Dental Hygienists

Certification or Licensing

After graduating from an accredited school, you must pass state licensing examinations, both written and clinical. The American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations administers the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (the written aspect of the examination process). This test is accepted by all states and the District of Columbia. The clinical part of the examination is administered by state or regional testing agencies. Additional requirements for licensure vary by state. Those who become licensed can use the acronym RDH (i.e., registered dental hygienist) after their names to signify that they are licensed by the state in which they work.