Florida dental hygienist license
What Florida requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from Florida Board of Dentistry (Florida Department of Health) and state code pages.
| Licensing board | Florida Board of Dentistry (Florida Department of Health) Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
|---|---|
| How to apply | The Board of Dentistry's dental hygienist licensing page lists requirements, fees and the link to apply online through the MQA Services Portal. Open the page Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Education | Graduation from a dental hygiene school approved by the board or accredited by the ADA Commission on Accreditation (or another U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditor). Graduates of dental schools may qualify under separate rules. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| National written exam | Applicants must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination before applying. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Clinical exam | The clinical exam is the ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination (or its successor), which may be taken in Florida or another jurisdiction. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| State law exam | Applicants must pass a written Florida laws and rules examination. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Fees | Total initial fee is $130.00: a $50.00 application fee plus an $80.00 licensure fee. The licensure fee is $37.50 for applicants applying in the second year of the biennium. Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Licensed in another state | Florida has no reciprocity or licensure by credentials, but a hygienist with an active, unencumbered license in another state may qualify through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway (section 456.0145, F.S.), which requires at least two years of active practice in the prior four years. Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Local anesthesia | Yes, under direct supervision, to nonsedated patients 18 or older, after a CODA-accredited or board-approved course of at least 30 hours didactic and 30 hours clinical, plus current CPR or ACLS certification. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Supervision and direct access | The board sets direct, indirect or general supervision by task. Hygienists may also work in state public health programs under general supervision, in health access settings, and on a dentist's prescription (valid 2 years) in facilities, schools and homes of nonambulatory patients. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every two years and expire February 28 of even-numbered years; current licenses must be renewed by midnight Eastern Time on February 28, 2028. The active renewal fee is $80.00. Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Continuing education | At least 24 hours of board-approved continuing education every biennial renewal. Source: leg.state.fl.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Background check | Initial applicants must submit electronic fingerprints through an FDLE-approved Livescan provider for a Florida and national criminal history check. Source: floridasdentistry.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with Florida Board of Dentistry (Florida Department of Health) before you rely on them.
Licensed hygienists in Florida earn a median $44.22 an hour ($91,980 a year). See Florida pay by metro.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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