Dental Hygienist / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington 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 Washington data shows for Dental Hygienists

Washington sets the entry bar for dental hygienists at 3,311 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 Washington's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree".

Upfront cost is $298, with renewal running $172 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
Dental Hygienist · Washington

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
3,311 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$298
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$86/yr
$172 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 Washington

Education / Training Hours
Associate or Bachelor of Science Degree
3,311 hours
Exam Requirement
NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$298
Renewal Fee
$172
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 Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Dental Hygienist in Washington? ▼
Washington's requirements cover 3311 hours of education or training, the NBDHE (National Board Dental Hygiene Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $298. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Dental Hygienist in Washington? ▼
To become a licensed dental hygienist in Washington, you must meet the state's requirements including 3311 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Washington licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to Washington 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 Washington licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Washington require a background check for Dental Hygienist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the dental hygienist licensing process in Washington. 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 Washington? ▼
To stay licensed as a dental hygienist in Washington, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $172.

Related Guides

What to do with this dental hygienist license

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

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

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