OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Kentucky Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

US-KY · License preparation

653 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Combined practice

Choose an exam or combined practice to begin.

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Dental Hygiene License

License to practice dental hygiene in Kentucky, issued by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry by clinical examination or by credentials under 201 KAR 8:563; licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years.

Licensing authority: Kentucky Board of Dentistry · Application information

Reinstatement of an expired or retired dental hygiene license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Cpr Certification
Hold an active CPR certification (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(1)(c)).
Criminal Background Check
Submit to a nationwide state and federal fingerprint background check (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(1)(e)).
Inactive Practice
An applicant who has not actively practiced in the preceding two years must complete a Board-approved continuing education plan before resuming practice (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(2)).
License Verification
Verify every dental hygiene license obtained elsewhere since first Kentucky licensure (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(1)(d)).
Npdb Explanation
Explain any positive National Practitioner Data Bank return (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(1)(f)).
Reinstatement Application
Submit the Application to Reinstate Dental or Dental Hygiene Licensure with a recent photo and the fee in 201 KAR 8:520 (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(1)(a)-(b)).
Reinstatement Fees
Fees depend on whether the license was properly retired and on how long ago it was last active (201 KAR 8:563 Section 8(3)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-04-13.

Renewal of an active dental hygiene license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Complete 30 hours of continuing education per biennial period, at least 10 live, subject to the pro-rating and waivers of 201 KAR 8:563 Section 5.
Cpr Certification
Maintain an active CPR certification meeting or exceeding the American Heart Association Guidelines (201 KAR 8:563 Section 6(1)(c)).
Inactive Practice
A licensee who has not actively practiced in the two years before renewal must complete a Board-approved continuing education plan before resuming practice (201 KAR 8:563 Section 6(2)).
Renewal Application
Submit the Application for Renewal of Dental Hygiene Licensure and the fee in 201 KAR 8:520 before the license expires on December 31 of an even-numbered year (201 KAR 8:563 Section 6(1); KRS 313.030(2)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-04-13.

Licensure by clinical examination

All of the following:

Application
Submit a completed and signed Application for Dental Hygiene Licensure with a photo taken within the past six months and pay the fee in 201 KAR 8:520 (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(2)-(3)).
Application More Than Two Years After Graduation
An applicant applying more than two years after graduating must hold a dental hygiene license in good standing in another U.S. state, territory or D.C., or complete a Board-approved continuing education plan (201 KAR 8:563 Section 2(2)).
Board Directed Mental Physical Examination
An applicant is deemed to consent to a mental or physical examination by a physician or psychologist when the Board directs it in writing on reasonable cause, and the Law Enforcement Committee may deny the application until it is taken (KRS 313.130(1)-(3)).
Clinical Examination Window
All components of the clinical examination must be completed within the five years preceding the filing of the application (201 KAR 8:563 Section 2(1)(b)).
Cpr Certification
Hold an active CPR certification meeting or exceeding the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(6)).
Criminal Background Check
Submit to a nationwide state and federal fingerprint criminal background check through the Kentucky State Police (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(7)).
Disciplinary Status
Not be the subject of disciplinary action under KRS Chapter 313 that would prevent licensure (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(4)).
Education
Hold an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from a CODA-accredited program (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(9)).
English Proficiency
Understand, read, speak, and write English at least at a ninth-grade comprehension and performance level, verified by testing as necessary (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(1)).
License Verification
Provide verification of every dental hygiene license held now or previously in any jurisdiction (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(8)).
Npdb Explanation
Provide a written explanation for any positive return on a National Practitioner Data Bank query (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(11)).
Prior Clinical Examination Results
A passing result, within that five-year window, on the examination of CITA, WREB or SRTA is among the clinical examinations 201 KAR 8:563 Section 2(1)(b) lists; those agencies have since merged into CDCA-WREB-CITA (ADEX) and CRDTS.
Remediation After Three Failures
An applicant who has taken a clinical examination three times without passing must complete a Board-approved remediation plan (201 KAR 8:563 Section 2(3)).
Licensure by credentials
Active Practice
Be licensed and actively practicing dental hygiene in a U.S. state, territory or D.C. for at least five of the six years preceding the application (201 KAR 8:563 Section 3(3)).
Application
Submit a completed and signed Application for Dental Hygiene Licensure with a photo taken within the past six months and pay the fee in 201 KAR 8:520 (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(2)-(3)).
Board Directed Mental Physical Examination
An applicant is deemed to consent to a mental or physical examination by a physician or psychologist when the Board directs it in writing on reasonable cause, and the Law Enforcement Committee may deny the application until it is taken (KRS 313.130(1)-(3)).
Cpr Certification
Hold an active CPR certification meeting or exceeding the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(6)).
Criminal Background Check
Submit to a nationwide state and federal fingerprint criminal background check through the Kentucky State Police (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(7)).
Disciplinary Status
Not be the subject of disciplinary action under KRS Chapter 313 that would prevent licensure (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(4)).
Education
Hold an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from a CODA-accredited program (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(9)).
English Proficiency
Understand, read, speak, and write English at least at a ninth-grade comprehension and performance level, verified by testing as necessary (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(1)).
License Verification
Provide verification of every dental hygiene license held now or previously in any jurisdiction (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(8)).
Npdb Explanation
Provide a written explanation for any positive return on a National Practitioner Data Bank query (201 KAR 8:563 Section 1(11)).
Prior Clinical Examination
Provide proof of having passed a state, regional, or national clinical examination used to determine clinical competency in a U.S. state, territory or D.C.; no particular examination is named (201 KAR 8:563 Section 3(2)).

ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE)

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners; Prometric delivery
Format
Computer-based clinically based questions
Exam questions
Up to 120 items; pilot questions do not affect the final score
Passing score
Minimum scaled score 75; results reported as Pass/Fail
Examination outline
  • Medical/Dental Assessment (12%)
  • Intra and Extra Oral Assessment and Charting (27%)
    • Intra and Extra Oral Examination
    • Dental and Periodontal Charting and Assessment
    • Soft Tissue, Bone, and Tooth Abnormalities
  • Radiology/Imaging (15%)
  • Dental Hygiene Care Planning (13%)
  • Patient Care (19%)
    • Periodontal Procedures
    • Infection Control
    • Medical Emergency Management
  • Dental Specialties and Pharmacology (14%)
    • Dental Specialties
    • Applied Pharmacology
Examination sources

ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE)

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Simulated patient treatment on maxillary and mandibular typodonts
Passing score
75 or greater; results reported as Pass/Fail for this part
Examination sources

CRDTS Dental Hygiene Patient-Based Exam

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Examination sources

CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Exam

Examination outline
  • Extra/Intra Oral Assessment OSCE — 16 scorable items, 1 point each, 16 maximum points
    • Identify gross head and neck anatomy, variations of normal anatomy, palpation techniques used to examine head and neck extraoral and intraoral structures, and atypical or abnormal findings, whether pathologic or non-pathologic
    • Extraoral — Head, Face, and Neck: asymmetry, infected piercings, swellings, lesions
    • Extraoral — Lymph Nodes, TMJ: description of location, restricted opening
    • Intraoral — Oral Mucosa/Lips and Supporting Structures: lesions, chemical/physical irritations, tattoos, swellings, hematomas, nodules
    • Intraoral — Alveolar Ridge: lesions, chemical/physical irritations, exostosis, torus/tori, tattoos, swellings, hematomas, nodules
    • Intraoral — Palate and Oral Pharynx (tonsils and tonsillar pillars): torus, lesions, chemical/physical irritation, other significant findings
    • Intraoral — Tongue: hairy tongue, fissured tongue, loss of papilla, geographic tongue, glossitis, nodules, lesions
    • Intraoral — Floor of the Mouth: ankyloglossia, hematomas, lesions, tattoos, other significant findings
  • Calculus Detection — 12 scorable surfaces, 1 point each, 12 maximum points
    • Explore 12 random assigned surfaces on the maxillary arch and accurately record presence (Y/Yes) or absence (N/No) of calculus on each surface
    • The maxillary arch is for calculus detection only, not scaling; deposits detected on a line angle are marked on the closest interproximal surface
  • Scaling/Subgingival Calculus Removal — 12 scorable surfaces, 5 points each, 60 maximum points
    • Candidate selects the right or left mandibular quadrant during the initial online application; examiners evaluate 12 surfaces in the selected quadrant
    • Because evaluated surfaces are unknown, explore all subgingival surfaces in the selected quadrant and remove subgingival calculus so no deposits are detectable with an 11/12 explorer; detectable subgingival calculus is a scaling error
    • Supragingival deposit/stain removal is not part of this examination, so rubber cup polishing is not needed or required
  • Periodontal Probing — 12 scorable measurements, 1 point each, 12 maximum points
    • On two randomly assigned teeth in the selected treatment quadrant, chart simulated gingival sulcus/pocket depths within ±1 mm to the nearest mm on six aspects of each tooth: MF, F-midpoint, DF, ML, L-midpoint, and DL
    • Record periodontal measurements after scaling; direct facial and lingual readings are at tooth midpoint with probe parallel to root surface and long axis; interproximal readings place the shank against the contact point and tip slightly into the col; if no contact, place at proximal midpoint and record the same facial and lingual measurement; use light pressure to position the tip to sulcus depth
Examination sources

