Dental Hygienist License Reciprocity by State (2026)
Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH)
Dental hygienists have a compact — the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact — but it is still rolling out. The compact has reached its activation threshold, yet privileges are not broadly available while the commission finishes its data system, application process and state onboarding.
- Covers:
- Dentists and dental hygienists.
- Governing body:
- Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Commission (via CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts)
What to know before you rely on it
- Enacting the law is not the same as issuing privileges — check the commission for current availability before planning around it.
- A compact privilege still depends on an active, unencumbered licence in a compact state, qualifying education and examination signals, a background check, and any state jurisprudence requirement.
- Full implementation has been estimated at 18–24 months from enactment in each state.
- State boards keep control of scope, specialty limits and local jurisprudence.
Jurisdictions where Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH) is active (13)
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Verify this first: Ask the compact commission and your destination state dental board whether privileges are being issued yet.
CSG — Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Compact updates ↗State-by-state reciprocity notes
12 of 51 states have a published reciprocity note in our dataset. For the remaining states, the note is not published — check both state boards before you move. Provides preventive oral care and cleanings under dentist supervision. Requires the NBDHE and a state license.
| State | Reciprocity note | Verify with |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | ADEX/CDCA/CRDTS/WREB/SRTA clinical exams accepted; AZ jurisprudence exam + Fingerprint Clearance Card required | Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners ↗ |
| California | ADEX/WREB/CRDTS clinical exams accepted; CA Law & Ethics exam plus local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and soft tissue curettage courses required for initial licensure | Dental Hygiene Board of California ↗ |
| Florida | No endorsement pathway — ADEX clinical exam and FL Laws and Rules exam required of all applicants regardless of prior licensure | Florida Board of Dentistry ↗ |
| Georgia | CRDTS/SRTA/ADEX clinical exams accepted; GA jurisprudence exam required | Georgia Board of Dentistry ↗ |
| Illinois | ADEX/CDCA-WREB-CITA/CRDTS/SRTA clinical exams accepted; IL jurisprudence exam required | Illinois Division of Professional Regulation (IDFPR) ↗ |
| Michigan | ADEX only clinical exam accepted; MI jurisprudence exam required (passing 75%) | Michigan Board of Dentistry (LARA) ↗ |
| New York | ADEX/CDCA/CRDTS/NERB/WREB clinical exams accepted; separate local anesthesia certification required | New York State Education Department — Office of the Professions ↗ |
| North Carolina | Clinical exam required; licenses renew annually | North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners ↗ |
| Ohio | ADEX or CRDTS-SRTA clinical exams accepted; jurisprudence exam required | Ohio State Dental Board ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | NERB/SRTA/WREB/CRDTS/CITA clinical exams accepted | Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry ↗ |
| Texas | ADEX/CRDTS clinical exams accepted; TX jurisprudence assessment required; separate Local Anesthesia Administration Permit for anesthesia | Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ↗ |
| Washington | WREB/CRDTS/CDCA/CITA clinical exams accepted; WA State Drug and Law jurisprudence exam required | Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission ↗ |
| Alabama | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Alaska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Arkansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Colorado | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Connecticut | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Delaware | check both state boards | board site pending |
| District of Columbia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Hawaii | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Idaho | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Indiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Iowa | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kentucky | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Louisiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maine | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maryland | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Massachusetts | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Minnesota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Mississippi | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Missouri | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Montana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nebraska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nevada | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Hampshire | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Jersey | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Mexico | check both state boards | board site pending |
| North Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oklahoma | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oregon | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Rhode Island | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Carolina | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Tennessee | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Utah | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Vermont | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| West Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wisconsin | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wyoming | check both state boards | board site pending |
Frequently asked questions
How does a Dental Hygienist license transfer between states?
Dental hygienists have a compact — the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact — but it is still rolling out. The compact has reached its activation threshold, yet privileges are not broadly available while the commission finishes its data system, application process and state onboarding.
Which states accept a Dental Hygienist license under Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH)?
Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Commission (via CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts) lists 13 jurisdictions where this is active today: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. Membership changes, so confirm on the official source before you rely on it.
Does Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH) mean I skip the exam entirely?
Not automatically. Enacting the law is not the same as issuing privileges — check the commission for current availability before planning around it. The only reliable answer for your situation comes from the destination board, so verify before you pay application fees.
Can I transfer my Dental Hygienist license to another state?
In our dataset, 12 states have a published reciprocity note (see the table). For every other state the rule is not published here — check both state boards before moving.
What does reciprocity mean for a license?
Reciprocity lets an already-licensed professional from one state qualify for a license in another state without repeating the full education and exam process. Some states have formal agreements or compacts; others require a state-specific exam or extra coursework even when they accept your license. Many states do not grant a license on reciprocity at all — they grant it by comity or endorsement, meaning you still file an application and meet their requirements.
Why do some states say "check both state boards"?
State reciprocity tables are not consistently published in machine-readable form. When a state has not published an official note in our verified sources, we point you to both boards rather than guess. That is the safest answer for a decision that can affect your eligibility to work.
Does holding a license in one state guarantee a license in another?
No. Every state sets its own licensing law. Even in states with reciprocity or a compact, you typically still file an application, pay a fee, pass a background check and sometimes pass a state-specific exam. Always confirm directly with the destination state board.
Plan your move with Dental Hygienist data
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Reciprocity rules and compact membership change frequently and are set by each state legislature and board. “Check both state boards” means the note is not published in our dataset — it is not a negative answer. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13; always verify with both boards before relocating.