Dental Hygienist License Requirements in Massachusetts

To get a dental hygienist license in Massachusetts, you must graduate from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), be at least 19 years old, pass three separate examinations, and submit an application to the Board of Registration in Dentistry with a $126 fee and supporting documents. The dental hygienist license requirements in Massachusetts are set by state statute and Board rules, and every applicant goes through the same core process whether they are new to the profession or already licensed somewhere else.¹²

Education and Age

You need a degree from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, and you must be at least 19 years old at the time of application.¹ There is no Massachusetts-approved substitute for the CODA credential. If your program isn’t accredited, you can’t sit for the exams the Board requires or complete the application.

The Three Required Exams

Massachusetts requires three exams before it will issue a license, and all three are mandatory. Score reports must come directly from the testing bodies — the Board does not accept copies you submit yourself.³

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, both Parts I and II of the ADA National Board exam.
A clinical examination: the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) exam, or another regional or state clinical exam the Board has approved.
The Massachusetts Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination, which covers state dental law and professional ethics.

What You Submit With the Application

The application is more than exam scores and a diploma. You must include:³²

Current BLS or CPR/AED certification.
A physician’s statement attesting to your health, issued within one year of the application.
A passport-size color photo.
Proof of good moral character supported by two licensed dentists or dental hygienists who can vouch for you.
Disclosure of any disciplinary, civil, or criminal actions taken against you.
A certification that you are in compliance with Massachusetts tax and child support obligations.

The initial licensure fee is $126, and all fees are non-refundable.² Once the Board issues the license, you must post your name and current license (or a copy) at each practice location in a place the public can see.⁴

If You’re Already Licensed in Another State

Massachusetts does not offer a straight reciprocity transfer. If you hold a dental hygienist license elsewhere, you apply through the same process as a new applicant and must still meet the education and examination requirements. On top of that, out-of-state applicants have extra verification steps.²

You must submit official verification of licensure from every state where you currently hold or have ever held a license. Each verification letter has to include your license number, current status, the board’s official seal and signature, and any disciplinary history. Photocopies and screenshots from board websites won’t be accepted. You also need an up-to-date resume or practice history if you have practiced in another jurisdiction.

Anyone who has previously held a healthcare license anywhere in the United States must run a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query and include the results. If you answer “yes” to any good moral character question on the application, you also need to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) acknowledgment form, signed in person before a notary or a Bureau of Health Professions Licensure employee.²

Local Anesthesia Is a Separate Permit

Your dental hygienist license does not by itself authorize you to administer local anesthesia. That requires a separate credential called Permit L, issued by the Board, and local anesthesia must be performed under direct supervision — the dentist has to be physically present in the office.⁵

To qualify, you must complete a CODA-accredited training program of at least 35 hours, including a minimum of 12 hours of hands-on clinical training, and pass the CDCA local anesthesia written exam. The coursework must cover pharmacology of anesthetic agents and vasoconstrictors, head and neck anatomy relevant to injection techniques, emergency management, and infection control. The training has to be completed within two years before you apply for the permit. Permit L may only be used in a dental practice that holds the appropriate facility permit.⁶

Renewing Your License

Massachusetts dental hygienist licenses expire every two years. To renew, you must complete at least 20 continuing education units (CEUs) during each renewal cycle.⁷ Two items in that total are fixed regardless of what else you take: you must keep CPR/AED or BLS certification continuously current, and you must complete training on CDC infection control guidelines.⁸

If you hold an anesthesia permit, the CPR requirement is higher. You must maintain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification at a level that matches your permit. Purely online CPR courses may not be accepted; the certification should include a practical skills component.⁸

The renewal fee is $60, and renewal is handled through the state’s online Health Professions Licensing Portal. You attest to completing your CE on the renewal, and you must keep your documentation available in case the Board audits you.⁹

If Your License Has Lapsed

Practicing with an expired license in Massachusetts is illegal and can bring civil administrative penalties and Board discipline. The reinstatement path depends on how long the license has been expired.¹⁰

If your license has been expired for less than two renewal cycles (roughly four years), you can apply for renewal by paying the renewal fee for each missed cycle plus a late renewal fee, submitting proof of completed CE credits for each missed cycle, and providing a written explanation of why you failed to renew on time. The Board can request additional documentation and may deny the application if you don’t cooperate.

If the license has been expired for more than two renewal cycles, the same requirements apply, but the Board has broader discretion to impose additional conditions before approving reinstatement. Either way, you cannot see patients until the Board restores your license.¹⁰

1
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 112 Section 51
2
Mass.gov. Apply for a Dental Hygienist License
3
Legal Information Institute. Massachusetts Code 234 CMR 4.07 – Initial Dental Hygienist Licensure by Examination
4
Justia. Massachusetts Code 234 CMR 5.04 – Posting of Licenses and Permits and Identification of Personnel
5
Legal Information Institute. Massachusetts Code 234 CMR 6.16 – Permit L Administration of Local Anesthesia by a Dental Hygienist
6
Mass.gov. Apply for a Local Anesthesia Permit as a Dental Hygienist
7
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Continuing Education for Dentistry
8
Legal Information Institute. Massachusetts Code 234 CMR 8.03 – Required Continuing Education
9
Mass.gov. Renew Your Dental Hygienist License and Permits
10
Legal Information Institute. Massachusetts Code 234 CMR 4.14 – License Renewal, Reactivation and Reinstatement