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Minnesota Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

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Dental Hygienist License

License to practice dental hygiene in Minnesota issued by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry under Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2 and Minn. R. 3100.1200.

Licensing authority: Minnesota Board of Dentistry · Application information

Licensure by credentials (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4; Minn. R. 3100.1400)

All of the following:

Clinical Examination Elsewhere
The rule requires 'evidence of passing a clinical examination for licensure in another United States jurisdiction or Canadian province' (Minn. R. 3100.1400, subp. 1, item F); the Board's credentials application lists WREB, CRDTS, ADEX and 'Other'. A clinical examination not among the currently offered ones listed (including the discontinued WREB examination and any other jurisdiction's examination) is accepted as prior evidence under this condition.
Education
Graduation from a dental hygiene school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (Minn. R. 3100.1400, subp. 1, item D).
English Proficiency
At Board discretion, a board-approved English proficiency test if English is not the applicant's primary language (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4(a)(5)).
Examination Age On Form
The Board's credentials application states: 'Exams may not be more than 5 years old. List only the final date of testing below.' The rule sets the five-year limit only for the jurisprudence examination (Minn. R. 3100.1400, subp. 1, item H).
Interview And Knowledge
The Board may interview the applicant, and the applicant must demonstrate the minimum knowledge in dental subjects required for licensure under subd. 2 (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4(a)-(c)).
Licensure Elsewhere
Currently licensed as a dental hygienist in another United States jurisdiction or Canadian province, or previously licensed there in good standing, and not subject to any pending or final disciplinary action (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4(a)(3); Minn. R. 3100.1400).
Other
Good moral character and ethical conduct, completed application, government-issued identification, fee, current CPR certification and a criminal background check (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4; Minn. R. 3100.1400, subp. 1).
Practice Hours
At least 2,000 hours of active practice within the 36 months before application in another United States jurisdiction, Canadian province or U.S. government service, or a board-approved reentry program passed within 36 months (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 4(a)(2); Minn. R. 3100.1400, subp. 1, item E).
Licensure by examination (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2; Minn. R. 3100.1200)

All of the following:

Clinical Examination Scope
The Board's application form states 'Clinical exams require all components'.
Clinical Examination Waiver
Under Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 3(a), the Board may at its discretion waive all or part of the examination, except the laws-and-rules (jurisprudence) examination, for an applicant who presents a certificate of having passed all components of the National Board Dental Examinations or evidence of adequate scholastic standing.
Clinical Retake Limit
After failing any part of the clinical examination twice, the applicant must complete additional education at a CODA-accredited institution before retaking it (Minn. R. 3100.1200, subp. 2).
Discontinued Examination
The Board page and form still name the WREB examination; WREB merged into CDCA-WREB (2021) and CDCA-WREB-CITA delivers only ADEX examinations, so a WREB result is prior evidence only and WREB is not a current alternative.
Education
Graduation from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, established in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, providing at least two academic years of dental hygiene education (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2; Minn. R. 3100.1200, subp. 1, item F).
Examination Time Limit
Each examination the Board requires must have been taken within the five years before the Board receives the application (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2b; Minn. R. 3100.1200, subp. 1, items D, E and G).
Good Moral Character
Good moral character and adherence to professional ethical conduct requirements (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2).
Other
Completed application, government-issued identification, fee, current CPR certification and a criminal background check under Minn. Stat. § 214.075 (Minn. R. 3100.1200, subp. 1).
Other Clinical Examination
The Board's application form offers an 'Other' clinical examination choice beside WREB, CRDTS and CDCA/CITA (ADEX); a clinical examination other than those named is accepted only as a 'board approved examination designed to determine the applicant's clinical competency' (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 2).
Reinstatement of a dental hygienist license terminated 24 months or more (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 3)
Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Examination
Alternative
Nothing in part 3100.1850 prohibits applying for licensure by credentials under part 3100.1400 (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 5).
Clinical Osce
Evidence of passing, within 24 months before the Board's receipt of the application, 'a nationally recognized objective structured clinical examination for dental hygienists' (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 3, item E(4)); the rule does not name the examination.
Examination Time Limit
The jurisprudence examination must have been passed within 12 months before the Board's receipt of the application (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 3, item C).
Requirements
Reinstatement application and fees, professional development within 24 months, current CPR certification and a criminal background check (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subps. 1 and 3).
Termination
License terminated for 24 months or more.
Reinstatement of a dental hygienist license terminated more than six months but less than 24 months (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 2a)
Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Examination
Examination Time Limit
The jurisprudence examination must have been passed within 12 months before the Board's receipt of the application (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 2a, item C).
Requirements
Reinstatement application and fees, professional development within 24 months, current CPR certification, and a criminal background check if terminated more than one year (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subps. 1 and 2a).
Termination
License terminated for more than six months but less than 24 months.
Reinstatement of a terminated dental hygienist license terminated six months or less (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subp. 2)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Requirements
Reinstatement application and fees, professional development completed within 24 months, current CPR certification (Minn. R. 3100.1850, subps. 1-2).
Termination
License terminated for six months or less.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2025-10-31.

Biennial renewal of the dental hygienist license (Minn. R. 3100.1200, subp. 3; 3100.1700)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
Pay the biennial renewal fee by the last day of the birth month, certify consecutive and current CPR certification, and meet professional development requirements (Minn. R. 3100.1700, subp. 2; 3100.1200, subp. 6).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2025-10-31.

Resident Dental Provider License (Resident Dental Hygienist)

License to practice as a resident dental hygienist, only under the supervision of a licensed dentist or dental therapist, for enrolled graduate students of an advanced dental education program (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 1e; Minn. R. 3100.1170). It does not qualify the holder for licensure under subd. 2.

Licensing authority: Minnesota Board of Dentistry · Application information

Resident dental hygienist licensure (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 1e; Minn. R. 3100.1170)
Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Examination
Board Page
The Board's Resident Provider requirements list a program director's letter, undergraduate graduation and a criminal background check.
Enrollment
Graduate of an undergraduate program and enrolled graduate student or student of an advanced dental education program approved by the Board or accredited by CODA or another board-approved national accreditation organization (Minn. Stat. § 150A.06, subd. 1e; Minn. R. 3100.1170, subp. 1, item D).
Examination Time Limit
The jurisprudence examination must have been passed within the past five years (Minn. R. 3100.1170, subp. 1, item E).
Other
Completed application, government-issued identification, fee, current CPR certification and a criminal background check (Minn. R. 3100.1170, subp. 1).
Annual renewal of the resident dental hygienist license (Minn. R. 3100.1750)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal
Pay the annual renewal fee by June 30 and maintain consecutive and current CPR certification (Minn. R. 3100.1750, subp. 3).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2025-10-31.

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

Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
PSI Services LLC
Format
Computer-based, open-book examination at PSI test centers or by remote online proctoring
Exam questions
100 scored items plus 10 non-scored items
Time limit
120 minutes
Passing score
80% correct
Exam fee
$85
Examination outline
  • Record Keeping (12%)
  • Personal Conduct and Ethical Behavior (6%)
  • General Duties (28%)
  • Infection Controls (26%)
  • Delegation of Duties (28%)
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