Dental Hygienist / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Provides preventive dental care and examines patients for oral disease.

What the Tennessee data shows for Dental Hygienists

Tennessee sets the entry bar for dental hygienists at 2,878 training hours and a passing score on NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Tennessee's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

The initial price tag is $179, and renewal costs $107 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
45/100
Dental Hygienist · Tennessee

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
2,878 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$179
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C-
$54/yr
$107 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 Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
2,878 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$179
Renewal Fee
$107
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 Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee's requirements cover 2878 hours of education or training, the NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $179. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee licenses dental hygienists who complete its requirements (2878 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Tennessee licensing board.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Tennessee 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 Tennessee licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee ties continued dental hygienist licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $107 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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