DENTAL HYGIENIST License in Texas

Texas requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE, a clinical examination, and a Texas jurisprudence examination covering state dental law and rules. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners oversees dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for annual license renewal, with 12 hours per year. Texas is one of the largest dental markets in the nation, with extensive demand driven by rapid population growth, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio metropolitan areas. The state has numerous CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs at institutions including Baylor College of Dentistry (Texas A&M), University of Texas Health Science Center, Tarrant County College, and many community colleges across the state. Texas law requires dental hygienists to practice under the supervision of a licensed dentist, though the state has gradually expanded supervision provisions to allow certain services under general supervision in recent years. Texas also has provisions for dental hygienists to provide services in public health settings including schools and community health centers to address access disparities in the Rio Grande Valley, rural East Texas, and the Panhandle region.