Licensed dental hygienists in North Dakota must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $66.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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