Massachusetts dental hygienist license

What Massachusetts requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. and state code pages.

Massachusetts dental hygienist licensing, checked 2026-10-29
Licensing board	Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. Source: malegislature.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Education	Graduation from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), shown by an original transcript or a signed letter with the college seal. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
National written exam	Applicants must pass Parts I and II of the ADA National Board Examination for Dental Hygienists. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Clinical exam	Applicants by examination must pass the CDCA dental hygiene examination or another state or regional clinical examination approved by the Board. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
State law exam	Applicants must pass the Massachusetts Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination (or a Board-approved successor). Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Licensed in another state	A hygienist currently licensed in another jurisdiction can be licensed without a further clinical exam, with at least one year of practice in dental hygiene or hygiene education right before applying, plus the national boards and the Massachusetts ethics and jurisprudence exam. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Local anesthesia	Yes, with a Board-issued Permit L, and only under the direct supervision of a dentist. The permit requires a CODA-accredited course of at least 35 hours, including at least 12 hours of clinical training, and a written local anesthesia exam. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Supervision and direct access	Hygienists work under general or direct supervision of a dentist, as the Board sets for each procedure. A registered hygienist in a public health setting may treat patients without a prior dentist exam under a written collaborative agreement or a dentist's standing order under general supervision. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Renewal	Hygiene licenses renew every two years, no later than March 31 of odd-numbered years. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.
Continuing education	At least 20 CEUs in the 24 months before March 31 of odd-numbered years. Required topics include CDC Guidelines and continuous CPR/AED or BLS certification. Source: mass.gov, checked 2026-10-29.

Rules and fees change. Confirm with Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. before you rely on them.

Licensed hygienists in Massachusetts earn a median $48.39 an hour ($100,640 a year). See Massachusetts pay by metro.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.

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