Dental Hygienist License in Indiana

Indiana requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a regional clinical examination. The Indiana State Board of Dentistry, under the Professional Licensing Agency, oversees licensing. CE is required for biennial renewal, typically 20 hours per renewal period including specific topics mandated by the board. Indiana law defines dental hygiene practice to include prophylaxis, scaling, root planing, application of preventive agents, and patient education under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Indiana has CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs at Indiana University, Indiana University South Bend, Indiana University Fort Wayne, and several other institutions. The state has adopted the CRDTS and CDCA clinical examinations for licensure. Indiana's dental hygiene workforce is concentrated in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, while rural communities in southern and eastern Indiana face persistent shortages of dental professionals. Indiana offers a public health dental hygienist permit allowing practice in approved community settings with collaborative agreements rather than direct supervision, expanding access in schools, correctional facilities, and long-term care settings.