Dental Hygienist License in Iowa

Iowa requires graduation from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, passage of the NBDHE, and a clinical examination. The Iowa Board of Dental Examiners, under the Iowa Department of Public Health, regulates dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for biennial license renewal, typically 25 hours per two-year period. Iowa has expanded the dental hygiene scope of practice to include public health supervision, allowing dental hygienists to provide preventive services in public health settings such as schools, nursing homes, and Head Start programs without direct dentist supervision. This provision has meaningfully improved oral health access in rural communities. The University of Iowa College of Dentistry offers a well-regarded dental hygiene program, and several community colleges including Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Western also provide CODA-accredited programs throughout the state. Iowa's rural communities face persistent dental professional shortages, particularly in western and southern regions, creating strong employment prospects for dental hygienists willing to work outside major metro areas like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. The state's agricultural economy and aging rural population make preventive dental services especially critical.