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Hygienist License – Reinstate Canceled

General Qualifications

An applicant who submits an application for reinstatement and is actively practicing dentistry in another state within the two years immediately preceding the date of the application in addition to the other requirements listed in board rule 103.11 may reinstate a cancelled Texas license without reexamination.

An applicant who submits an application for reinstatement and has not been actively practicing dentistry in another state within the two years immediately preceding the date of the application; must submit proof that the applicant has taken and passed the clinical examination administered by a regional clinical examining board designated by the Board dated within the last seven (7) years immediately preceding the date of the application.

To reinstate a cancelled Texas dental hygiene license to active status, an applicant must submit a reinstatement application on the Board’s prescribed form, pay all required fees, and meet the specific criteria outlined below.

Requirements for Reinstatement:

  1. Compliance with the Dental Practice Act and Board Rules: The applicant must comply with all other applicable provisions of the Dental Practice Act and Board rules.
  2. Compliance with Prior Board Orders: The applicant must have been in compliance with, or satisfied all conditions of, any Board order that was in effect at the time the license was cancelled.
  3. Discretionary Conditions: The Board reserves the right to require compliance with other reasonable conditions as necessary to safeguard public health and safety when considering a request for reinstatement.

Additional Requirements Based on Practice Status:

A. Applicant Currently Practicing Elsewhere (Practiced within the last two years):

An applicant who is currently practicing dentistry in another state or territory outside of the United States and has actively practiced within the two years immediately preceding the application date must provide:

  • Verification of licensure and disciplinary history from all state board(s) of dentistry where the licensee has held a license.
  • Proof of active practice within the two years prior to the application.
  • Proof of passing the Texas jurisprudence assessment administered by the Board or its designated entity within one year immediately prior to application.
  • Proof of successful completion of a current course in basic life support.
  • Proof of completion of 12 hours of continuing education (CE), taken within the 12 months preceding the date the application is received by the Board. All CE hours must comply with the requirements of Chapter 104 of this title (relating to Continuing Education).
  • Proof of submission of fingerprints for the retrieval of criminal history record information.

B. Applicant Not Actively Practiced for at Least Two Years:

An applicant who has not actively practiced for at least two years immediately preceding the request for reinstatement of a cancelled license must submit proof of taking and passing the appropriate general dentistry clinical examination administered by a regional examining board designated by the Board, as required by §103.2 of this chapter (relating to Licensure by Examination) pursuant to §257.002(d) of the Dental Practice Act.

Human Trafficking Prevention Course Requirement:

  • Effective October 1, 2021, applicants for licensure or registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) must complete a course in human trafficking prevention.
  • This course must be approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
  • Proof of completion must be submitted with the application, in addition to all other required documentation.
  • Information on approved courses is available here.

Military Applicants: Follow this link for specific application information.

Other Professional License, Permit, or Registration

  • Self-Reporting Prior Registration: You MUST self-report your previously issued dental assistant registration, nurse, pharmacy technician, etc. from any other state or country including the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners: Failure to do so will result in licensure processing delays. For each license you have ever held, you must obtain verification of the status of that license and list the information on the application. The verification must include the license number, the date issued, the current status, its expiration date, and whether any disciplinary action, sanction, or restriction was issued. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable. Verification must be received in its own sealed unopened envelope from the issuing entity.
  • Canceled RDA Registration: If your RDA registration has been canceled, you MUST answer, “Yes” on license history question #2 on the application and submit a signed and notarized affidavit explaining the cancellation in detail.
  • Disclosure Requirement: Failure to disclose any requested information may result in the denial of your application or other appropriate action.

