Hygienist License – By Exam

Please note: TSBDE will continue to accept sim/manikin based examinations. The live-patient examination rule proposed at the December 2020 board meeting is still pending. As long as an applicant has passed an exam administered by one of the designated regional examining boards, TSBDE will accept those exam results.

General Qualifications for Licensure

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Has graduated from an accredited high school or holds a certificate of high school equivalency, General equivalency Diploma (GED);
  • Has graduated from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association with a degree in dentistry or a degree or certificate in dental hygiene, or has graduated from a CODA-accredited school or college of dental hygiene with a degree in dental hygiene;
  • Has taken and passed the examination for dental hygienists given by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations;
  • Has taken and passed a clinical examination administered by a regional examining board designated by the Board within the last five (5) years.

Please note: October 2020 is the most current version of the paper application. No other applications will be accepted. Submitting an outdated application will only delay the process.

Apply Online

Download Registered Dental Hygienist Licensure Application – October 2020

Online Application System Requirements

  • Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
    • User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
    • Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
    • Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password
    • From the Quick Start Menu, Under Start a New Application ⇢ Choose Board → Texas State Board of Dental Examiners → Choose Application →Initial Dental Hygienist by Exam from the left hand side of page.
  • Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Application and payment summaries will be emailed to you along with the required fingerprint information session.

Application & Supplemental Documents - Must be mailed to TSBDE

Copy of your online application and payment summary receipt. If you applying by using your military credentials, you will need to submit a paper application. Do not apply online, you will only further delay your processing time.

  • 1- 2×2 passport photo
    •  Your head must face the camera directly with full face in view
    •  You must have a neutral facial expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open.
    •  Use a plain white or off-white background.
    •  Be sized correctly
  • Copy of driver’s license, naturalization papers, or passport.
  • Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, must include hands on demonstration of skills.
  • Official school transcript showing proof of graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited (CODA) dental hygiene school.  Transcripts must remain in the original sealed envelope.
  • Completion of National Boards Parts I. TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas.
  • Proof of completion of a dental hygiene clinical examination administered by a regional clinical examining board dated within five (5) years from the date of examination.  TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas.   If you are mailing in your score report, it must remain in the original sealed envelope.  Click here for a list of regional clinical examining boards recognized by the TSBDE. TSBDE currently validates scores from ADEX, CITA, CDCA, CRDTS AND WREB.
  • Proof of completion of TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment dated within one year immediately prior to application submission.
  • Copy of your IdentoGO fingerprint receipt.
  • National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query.  Report results must remain in the original sealed envelope.  NPDB self-query reports are valid for 60 days. Contact the NPDB at telephone number (800) 767-6732, or website http://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/howToGetStarted.jsp.
  • For applicants who have held a license in another state/jurisdiction: A verification of licensure with imprint of state seal issued from a state board of dentistry in which the applicant has ever held a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene.  This is not a copy of your license. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable.

Military Applicants: U.S. Military Active Duty, Veterans, and U.S. Military Active Duty Spouses may not apply online. Submit a paper application and select your method of licensure. All of the above supplemental documents are required along with a a copy of your Military Change of Station Orders, Identification Card or a document showing proof of Honorable or General Discharge.

Please allow 3 – 4 weeks for processing once TSBDE has received a completed application.  Incomplete applications will delay the process.  Please do not contact the Licensing Division to check the status of your application unless it has been longer than 4 weeks and you have not been contacted via mail.  Once your application has been approved, you will receive an approval letter via the U.S. mail advising you of the license activation process. 

Initial Renewal (License Activation) Process

The status of your license will be Expired after it is first issued. You will receive a letter in the mail with instructions for paying your prorated initial renewal (activation) fee online. This fee will activate your license and change the status to Active.  This letter will authorize you to practice for 30 days.  Once you pay your fee online you should receive your new license in the mail approximately 7-10 days later. Exception:  Military applicants are not required to pay to activate their license.  The license will be issued and mailed to the applicant after the application has been approved. 

  • Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
    • User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
    • Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
    • Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password)

Be sure you have your license number before proceeding to the next step. If you have not received your approval letter in the mail, you may also verify your license from the board’s website under Search Licensees.

  • From the  Quick Start Menu, select ⇢ Update Profile →Add Licenses
  • Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.

Your first license may be valid anywhere between 18- 30 months. A renewal postcard reminder will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the TSBDE approximately 60 days prior to your license expiration date.

Additional Information

  • Change of Address.  Licensees are required to notify the TSBDE within 60 days of a change in address.
  • CPR Requirement.  CPR Courses must include a hands-on demonstration of skills by the applicant on a manikin and a written assessment of skills.