How to Become a Licensed Dental Hygienist in Arkansas

To become a dental hygienist in Arkansas, you need to graduate from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, pass three exams (a national written exam, a recognized clinical exam, and the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination), and submit a licensure application to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners with a $100 fee. Start to finish, most people spend about two and a half to three years on it.

The Degree You Need

Arkansas accepts an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene as the minimum degree for licensure, as long as the program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).1Commission on Dental Accreditation. About the Commission on Dental Accreditation Bachelor’s programs exist, but they’re not required. The dental hygiene program itself typically runs two years after you finish prerequisites.

Before you can apply to a program, you’ll need college coursework in subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. Specific prerequisites vary by school, and competitive applicants often spend two or three semesters knocking them out first.

When you graduate, your school has to send an official sealed transcript showing the degree awarded directly to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners (ASBDE). Transcripts you hand in yourself, or photocopies, won’t be accepted.2Legal Information Institute. 038.00.15 Arkansas Code R 002 – Article VIII Requirements for Licensure of Dentists and Dental Hygienists

The Three Exams You Have To Pass

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

The NBDHE is a written exam covering biomedical sciences, dental hygiene concepts, and clinical problem-solving. The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations administers it, and the fee is $600, which includes score reporting to up to three state boards.3Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. 2026 NBDHE Candidate Guide Arrange for your official scores to go directly from JCNDE to the ASBDE.

A Clinical Examination

You also have to pass a hands-on clinical examination administered by one of five testing agencies the Board recognizes:4Arkansas Department of Health. Hygienists Licensure Information

  • Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA)
  • Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
  • Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA)
  • Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)
  • Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS)

Fees vary by agency and typically run several hundred dollars. Most dental hygiene programs help their students register during the final semester.

Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination

The last exam is an open-book test on the Arkansas Dental Practice Act and the ASBDE rules. After the Board gets your license application and fee, they email the exam to you.5Arkansas Department of Health. Licensure – Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners You need at least 75% to pass.

Submitting Your Application

Once you’ve met the education and exam requirements, you send a complete application packet to the ASBDE with a $100 fee.6Code of Arkansas Rules. 17 CAR 115-2301 – Fees The packet includes:

Plan to spend well over $1,000 total before tuition. The $600 NBDHE fee, the clinical exam fee, background check costs, CPR certification, and the $100 application fee add up fast.

If You’re Already Licensed in Another State

You may be able to skip the clinical exam and apply by credentials instead, but only if you’ve practiced continuously for at least five years immediately before applying.7Code of Arkansas Rules. 17 CAR 115-902 – Requirements to Issue Dental Hygienist License Postgraduate dental-related education can count toward that five years.

The credentials pathway adds several requirements on top of the standard packet. You’ll need verification sent directly from every state board where you’ve ever held a license (current or expired), letters from two dentists practicing in your area attesting to your character and clinical ability, the past two years of your continuing education history, a passing score of 75% on the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination, and a signed letter stating you intend to practice in Arkansas within one year of being licensed.7Code of Arkansas Rules. 17 CAR 115-902 – Requirements to Issue Dental Hygienist License

If you’ve been licensed somewhere else for less than five years, apply through the standard examination pathway.4Arkansas Department of Health. Hygienists Licensure Information

What You Can Do With the License

Arkansas law requires you to work under the supervision of a licensed dentist for all dental hygiene services, with the specific level of oversight varying by procedure under the ASBDE’s rules.8Justia Law. Arkansas Code 17-82-103 – Employment of Hygienists Day-to-day work includes cleanings, periodontal assessments, radiographs, sealants, and patient education.

One thing your general license does not cover is injectable local anesthesia. For that, you need a separate permit from the ASBDE. To qualify, you must hold a current Arkansas dental hygiene license, complete a local anesthesia course (including inferior alveolar nerve block training) at a CODA-accredited institution, and keep a current Healthcare Provider level CPR certificate. The permit fee is $25.9Code of Arkansas Rules. 17 CAR 115-1602 – Administration of Local Anesthesia by a Dental Hygienist Topical anesthesia can be applied without this permit, under dentist supervision. Many general-practice employers expect new hygienists to hold the injection permit, so it’s worth pursuing early.

Keeping the License Active

Arkansas dental hygiene licenses renew every year, and the renewal fee is $100.6Code of Arkansas Rules. 17 CAR 115-2301 – Fees You submit proof of a current Healthcare Provider level CPR certificate with each renewal.

You also need 40 hours of continuing education every two years, running from January 1 of an even-numbered year through December 31 of the following odd year. Only courses tied to patient care count; personal finance and business meetings do not. At least one of the 40 hours must cover infection control, at least four must cover topics like ethics, jurisprudence, chemical dependency, patient record keeping, or HIPAA compliance, and no more than 15 can come from online or self-study.10Arkansas Secretary of State. Rules of the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners – Article XIV Minimum Continuing Education for Dentists and Dental Hygienists Courses from providers recognized through the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) are a safe bet, since Arkansas accepts them without question.