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Maryland Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

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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.

retired volunteer dental hygienist’s license to practice dental hygiene

Retired volunteer dental hygienist’s license requiring a general dental hygiene license within the last 2 years and completion of Board-required continuing education.

Licensing authority: State Board of Dental Examiners

Initial issuance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Complete the continuing education requirements the Board establishes for a general license (Health Occupations Article §4-302(j)(2)).
Education
Graduate of a school for dental hygienists that requires at least 2 years of education in an institution of higher education, is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, and is approved by the Board (Health Occupations Article §4-302(e)).
Good Moral Character
Be of good moral character (Health Occupations Article §4-302(b)).
Prior License
Have had a general license to practice dental hygiene in Maryland within the last 2 years (Health Occupations Article §4-302(j)(1)).
Regulation Qualifications
COMAR 10.44.24.02C: 'Meet the qualifications otherwise required by Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Annotated Code of Maryland, for an active general license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the State, except that the North East Regional Board examination requirements are waived by the Board'. Health Occupations Article §4-302(j) sets the statutory qualifications without an examination.
Services
Donate at least 100 hours of dental hygiene services without compensation in an eligible facility, carry malpractice insurance, and not otherwise practice for profit in Maryland (Health Occupations Article §4-308(g); COMAR 10.44.24.03E-F).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
Submit a renewal application, complete the continuing education requirements for an active general license, prove at least 100 hours of uncompensated dental hygiene services, show malpractice coverage, and submit a National Practitioner Data Bank file (COMAR 10.44.24.08).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Teacher's license to practice dental hygiene

Maryland teacher's license to practice dental hygiene for dental school faculty licensed in another state.

Licensing authority: Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners

Initial issuance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Education
Graduate of a school for dental hygienists that requires at least 2 years of education in an institution of higher education, is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, and is approved by the Board (Health Occupations Article §4-302(e)).
Experience
Active as a dental hygienist for at least 5 years before applying (Health Occupations Article §4-302(h)(2)).
Faculty
Be a full-time or part-time faculty member at a dental school where the applicant teaches a subject required by that school (Health Occupations Article §4-302(h)(3)); submit a letter from the Dean requesting the license (COMAR 10.44.28.03B(7)).
Good Moral Character
Be of good moral character (Health Occupations Article §4-302(b)).
Other State License
Be licensed to practice dental hygiene in any other state (Health Occupations Article §4-302(h)(1)).
Scope
Teach dental hygiene only at the institution named on the license and practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist with that institution (Health Occupations Article §4-308(j)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement
Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination
Eligibility
A license expired for not more than 3 years (COMAR 10.44.10.03D).
Examination Score
Pass the written Maryland Law Examination given by the Board with at least a score of 75 (COMAR 10.44.10.03B(6)).
Other
Proof of licensure and good standing from all states of current licensure, Board reinstatement application, otherwise entitled to be licensed, reinstatement fee, and Board continuing education requirements (COMAR 10.44.10.03B(1)-(5)).
Renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
Before expiration: be otherwise entitled to be licensed, pay the renewal fee, submit the Board renewal application, and fulfill the Board continuing education requirements (COMAR 10.44.10.02C).
Term
A teacher's license expires in the same manner as the general license or when the licensee ceases teaching at the institution named on the license (COMAR 10.44.10.01C; Health Occupations Article §4-309(a)(3)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary license to practice dental hygiene

Maryland temporary license to practice dental hygiene for a dental hygienist licensed in another state or a province of Canada.

Licensing authority: Board of Dental Examiners

Initial issuance
Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination
Documents
Board application, proof of current licensure elsewhere, statement from previous employers verifying the practice experience, and the application fee (COMAR 10.44.17.03).
Education
Graduate of a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and approved by the Board (Health Occupations Article §4-312(a)(4); COMAR 10.44.17.02A).
Other State License
Be currently licensed to practice dental hygiene in any other state or any province of Canada (Health Occupations Article §4-312(a)(1); COMAR 10.44.17.02B).
Practice Experience
Has practiced dental hygiene at least 800 hours per year for 2 years and during the past 2 years (COMAR 10.44.17.02C).
Term
Expires when licenses are issued to those who pass the first examination for a general license given over 30 days after its effective date; not renewable (Health Occupations Article §4-312(c); COMAR 10.44.17.05).

Maryland Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Open-book written examination with scored questions, completed on paper and returned to the Board or taken at the Board office
Passing score
75 or greater on each section
Exam fee
$50.00
Examination outline
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 1 (§§ 4-101 through 4-104)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 2 (§§ 4-201 through 4-209)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 3 (§§ 4-301 through 4-321)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 4 (§§ 4-401 through 4-407)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 5 (§§ 4-501 through 4-509)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 6 (§§ 4-601 through 4-606)
  • Maryland Dentistry Act, Health Occupations Article, Title 4, Subtitle 7 (§§ 4-701 through 4-702)
  • COMAR 10.44.01 Dental Assistants
  • COMAR 10.44.03 The Conduct of Experimental Programs in Dental Schools or Colleges in the State, Which Use Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists, or Both, in the Training of Students Enrolled in the Dental School or College
  • COMAR 10.44.04 Practice of Dental Hygiene
  • COMAR 10.44.07 Rules of Procedure for the Disciplinary Process
  • COMAR 10.44.09 Licensure for Dental Hygienists Licensed in Another State
  • COMAR 10.44.10 Renewal and Reinstatement of Licenses
  • COMAR 10.44.11 Inactive Licenses
  • COMAR 10.44.12 Anesthesia and Sedation
  • COMAR 10.44.13 Radiographic Protection
  • COMAR 10.44.14 Approved Specialty Fields and Qualifications for Identification as a Specialist
  • COMAR 10.44.15 Dentists and Dental Hygienists — Licensure by Examination
  • COMAR 10.44.16 Petition for Declaratory Ruling
  • COMAR 10.44.17 Temporary License to Practice Dental Hygiene
  • COMAR 10.44.21 Practice of Dental Hygiene Under General Supervision in a Facility or Long-Term Care Facility
  • COMAR 10.44.22 Continuing Education
  • COMAR 10.44.23 Unprofessional Conduct
  • COMAR 10.44.24 Retired Volunteer Licenses
  • COMAR 10.44.25 Compelling Public Purpose
  • COMAR 10.44.26 Volunteer Licenses
  • COMAR 10.44.27 Dental Hygiene Practice — General Supervision — Private Office
  • COMAR 10.44.28 Teachers' Licenses for Graduates of United States or Canadian Dental Schools and Schools of Dental Hygiene
  • COMAR 10.44.29 Nominations and Balloting for Appointments to Board of Dental Examiners
  • COMAR 10.44.30 Record Keeping
  • COMAR 10.44.31 Sanctioning Guidelines
  • COMAR 10.44.33 Temporary Licenses for Volunteer Dentists and Dental Hygienists and Temporary Dental Clinic Permits
  • COMAR 10.44.34 Inspections—Compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines
Examination sources