Dental Hygienists License in North Dakota

North Dakota requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a clinical examination. The North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners oversees dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for annual license renewal, typically 16 hours per year. North Dakota has historically accepted the CRDTS clinical examination, consistent with central and northern states' practices. The state has a dental hygiene program at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, which produces a limited number of graduates annually relative to workforce needs. North Dakota's small population and vast rural geography create persistent dental professional shortages, particularly in western oil-producing communities that experienced rapid population growth during energy booms and on Native American reservations including the Turtle Mountain, Spirit Lake, and Standing Rock communities. The state has implemented provisions allowing dental hygienists to provide services in community and public health settings under general or indirect supervision. North Dakota's robust economy, driven by energy and agriculture sectors, supports competitive dental hygienist salaries relative to the cost of living, making it an attractive practice location.