North Carolina dental hygienist license
What North Carolina requires to license a dental hygienist, what a licensed hygienist may do, and how to keep the license current, taken from North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners and state code pages.
| Licensing board | North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Hygienist license applications are made on the Board's forms at www.ncdentalboard.org; the application requirements are set out in 21 NCAC 16C .0301. Open the page Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Education | Applicants must have official transcripts sent from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| National written exam | Applicants must pass the written examination administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (NBDHE). Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Clinical exam | Applicants must pass a clinical exam from a Board approved testing agency; submitted scores must include the ADEX dental hygiene licensure examinations. Scores are accepted for five years. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| State law exam | Applicants must score at least 80 percent on the Board's sterilization and jurisprudence examinations. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Fees | Application for examination: $275.00. Application for license by credentials: $750.00. License application processing fee: $75.00. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Licensed in another state | Hygienists licensed in another U.S. state or territory may apply by credentials with an affidavit of at least 2,000 hours of clinical patient care over the two year period, an active unrestricted license, and passing the Board's sterilization and jurisprudence exams. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Local anesthesia | Hygienists may administer local anesthetics by block or infiltration only with Board certification, and only under the direct supervision of a North Carolina licensed dentist. Renewal of the certificate requires two clock hours of CE each calendar year. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Supervision and direct access | Hygienists generally work under a dentist's supervision. A limited supervision hygienist may work without direct supervision after at least three years of clinical experience or 2,000 hours within the prior five calendar years, plus six hours of medical emergencies CE. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Renewal | Licenses renew every year; the renewal application is due electronically before midnight on January 31. The renewal fee is $81.00. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Continuing education | Six clock hours of CE each calendar year, plus an unexpired CPR certification. One clock hour on mental health is also required every two calendar years. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
| Background check | Applicants submit a fingerprint record card authorizing a fingerprint-based criminal history check through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Source: reports.oah.state.nc.us, checked 2026-10-29. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners before you rely on them.
Licensed hygienists in North Carolina earn a median $47.04 an hour ($97,850 a year). See North Carolina pay by metro.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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- Median hygienist pay, North Carolina
- $47.04/hr
- 75th percentile
- $48.53/hr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries.
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