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 U.S. 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 8:563.
Dental hygienists can apply for licensure online through the Board's Application Portal or by submitting application documents to the Board office. Please use one of the following options to begin the application process:
General License 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 nationwide 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; and
- Successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination;
Additional License Requirements
Licensure by Examination
In addition to the General Licensure Requirements identified above, applicants for the Licensure by Examination pathway must meet the following requirements:
- 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.
The following instructional document is intended for mail-in applications, but can be informative for online applicants as well.
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 six years preceding the filing of the license application. 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 following instructional document is intended for mail-in applications, but can be informative for online applicants as well.
License Requirement Details
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. Follow this process for both online and mail-in applications.
IdentoGO Resources:
The Board will review the criminal history report online once it is ready. The applicant does not need to request it be sent to Kentucky.
Jurisprudence Examination
State law requires a jurisprudence examination to be completed by all new applicants for dental or dental hygiene licensure. This is an untimed, open-book exam that covers the statutes and regulations governing dental practice in Kentucky. The following exam should be completed and submitted along with the other application materials. Only use this exam if applying by mail. The online application process has its own jurisprudence exam. A score of 80% or above is considered passing for both options.
Jurisprudence Examination
Transcripts
A college transcript is required to document graduation from a dental hygiene program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). A copy of a diploma is not acceptable. Applicants should contact the registrar's office of the issuing school or university to request that transcripts be sent directly to the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, not to the applicant. Official Transcripts should have the degree posted and a
seal or registrar’s stamp affixed. Follow this process for both online and mail-in applications.
Exam Scores
Using information provided on the dental hygiene license application, the Board of Dentistry will look up and confirm all national board and clinical exam scores online. Applicants do not need to contact the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations or any regional clinical examination provider to have scores sent to Kentucky.
Verification of Licensure
An official verification of licensure is required to document good standing in any state or other U.S. licensing jurisdiction where the applicant has held a dental hygiene license. A copy of a license is not acceptable. Please note that each state or territory makes its own policies for processing license verification requests. In most cases, applicants should contact each agency that has issued a previously or currently held dental hygiene license to request that a verification letter be sent directly to the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, not to the applicant. Follow this process for both online and mail-in applications. For states that only provide online verification, including AK, CO, ME, OH, and OR, we will verify the license directly.
Verification of Active Practice
To be eligible for Licensure by Credentials, a dental hygienist must have been practicing in another state or U.S. licensing jurisdiction for at least five of the six years preceding the filing of the license application. To verify this requirement with the Board, applicants can either provide documentation of practice history or submit an Affidavit of Active Practice. Only submit the following affidavit if applying by mail. The online application process has its own affidavit component.
License Retirement & Reinstatement
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 the following form:
To reinstate a previously active Kentucky license, submit the following application: