Arizona dental hygienist license
What Arizona requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. and state code pages.
| Licensing board | Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
|---|---|
| Education | Graduation from a recognized dental hygiene school: a board-approved program of at least two academic years (or four semesters) accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation. Applicants must also be at least eighteen. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| National written exam | Applicants must pass the national dental hygiene board examination (NBDHE). Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Clinical exam | Applicants must pass a clinical examination given by a state or regional testing agency in the United States within five years before applying. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| State law exam | Applicants must pass the Arizona dental jurisprudence examination. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Fees | The written application must include a nonrefundable Arizona dental jurisprudence examination fee of $100. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Licensed in another state | The board may waive the exam requirements for a hygienist who passed another state's or testing agency's clinical exam more than five years before applying, with a minimum number of active practice hours set by rule and a licensure by credential fee of not more than one thousand dollars. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Local anesthesia | Yes. A hygienist needs a board-issued local anesthesia certificate, earned by completing a CODA-accredited course in block and infiltration techniques and passing a state or regional local anesthesia exam. Certified hygienists may also give local anesthetics under general supervision to adult patients of record in some cases. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Nitrous oxide | Yes. A hygienist may administer nitrous oxide analgesia under the direct supervision of a dentist after completing a CODA-accredited course with didactic and clinical components and receiving a board nitrous oxide analgesia certificate. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Supervision and direct access | Hygienists generally practice under the general supervision of an Arizona-licensed dentist. A hygienist may also provide services under an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every three years: the renewal application is due by the last day of the hygienist's birth month every third year, with a renewal fee of not more than $325. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Background check | Each applicant must obtain a valid Arizona fingerprint clearance card. Source: azleg.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. before you rely on them.
Licensed hygienists in Arizona earn a median $48.56 an hour ($101,010 a year). See Arizona pay by metro.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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