2.2 Dental Hygienist Licensure and Licensure by Endorsement Certification
Key Takeaways
- RSA 317-A:21 requires hygienist applicants to graduate from a dental or dental hygiene school program of at least 2 years, accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by CODA.
- Den 301.01(f) requires a hygiene program of at least 2 academic years that awards at least an Associate in Science degree with a major in dental hygiene.
- Hygienist applicants need at least 3 Statement of Professional Character forms, including at least one licensed dentist and one licensed dental hygienist if they have previous dental employment (Den 301.01(c)(2)).
- Licensure by endorsement certification requires a current, unsuspended, unrestricted license in another state, and the 3-year clinical-exam window does not apply (Den 101.20; Den 302.03).
- Every applicant for initial New Hampshire licensure, including by endorsement, must pass the jurisprudence exam at 75% (Den 303.03).
Dental Hygienist Licensure and Endorsement
Statutory baseline — RSA 317-A:21 and 317-A:21-a
- Title protection: no one may provide dental hygiene services or use R.D.H. unless licensed (RSA 317-A:21, I).
- Application: to OPLC, with a fee, and proof of graduation from a school of dentistry or dental hygiene with a program of at least 2 years at an institution of higher education. The program must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by CODA (RSA 317-A:21, II).
- Examination (RSA 317-A:21-a): applicants are examined under RSA 310:4, II(c). The exam may be oral, clinical, written, or a combination, and no license issues without a passing result. OPLC may license applicants who passed the requirements of a national or regional testing agency acceptable to the Board.
- Jurisprudence (Den 303.02 and 303.03): every hygiene applicant is examined on RSA 317-A and its rules.
The hygienist application — Den 301.01
Applicants file OPLC's Universal Application for Initial Licensure with a Dental Hygienist Addendum listing other names and whether they passed:
- the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations exam; and
- the ADEX dental hygiene examination or another equivalent U.S. regional or state board exam that includes clinical procedure components or a manikin examination.
Supporting documents:
| Item | Hygienist requirement |
|---|---|
| Identity | Birth certificate, passport, or driver's license or state ID |
| Character references | At least 3 Statement of Professional Character forms, including at least one licensed dentist and one licensed dental hygienist in good standing if the applicant has previous dental employment, signed within 4 months |
| Graduation proof | Signed certification of graduation, or completion if the degree issues within 3 months |
| BLS-HCP | Current, if applicable |
| Criminal record check | Per Plc 304.01(b) and RSA 317-A:8-a |
| Transcript | Official dental hygiene school transcript bearing the registrar's signature and the school seal |
| Exam results | Original JCNDE and ADEX (or equivalent) grade cards |
| Other-state verification | Certified statement from each state board where licensed, covering discipline, pending actions, stayed probation, and investigations |
| Fee | Plc 1002.11 |
Program standard (Den 301.01(f)): at least 2 academic years, accredited by a USDOE-recognized agency and CODA, and awarding at minimum an Associate in Science with a major in dental hygiene.
Clinical-exam currency (Den 301.01(d); Den 302.03): the regional board result must be verified directly to OPLC by the CDCA or an equivalent board, and the exam must have been passed within the 3 years before the application or the completion of licensing. The 3-year window does not apply to endorsement applicants.
After OPLC approves the materials, the applicant takes the jurisprudence exam. With a score of 75% or higher, an active New Hampshire dental hygiene license issues (Den 301.01(g)–(i)).
Licensure by endorsement certification
Den 101.20 defines licensure by endorsement certification as a license based on meeting the applicable Den 300 requirements while holding a current, unsuspended, unrestricted license to practice in another state.
| Dentist endorsement | Hygienist endorsement | |
|---|---|---|
| OPLC substantially-similar standard (Plc 313.22) | Graduate of a CODA-recognized dental school and pass a state-approved national or regional exam for dentists | Graduate of a program accredited by CODA or a USDOE-recognized agency and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or an equivalent exam |
| Board rule | Den 301.02(e): endorsement is considered under Plc 313.22 | Den 301.01(e): must have passed the ADEX dental hygiene exam or a similar U.S. regional or state exam with clinical procedure or manikin components, passing each part, with documentation sent directly to OPLC |
| Recent practice (OPLC licensing page) | For the 3 years before applying: active practice in one or more states, a dental specialty training program, active military dental service, or a combination | Clinical dental hygiene practice in one or more states within the last 3 years |
| 3-year clinical-exam window | Does not apply (Den 302.04(a)) | Does not apply (Den 302.03) |
| Jurisprudence exam | Required: Den 303.03 covers every applicant for initial New Hampshire licensure | Required |
Endorsement saves a practitioner from retaking a clinical board. It does not waive the New Hampshire jurisprudence exam, the background check, or the character and credential documents.
Hygienist qualifications after licensure
A new license authorizes the baseline hygiene duties in Den 405.01 (section 5.1). Local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, orthodontic duties, provisional crowns, EFDA restorative work, and CPHDH certification each require additional qualification (sections 5.2–5.4). A graduate whose school did not include a qualifying local anesthesia or nitrous oxide course must complete one before performing those duties (Den 302.05(j)(2), (o)(2)).
Comparison: dentist vs. hygienist initial licensure
| Element | Dentist | Hygienist |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | DDS or DMD, CODA-accredited general dentistry program | At least Associate in Science in dental hygiene; USDOE-recognized and CODA accreditation |
| National written exam | JCNDE | JCNDE |
| Clinical exam | ADEX or equivalent with periodontal scaling or manikin | ADEX dental hygiene or equivalent with clinical procedure components or manikin |
| Character forms | 3; at least 2 from dentists | 3; at least 1 dentist and 1 hygienist |
| Jurisprudence | 75% | 75% |
A dental hygiene applicant who previously worked in a dental office is gathering character references. Which set satisfies Den 301.01(c)(2)?
Which dental hygiene program meets the education standard in RSA 317-A:21, II and Den 301.01(f)?
A dentist has practiced full-time in Maine for 15 years and passed a regional clinical board 16 years ago. She applies for New Hampshire licensure by endorsement certification. Which statement is correct?