| License Description |
Dental Hygienists provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Responsible for providing treatment that helps to prevent oral disease, including cavities and periodontal disease. This professional is especially knowledgeable about the preventive aspects of dental disease and helps educate patients to improve oral health. They may work in settings such as private dental offices and clinics, public health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, private industry, or serve as civilian employees of the military.
Legislation: NH RSA 317-A:7 and 317-A:21-e; Administrative Rules Chapter Den 100-500
Licensure Requirements:
- Dental Hygienist
- Must at least 18 years of age
- Must be of good professional character
- High school graduate
- Complete an educational dental hygiene program of at least two years that is recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist
- Must have education and training of:
- A bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, with a minimum of six hours in community health; or
- Have obtained a master's degree in public health; or
- Be a registered Dental Hygienst who has successfully copmleted courses in caries stabilization, evidence-based dentistry, infection control in public health settings, medical management in public health dental settings, and management of medical records. (See Den 302.07 for specific requirements.)
- Must have 3,200 hours in practice as a dental hygienst, 1,600 hours of which shall be within the two years prior to certification
- Must have qualified in dental sealants pursuan to Den 302.05 if similar training was not recieved as part of the dental hygiene school curriculum
Examination: Must pass national and regional examinations acceptable to the board
Continuing Education: 20 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years with 15 CEUs in clinical dental hygiene care, including two CEUs in infection control. Must also successfully complete a basic life support course for health care providers (BLS-HCP), which has a hands-on component.
Fees:
- Application and examination: $100
- Active biennial registration: $165
- Inactive biennial registration: $65
- Application for hygienist to administer local anesthesia: $25
- Application for CPHDH Certificate: $25
- Biennial certificate renewal for CPHDH: $25
- Late renewal fee for CPHDH: $25
- Reinstatement for lapsed CPHDH certification: $25
Reciprocity: Endorsement certification shall be considered for any person holding a current, unsuspended, unrestricted license to practice dental hygiene in another state and who has maintained an active dental hygiene practice in one or more states for not less than three years immediately prior to submitting the application, and deposits the required credentials with the Board
revised Jan 2018 |