Please note: TSBDE will accept sim/manikin based examinations. As long as an applicant has passed an examination administered by one of the designated regional examining boards listed in Rule 103.2, TSBDE will accept those examination results.
General Qualifications for Licensure
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Has graduated from an accredited high school or holds a certificate of high school equivalency, General equivalency Diploma (GED);
- Has graduated from a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association with a degree in dentistry or a degree or certificate in dental hygiene, or has graduated from a CODA-accredited school or college of dental hygiene with a degree in dental hygiene;
- Has taken and passed the examination for dental hygienists given by the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations;
- Has taken and passed a clinical examination administered by a regional examining board designated by the Board within the last seven (7) years.
- Beginning October 1, 2021, applicants applying for licensure or registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) must complete a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and submit proof of completion with their application. This will be in addition to all required documentation that needs to be submitted to the TSBDE. For information on where to find approved courses, please click here.
Apply Online
Online Application System Requirements
- Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
- User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
- Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
- Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password
- From the Quick Start Menu, Under Start a New Application ⇢ Choose Board → Texas State Board of Dental Examiners → Choose Application →Initial Dental Hygienist by Exam from the left hand side of page.
- Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Application and payment summaries will be emailed to you along with the required fingerprint information session. Please note this does not complete your application process, you are still required to mail in all documents listed below.
Application & Supplemental Documents – Must be mailed to TSBDE
Copy of your online application and payment summary receipt. If you applying by using your military credentials, you will need to submit a paper application. Do not apply online, you will only further delay your processing time.
- 1- 2×2 passport photo
- Your head must face the camera directly with full face in view
- You must have a neutral facial expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open.
- Use a plain white or off-white background.
- Be sized correctly
- Copy of driver’s license, naturalization papers, or passport.
- Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, must include hands on demonstration of skills.
- Official school transcript showing proof of graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited (CODA) dental hygiene school. Transcripts must remain in the original, sealed and unopened envelope.
- Completion of National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas. The applicant will need to contact ADA’s department of testing services to ensure Texas will be able to access your results.
- Proof of completion of a dental hygiene clinical examination administered by a regional clinical examining board dated within seven (7) years from the date of examination. TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas. If you are mailing in your score report, it must remain in the original sealed envelope. Click here for a list of regional clinical examining boards recognized by the TSBDE. TSBDE currently validates scores from ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, and SRTA.
- Proof of completion of TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment dated within one year immediately prior to application submission.
- Copy of your IdentoGO fingerprint receipt. If you applied online, fingerprint instructions are emailed. If you are submitting a notarized paper application, fingerprint instructions will be emailed to the email address provided.
- National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query. Report results must remain in the original sealed envelope. NPDB self-query reports are valid for 60 days. Contact the NPDB at telephone number (800) 767-6732, or website http://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/howToGetStarted.jsp.
- For applicants who have held a license in another state/jurisdiction: A verification of licensure with imprint of state seal issued from a state board of dentistry in which the applicant has ever held a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene. This is not a copy of your license. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable.
- Proof of the Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Human Trafficking Course completion certificate.
Please note that you MUST self report your previously issued dental assistant registration even if it was issued by TSBDE. Failure to do so will result in licensure processing delays.
If the RDA registration has been canceled, you MUST answer, “Yes” on the license history question #2 on the application and submit a signed and notarized affidavit explained in detail. Failure to disclose any of the requested information may result in the denial of your application or other appropriate action.
Military Applicants: U.S. Military Active Duty, Veterans, and U.S. Military Active Duty Spouses may not apply online. Submit a paper application and select your method of licensure. All of the above supplemental documents are required along with a a copy of your Military Change of Station Orders, Identification Card or a document showing proof of Honorable or General Discharge.
Please allow 3 – 4 weeks for processing once TSBDE has received a completed application. Incomplete applications will delay the process. Please do not contact the Licensing Division to check the status of your application unless it has been longer than 4 weeks and you have not been contacted via mail. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an approval letter via the U.S. mail advising you of the license activation process.
Dental Hygiene Licensure Application
Initial Renewal (License Activation) Process
The status of your license will be Expired after it is first issued. You will receive a letter in the mail with instructions for paying your prorated initial renewal (activation) fee online. This fee will activate your license and change the status to Active. This letter will authorize you to practice for 30 days. Once you pay your fee online you should receive your new license in the mail approximately 7-10 days later. Exception: Military applicants are not required to pay to activate their license. The license will be issued and mailed to the applicant after the application has been approved.
- Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
- User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
- Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
- Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password)
Be sure you have your license number before proceeding to the next step. If you have not received your approval letter in the mail, you may also verify your license from the board’s website under Search Licensees.
- From the Quick Start Menu, select ⇢ Update Profile →Add Licenses
- Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.
Your first license may be valid anywhere between 18- 30 months. A renewal postcard reminder will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the TSBDE approximately 60 days prior to your license expiration date.
Additional Information
- Change of Address. Licensees are required to notify the TSBDE within 60 days of a change in address.
- CPR Requirement. CPR Courses must include a hands-on demonstration of skills by the applicant on a manikin and a written assessment of skills.
- Monitoring of Nitrous Oxide – You must hold an active dental hygiene license before submitting an application to monitor nitrous oxide.