Application & Supplemental Documents

  • 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.
    • A valid, unexpired driver’s license or state identification certificate issued by a state or territory of the United States that complies with the minimum document requirements and issuance standards for federal recognition under the REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, unless the driver’s license is marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary;”
    • a valid, unexpired driver’s license or state identification certificate that does not comply with REAL ID issued by one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming;
    • a valid passport. Valid passport is defined as: (i) an unexpired passport or passport card issued by the United States government; or (ii) an unexpired passport issued by the government of another country accompanied by a current permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;
    • a valid, unexpired license to carry a handgun issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety under Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H;
    • a United States Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); or
    • a United States Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561);
  • 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 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 general dental hygiene clinical examination administered by a regional clinical examining board dated within seven (7) years from the date of examination. Both written and clinical components are required. TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas. Score reports must remain in the original sealed envelope if they are mailed in. Click here for a list of regional clinical examining boards recognized by the TSBDE. TSBDE currently validates scores from ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA.
    • Pursuant to TSBDE Rule 101.2(e), an applicant who takes an examination after January 1, 2019, must also successfully complete the periodontics and prosthodontics sections of an exam approved by a designated regional examining board. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most regional examining boards did not offer a clinical periodontics section due to COVID-19 restrictions. During that time TSBDE accepted the CTP and DSE OSCE, because it included a perio component.
    • Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, most regional boards now offer a periodontics section that may be taken on a manikin/simulation. TSBDE will accept regional examining board results based on what was offered by the examining board at the time of the exam. Moving forward, if a periodontics/prosthodontic portion is offered, TSBDE would require the applicant to complete that section for licensure.
  • Proof of completion of TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment dated within one year immediately prior to application submission.
  • 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.
  • Proof of the Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Human Trafficking Course completion certificate.
  • Proof of practice is required. This form cannot be completed by the applicant. You may download the form by clicking here: Proof of Practice.
  • For applicants who hold or have every held a professional license, permit or registration (dental assistant, nurse, pharmacy technician, etc.) in Texas, or any other state including the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners: For each license you have ever held, you must obtain verification of the status of that license and list the information on the application. The verification must include the license number, the date issued, the current status, its expiration date, and whether any disciplinary action, sanction, or restriction was issued. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable. Verification must be received in its own sealed unopened envelope.

Download Application

Application Status and Review Process

  • Initial Review Time: Please allow a minimum of 5 business days for our staff to review your application after receipt and to email you with an update on its status. If you are unable to include any required document, please attach a note explaining its absence for the staff’s consideration.
  • Checking for Deficiencies: Any missing or incomplete required documents (deficiencies) identified during the staff review will be communicated to you via the email address provided on your application.
  • Approval and Next Steps: Upon approval, an official approval letter detailing the subsequent required steps will be mailed to you. You will then be required to create an online licensing account.

Initial License Activation (First Renewal)

After your license is first issued, its status will be Expired. To activate your license and change the status to Active, you must complete the initial renewal process, which involves paying a prorated activation fee online.

You will receive an approval letter via your online licensing account providing instructions for paying this fee. Note: This letter will temporarily authorize you to practice for 30 days. Once the fee is paid online, your physical decorative wall license will be mailed within 7–10 days.

Exception for Military Applicants: Military applicants are not required to pay the activation fee. Their license will be issued and mailed after the application is approved.

Steps for Initial Renewal:

  1. Register or Log In to Your Online Account:
    • Register for a secure online account, using a personal email address (not one assigned by your college) as your User ID.
    • If an account already exists, simply log in.
    • You will receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us.
    • Log in with the temporary password and create a permanent password. It is recommended to write down your User ID and new password.
  2. Verify Your License Number:
    • Ensure you have your license number before proceeding.  If you have not yet received your approval letter, you can verify your license using the board’s website under Search Licensees.
  3. Complete the Activation:
    • From the Quick Start Menu, navigate to Update Profile and select Add Licenses.
    • Complete the application and submit the prorated initial renewal fees using MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.
    • An email confirming the application and payment will be sent to you.

License Validity and Future Renewals:

Your first license may be valid for a period between 18 and 30 months. A renewal postcard reminder will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the TSBDE about 60 days before your license’s expiration date.

Additional Information

  • Local Infiltration Anesthesia (LIA). You must hold an active dental hygiene license before an application for a LIA permit can be processed.
  • Nitrous Oxide Monitoring (NOM). You must hold an active dental hygiene license before an application to monitor nitrous oxide can be processed.
  • Change of Address. Licensees are required to notify the Board 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.
  • Name Changes. If your name has changed since you took any licensing exam or were licensed in another state or country, you are required to submit documentation that verifies the name on your application.