Dental Hygienist License Cost in California
In California, documented Dental Hygienist license fees total $1,000 — exam $600, application $200, license $200. Always confirm the current schedule with Dental Hygiene Board of California before paying.
Figures below come from the same dataset as the full guide and list only what the state publishes. Anything not published is marked “varies — check the board” rather than guessed.
Dental Hygienist license cost — California at a glance
| Pre-license education | Varies — check the board |
| Exam fee | $600 |
| Application fee | $200 |
| License fee | $200 |
| Documented fees total | $1,000 |
| BLS median annual wage | $98,100 (dental hygienists) |
Official source: Dental Hygiene Board of California ↗
Fees vs. median pay
The BLS median annual wage for dental hygienists is $98,100.The BLS median annual wage for dental hygienists is $98,100. Documented Dental Hygienist fees in California are $1,000 — about 1.0% of one year's median pay. The bigger investment is usually tuition and time.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Dental Hygienist license cost in California?
Documented fees in California total $1,000: exam $600, application $200, license $200. Pre-license education is the biggest variable cost and is set by each school, not the board.
Are the exam fee and the license fee the same thing in California?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the test, while the application and license fees cover processing and issuing the credential. Each is listed separately in the table above where the state publishes it.
How much does Dental Hygienist training cost in California?
Training-hour requirements for California are not published here — ask Dental Hygiene Board of California for the approved programs and their costs.
Is a Dental Hygienist license in California worth the cost?
The BLS median annual wage for dental hygienists is $98,100, so documented fees are roughly 1.0% of one year's median pay. Earnings vary widely by state and market — treat this as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Budget your Dental Hygienist licensing in California
Turn the fees above into a dated budget, then check what the California board charges on top.
Keep going — Dental Hygienist in California
You are on the license cost angle. Here is what most people check next on the same licensing road.
This page is informational and not legal advice. Fees, pass rates and retake rules change frequently — verify all figures with Dental Hygiene Board of California and your exam vendor before paying (retrieved 2026-08-20).