The Kentucky Board of Dentistry confers licenses to practice dental hygiene based on either the applicant's successful completion of an approved regional clinical exam (Licensure by Examination) or by qualifying experience within another licensing jurisdiction (Licensure by Credentials). All Kentucky dental hygiene licenses expire on December 31 of even numbered years, and must be either renewed or retired by that date.
This page summarizes the process for dental hygiene licensure in Kentucky as provided for in
201 KAR 8:533. Please use the following application to apply for licensure by either examination or credentials:
Application for Dental Hygiene Licensure- Dental Hygiene License Application Fee (during non-renewal, odd numbered year): $125 + $25 NPDB fee = $150
- Dental Hygiene License Application Fee (during renewal, even-numbered year): $75 + $25 NPDB fee = $100
General Licensure Requirements
To be granted a license to practice dental hygiene in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, an applicant must:
- Understand, read, speak, and write the English language;
- Not be currently subject to disciplinary action that would prevent licensure;
- Submit to a nation-wide criminal background check;
- Complete and pass the Board's jurisprudence exam;
- Hold a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
- Verify any previously or currently held dental hygiene licenses in other states or jurisdictions;
- Graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) approved dental hygiene program;
- Successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination; and
- Provide a written explanation for any reported actions in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
Background Check
State and federal criminal background check reports must be obtained through the IdentoGO Universal Enrollment Platform. Kentucky residents must use the live scan process at one of IdentoGO's nationwide enrollment centers. Non-Kentucky residents can either use this same process or submit a hard card (FBI FD-258 applicant fingerprint card) to IdentoGO for processing. When registering, please use the Board of Dentistry Service Code 27GJYG. Once registered, applicants can schedule fingerprinting appointments online or by phone.
IdentoGO Resources:
Jurisprudence Examination
State law requires the following jurisprudence examination to be completed by all new applicants for dental or dental hygiene licensure. This is an open book exam that covers the statutes and regulations governing dentistry in Kentucky. The following exam below should be printed out, completed, and submitted to the Board with the other application materials. A score of 80% or above is considered passing.
Jurisprudence Examination
Transcripts
An official transcript is required to document graduation from a CODA accredited school. Transcripts must be sent directly to the Board from the issuing school or university, not to the applicant.
Additional Licensure Requirements
Licensure by Examination
In addition to the General Licensure Requirements identified above, applicants for the Licensure by Examination pathway must meet the following requirement:
- Successfully pass one of the following regional clinical examinations within the five years preceding the filing of the application: CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, DHLOSCE, or SRTA.
Licensure by Credentials
In addition to the General Licensure Requirements identified above, applicants for the Licensure by Credentials pathway must meet the following requirements:
- Successfully pass a state, regional, or national clinical examination used to determine clinical competency in any state or other U.S. licensing jurisdiction; and
- Actively practice dental hygiene in any state(s) or other U.S. licensing jurisdiction for at least five of the last six years. Applicants should submit the Affidavit of Active Practice below and request a verification of licensure from any licensing board(s) that have issued a dental hygiene license to the applicant. The verification of licensure should be submitted directly to us, not the applicant.
Affidavit of Active Practice as a Dental Hygienist
Retirement
If you no longer desire to hold an active Kentucky license, you must notify the Board of your intent to retire your license by submitting a completed and signed Retirement of License Form.
Reinstatement
To reinstate a previously active Kentucky license, submit the following application along with the documentation described in the instruction checklist below: