Illinois dental hygienist license
What Illinois requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation. and state code pages.
| Licensing board | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation. Source: idfpr.illinois.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
|---|---|
| How to apply | New dental hygienist applications are filed online through IDFPR's CORE licensing system, linked from the IDFPR Dental Professions page. Open the page Source: idfpr.illinois.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Education | Completion of 2 academic years of credit from a dental hygiene program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| National written exam | Applicants must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Clinical exam | A clinical exam conducted by CRDTS or ADEX. Exams from SRTA, WREB, CDCA or NERB are accepted only if completed before January 1, 2026. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Fees | $100 to apply for an initial dental hygienist license; $300 for a hygienist licensed in another jurisdiction. Clinical exam fees are paid separately. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Licensed in another state | Hygienists licensed in another state who have lawfully practiced at least 3 of the last 5 years may be licensed by endorsement if that state's requirements are at least equal to Illinois'. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Local anesthesia | Yes, with the dentist in the facility, after a 32 hour course (24 hours lecture, 8 hours clinical). Exempt: graduates after January 1, 1999 of a program that taught local anesthesia, and hygienists authorized in another state. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Nitrous oxide | Yes, hygienists may administer and monitor nitrous oxide with the dentist in the facility, after completing a 12 hour course in nitrous oxide analgesia. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Supervision and direct access | In a dental office, hygienists may work under general supervision if the dentist examined the patient within one year and approved the services. A public health dental hygienist route allows work in public health settings under a written agreement with a dentist. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every 3 years and expire on September 30. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Continuing education | 36 hours of continuing education per 3 year renewal period. Not required for the first renewal after the license is first issued. Source: ilga.gov, checked 2026-10-29. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation. before you rely on them.
Licensed hygienists in Illinois earn a median $46.48 an hour ($96,670 a year). See Illinois pay by metro.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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