Dental Hygiene Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Examination outline
  • Assessment, Interpretation, Evaluation, and Reevaluation (45%)
    • The extraoral and intraoral examination conducted by a dental hygienist, including hard and soft tissue evaluation (including the periodontal examination), interpretation of medical, dental, and psychosocial history and the patient’s oral health condition (e.g., via radiographic imaging), and reevaluation after treatment; findings are interpreted within scope of practice and used to inform the dental hygiene diagnosis.
    • Medical, Dental, and Psychosocial History — measured throughout the examination in every representation of a patient
    • Soft Tissue Evaluation (15% of this topic area)
    • Hard Tissue Evaluation (15% of this topic area)
    • Periodontal Assessment (35% of this topic area)
    • Hard and Soft Deposits (20% of this topic area)
    • Radiographic Technique (15% of this topic area) — effective use of radiographic equipment to obtain diagnostic-quality radiographs, including recognizing factors affecting diagnostic quality and adjustments to improve quality; excludes interpretation of radiographic images to establish the dental hygiene diagnosis, which is covered in other specification areas
  • Dental Hygiene Care Planning and Evidence Based Treatment (55%)
    • Use information acquired during Assessment, Interpretation, Evaluation, and Reevaluation to formulate appropriate dental hygiene care plans incorporating patient considerations, risk factors, and anticipated outcomes; inform dental hygiene treatment (including instrumentation) and follow-up; manage patient anxiety through pain control and medical emergencies during treatment, all within the dental hygienist’s scope of practice.
    • Infection Control (10% of this topic area)
    • Dental Hygiene Care Planning (25% of this topic area)
    • Pain Control (15% of this topic area)
    • Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy and Adjunctive Therapy (40% of this topic area)
    • Medical Emergencies (10% of this topic area)
Examination sources

Kentucky Board of Dentistry Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Kentucky Board of Dentistry
Format
Untimed, open-book examination submitted with the licensure application (online application or mail-in form)
Exam questions
50 questions on the mail-in form
Time limit
Untimed
Passing score
80% (40 of 50 questions on the mail-in form)
Examination outline
  • KRS Chapter 313 - Kentucky Dental Practice Act
  • 201 KAR 8:016 Registration of dental laboratories
  • 201 KAR 8:510 Advisory opinions
  • 201 KAR 8:520 Fees and fines
  • 201 KAR 8:533 Licensure of dentists
  • 201 KAR 8:540 Dental practices and prescription writing
  • 201 KAR 8:550 Anesthesia and sedation related to dentistry
  • 201 KAR 8:563 Licensure of dental hygienists
  • 201 KAR 8:571 Registration of dental assistants
  • 201 KAR 8:581 Charity dental practices
  • 201 KAR 8:590 Teledentistry
  • 201 KAR 8:601 Mobile Dental Facilities and Portable Dental Units
  • 201 KAR 8:610 Dental community health workers
Examination sources

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

Examination outline
  • Discipline-Based Component — Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice (61 items)
    • Anatomic Sciences
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Head and neck anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — General anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — Root anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Histology and Embryology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Physiology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Biochemistry and Nutrition
    • Anatomic Sciences — Microbiology and Immunology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — General
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — Oral
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pharmacology
  • Discipline-Based Component — Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services (115 items)
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Medical and dental history
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Head and neck examination
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Periodontal evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Oral evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — General
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiophysics and radiobiology
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiologic health
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Technique
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Recognition of normalities and abnormalities
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — General
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Infection control (application)
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Recognition of emergency situations and provision of appropriate care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Planning of individualized instruction
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Dental caries
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Periodontal disease
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Oral conditions
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Anxiety and pain control
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Recognition and management of compromised patients
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Diagnosis
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Treatment plan
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Case presentation
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Periodontal debridement
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Surgical support services
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Chemotherapeutic agents
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Reassessment and maintenance (e.g., implant care)
    • Using Preventive Agents
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Mechanisms of action
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Toxicology
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Water fluoridation
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Self-administered
    • Using Preventive Agents — Pit and fissure sealants
    • Using Preventive Agents — Other preventive agents
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Properties and manipulation of materials
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Polishing natural and restored teeth
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Making of impressions and preparation of study casts
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Other supportive services (e.g., tooth desensitization)
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — General
    • Professional Responsibility
    • Professional Responsibility — Ethical principles, including informed consent
    • Professional Responsibility — Regulatory compliance
    • Professional Responsibility — Patient and professional communication
    • Professional Responsibility — General
  • Discipline-Based Component — Community Health/Research Principles (24 items)
    • Promoting Health and Preventing Disease Within Groups
    • Participating in Community Programs
    • Participating in Community Programs — Assessing populations and defining objectives
    • Participating in Community Programs — Designing, implementing, and evaluating programs
    • Analyzing Scientific Literature, Understanding Statistical Concepts, and Applying Research Results
  • Case-Based Component (150 items involving 12 to 15 dental hygiene patient cases)
    • Cases present information dealing with adult and child patients and may involve geriatric, adult-periodontal, pediatric, special needs, medically compromised, and other patient types; a medically compromised patient is one whose health status may require modification of standard treatment or special consideration.
    • Patient information is presented by means of patient histories, dental charts, radiographs, and clinical photographs.
    • Assessing patient characteristics
    • Obtaining and interpreting radiographs
    • Planning and managing dental hygiene care
    • Performing periodontal procedures
    • Using preventive agents
    • Providing supportive treatment service
    • Professional responsibility
Examination sources