Georgia dental hygienist license
What Georgia requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from Georgia Board of Dentistry and state code pages.
| Licensing board | Georgia Board of Dentistry Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Dental hygienist applications (examination, credentials, endorsement, reinstatement) are listed on the board's Applications and Forms page. Open the page Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Education | Graduation with an associate or bachelor's degree from a dental hygiene school accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Education (CODA). Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| National written exam | Applicants must submit National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) scores from the ADA Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Clinical exam | Applicants must pass a clinical licensure examination with a score of 75 or higher in all sections; accepted exams are set by Board Rule 150-5-.02. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| State law exam | A Georgia jurisprudence exam is required, with a score of 75 or higher. It is open book and the score is valid for one year. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Fees | Licensure by examination carries a $75 non-refundable application fee, paid by check or money order to the Georgia Board of Dentistry. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Licensed in another state | Hygienists licensed elsewhere may apply by credentials (fee $1025.00) and must show full time clinical practice of at least 1,000 hours per year in the two years before applying. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Local anesthesia | Hygienists may administer local anesthesia (authorized since June 1, 2023) after a sixty (60) hour course of 30 didactic, 15 laboratory and 15 clinical hours. No board application is filed; the supervising dentist verifies training, and 2 hours of CE per biennium are required. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Supervision and direct access | Georgia hygienists may work under general supervision; doing so requires carrying malpractice insurance. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every two years and expire December 31 of each odd-numbered year. Late renewal runs from January 1 through June 30 of the following even year. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Continuing education | 22 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, of which 15 must be in clinical science. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Background check | Applicants must submit a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report; recent graduates never licensed elsewhere are exempt. Source: gbd.georgia.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with Georgia Board of Dentistry before you rely on them.
Licensed hygienists in Georgia earn a median $45.91 an hour ($95,490 a year). See Georgia pay by metro.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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