Applicants must have practiced for five years or accumulated 5,000 hours immediately before applying. They must provide affidavits from two licensed dentists or dental hygienists, submit a written statement agreeing to an interview, and pass a jurisprudence exam.

Alaska

Requires 2,500 hours of practice five years before the application and affidavits from three licensed dental professionals verifying clinical experience. Applicants must also complete 30 hours of continuing education within the last three years.

Arizona

Mandates a minimum of 1,000 hours of practice within the two years before application, along with clinical exam documentation and a jurisprudence exam.

Arkansas

Requires five years of experience, recommendation letters from two dentists, and a jurisprudence exam.

California

Candidates must have worked 750 hours yearly for five years in clinical practice or full-time faculty in an accredited dental hygiene program. Those with only three years of practice may qualify under specific employment contracts. Additional certifications in soft tissue curettage, nitrous oxide, oxygen administration, local anesthesia, and radiation safety, along with 25 hours of continuing education, are required.

Colorado

Requires active practice or teaching for at least 300 hours per year for at least one of the last three years. Applicants must carry professional liability insurance and disclose any disciplinary actions.

Connecticut

It does not list specific practice years but ensures that the applicant’s previous state licensing requirements are at least as stringent as Connecticut’s.

The District of Columbia

It may require three years of experience and at least 150 hours of active practice before applying. Applicants must submit certified letters of good standing from all previously licensed states, certification in local anesthesia and nitrous oxide administration, and pass the DC Dental Law Examination.

Delaware

Applicants may need three years of experience or at least 150 hours of active practice. They must also pass a jurisprudence exam and provide a letter of good standing.

Florida

It does not require a specific number of practice years but mandates that applicants have worked for at least three years in the four years before submission. They must hold an active, unencumbered license from another state, have a passing licensure exam, and submit fingerprints for a background check.

Georgia

Requires two years of experience with at least 1,000 hours per year in hands-on clinical practice, supported by an employment affidavit and a jurisprudence exam.

Hawaii

It mandates 1,000 hours per year for the past three years and restricts practice to employment within eligible organizations. An annual renewal and an employer letter are required.

Idaho

It requires applicants to have practiced at least 1,000 hours in the two years before applying and to hold an active license in good standing. An interview with the board and a jurisprudence exam may be necessary.

Illinois

It mandates that applicants have actively practiced for three of the past five years. Additional testing or remedial education may be required if this requirement is not met.

Indiana

It requires two years of practice, averaging at least 20 hours per week, supported by three letters of reference, 14 hours of continuing education in the previous two years, and a jurisprudence exam.

Iowa

Applicants must obtain their dental hygiene license through an exam in another state or have three consecutive years of active practice. The state must also recognize Iowa’s licensees.

Kansas

It requires three years of practice before applying and passing a jurisprudence exam. A recommendation letter from a licensed hygienist or dentist and proof of recent continuing education are also necessary.

Kentucky

It mandates five years of practice in the last six years, with qualifications equal to or higher than Kentucky’s requirements, and a jurisprudence exam.

Louisiana

It requires one year of practice or 1,000 hours in the year immediately before applying. Applicants must attend a personal interview, cannot be HIV or HBV positive, and must pass a jurisprudence exam.

Maine

 As part of the Dental Hygiene Interstate Compact, it requires three years of practice and a jurisprudence exam.

Maryland

It mandates three years of practice, at least 150 hours per year, and passing the CDCA and jurisprudence exams.

Massachusetts

It requires one year of practice, proof of passing a regional or state clinical exam, 20 CEUs in the past 24 months, a jurisprudence exam, and a physician’s statement.

Michigan

It does not list specific requirements.

Minnesota

It requires 2,000 hours of practice in the past 36 months, an interview, Canadian license eligibility, five hours of infection control within the past five years, two character references, a summary of recent CE courses, and a jurisprudence exam.

Mississippi

It requires five years of practice before applying, along with a jurisprudence exam, a personal interview, and sworn statements from past employers.

Missouri

It mandates two consecutive years of recent practice and disqualifies applicants who have failed a clinical exam or faced disciplinary action.

Montana

It requires 1,000 hours of practice in the past two years, CPR/ACLS/PALS certification, and a jurisprudence exam.

Nebraska

It requires three years of practice, including one year immediately before applying. If the CRDTS exam has not been passed, an oral exam and 15 hours of CE are required.

Nevada

It may consider joining the compact in 2025. Applicants must currently hold an unrestricted U.S. license and pass a recognized examination.

New Hampshire

It immediately mandates three years of practice before applying, passage of the ADEX or an equivalent board exam, and a jurisprudence exam.

New Jersey

It has pending legislation.

New Mexico

Before applying, a good-standing two-year license is required, as is proof of recent infection control training, 15 hours of CE, and a jurisprudence exam.

New York

It requires two years of full-time practice following initial licensure, with at least eight months in the two years before applying. Applicants must complete infection control coursework, have no history of exam failures, and may be licensed by endorsement.

North Carolina

It requires 1,000 hours per year in clinical patient care for two years before applying. Applicants must have no history of disciplinary actions, felony convictions, or exam failures.

North Dakota

It requires three years of practice before applying, an active license in good standing, evidence of 16 CE hours, three references, a local anesthesia permit application (if applicable), and proof of health and visual acuity.

Ohio

It requires five years of practice before applying, a jurisprudence exam, and a letter of good standing.

Oklahoma

It requires two years of active practice, an interview with the board, three letters of recommendation, and a jurisprudence exam.

Oregon

It mandates 3,500 hours of clinical practice in the past five years, 24 hours of CE in the past two years, and a jurisprudence exam.

South Carolina

It requires three years of practice within the past five years, a jurisprudence exam, and 14 hours of board-approved CE.

South Dakota

It has mandated 3,000 clinical hours in the past five years.

Tennessee

It requires three years of practice in the last five years, the ability to provide continuing patient care, CPR certification, and no past exam failures.

Texas

It requires three years of practice in the last five years or five years as a dental educator, 12 hours of CE, CPR certification, no disciplinary actions or felonies, and a jurisprudence exam.

Utah

It has mandated 2,000 hours in the past two years and equivalent licensure in another state.

Vermont

It requires a good-standing license, office emergency procedure training, and a jurisprudence exam.

Virginia

It mandates a good-standing license, a notarized statement from past employers, and a comparable exam to Virginia’s.

Several states, including Washington, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, have enacted legislation supporting the compact.

West Virginia and Wyoming have no listed requirements.