Licensure Information

Licensure and Practice

Under North Carolina Law, § 90-233, A dental hygienist may practice only under the direct supervision of one or more licensed dentists. However, a dental hygienist may practice outside the direct supervision of a dentist under special circumstances. Eligibility to Practice Dental Hygiene Outside Direct Supervision

There are a few ways to obtain a dental hygiene license in North Carolina. You can receive a license via Licensure by Credentials or via Military Endorsement. If you do NOT qualify for a dental hygiene license either of these two ways, you are required to participate in written and clinical examinations.

A provisional license may also be issued in specific situations. This enables a dental hygienist to practice dental hygiene in North Carolina under the supervision of a specific dentist licensed in North Carolina if a dental hygienist is unable to meet requirements for dental hygiene licensure.

*This is not a stopgap while waiting for and it cannot be obtained any quicker than a dental hygiene license.

To be eligible for a provisional license, a dental hygienist must hold a license in another state and have passed a clinical exam. Additional Licensure Information

If you are certified to administer local anesthesia in another state or are seeking your certification to administer local anesthesia, there are some things you need to know.

Process for Dental Hygienists to be Certified to Administer Local Anesthesia

What is a Public Health Dental Hygienist? 21 NCAC 16W .0101

A public health hygienist may perform clinical procedures under the direction of a licensed dentist, as defined by 21 NCAC 16A .0101(9) and in accordance with § 90-233(a). To be classified as a public health dental hygienist you must have:

• Five years of clinical experience in dental hygiene
• Current CPR certification, taken in a live, hands-on course
• Six hours of continuing education in medical emergencies each year, in addition to the minimum continuing education required for license renewal 
• Other training may be required by the Oral Health Section of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Training for Public Health Dental Hygienists

Training for Public Health Dental Hygienists Performing Preventive Procedures

Dental Access Shortage Areas

Requirements for license renewal for NC licensed dental hygienists:

As part of a healthcare profession, lifelong learning will keep you apprised on new technologies and modalities for prevention and treatment. As a dental hygienist, you are required to have annual CE for your license renewal. NC hygienists are required to have a minimum of six CE hours each year as well as a valid CPR to renew. CPR certification does have to have a live hands on component to be valid. Renew Your License Here

• The 6 hours can be in any subject area that you wish, however, to be counted it must be related to patient care (GS 90-225.1). Courses stressing practice management or self-improvement, would not count.
• If you have provided the NCSBDE with your local anesthetic training and your license carries this credential, you must have two CE hours each year specific to local anesthetics and medical emergencies (GS 90-225.3 (c)). 
• Beginning with the renewal year 2025, all licensed dental hygienists are required to complete a one hour CE every two years on substance abuse and mental health (21 NCAC 16I .0206). This hour can be part of your 6 CE hours and does not add additional hours to your requirements.
• Dental hygienists with a limited supervision license and classified as a public health dental hygienist, must complete 6 hours of continuing education every year in dental office medical emergencies, in addition to the minimum 6 hours of continuing education as required for license renewal.
• If you are being audited for CE, you will be unable to renew online until they  have processed your CE paperwork. Please allow 2 weeks processing time after you submit your paperwork before attempting online renewal or contacting the Dental Board office.
• The online renewal system is open from November 1 to March 31 each year and is $106. *A $50 late penalty will be assessed to those renewing after January 31. 
• All licenses that are not renewed by March 31 become void and continuing to practice without a valid renewal certificate is a Class I misdemeanor. Each day’s violation is a separate offense. Licenses not renewed by March 31 must be reinstated by the Board. Reinstatement involves submitting an application and paying a reinstatement fee ($60) along with the current year’s renewal fee.
• Beginning February 1, 2025 the Dental Board will implement a new renewal system. Paper checks are no longer accepted. All fees must be paid with a debit or credit card.

Educator CE Credit

If you work on a full-time basis as a faculty member of an educational institution, with direct involvement in education, training or research in dental/dental auxiliary programs or with a federal, state or county government agency whose operation is directly related to to dentistry/dental auxiliary, you will receive four hours of CE credit. Additionally, if you work at least 20 hours per week in the previously mentioned programs or agencies, you will receive two CE hours per year.

Volunteer CE Credit

If you perform at least five hours of dental hygiene on a volunteer basis at any state, city or county operated site approved by the Dental Board, you may receive one hour of CE credit. 

Employment Misclassification

Public Notice Statement required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-764(a)(5), Effective December 31, 2017 Any worker who is defined as an employee by N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 95-25.2(4)(NC Department Of Labor), 143-762(a)(3) (Employee Fair Classification Act), 96-1(b)(10)(Employment Security Act), 97-2(2)(Workers’ Compensation Act), or 105 -163.1(4)(Withholding; Estimated Income Tax for Individuals) shall be treated as an employee unless the individual is an independent contractor. Any employee who believes that the employee has been misclassified as an independent contractor by the employee’s employer may report the suspected misclassification to the Employee Classification Section within the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Employee Classification Section North Carolina Industrial Commission 1233 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1233 Telephone: (919) 807-2582 Fax: (919)715-0282 Email: emp.classification@ic.nc.gov Employee misclassification is defined as avoiding tax liabilities and other obligations imposed by Chapter 95, 96, 97, 105, or 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor. [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-762(5)] 

In addition, applicants and licensees must disclose if they have been investigated for employee misclassification anytime during the past three years. Failure to comply with the certification and disclosure requirements means the licensing board shall deny the license, permit, or application. The public policy behind this new law is to serve notice to all licensed professionals that the Department of Revenue is serious about catching those who avoid tax liabilities by misclassifying employees as independent contractors.