OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Mississippi Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

US-MS · License preparation

432 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

Loading selected examination banks…

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.

provisional fellowship license

License limited to dental hygiene adjunct to participation in a Board-approved fellowship program (Board Regulation 7, item 1.C).

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Provisional Fellowship License (dental hygiene)
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.C.3(a): graduate of a fully accredited dental hygiene school.
Fellowship
Board Regulation 7 items 1.C.3(e) and 1.C.4-5: recommendation by the fellowship institution, full-time participation, one-year validity with renewal.
National Board Certification
Board Regulation 7 requires current certification by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; for a dental hygienist that certification is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-9-5(1)).
No Mississippi Failure
Board Regulation 7 item 1.C.3(d): has not failed the Mississippi dental hygiene licensure examination.
State License
Board Regulation 7 item 1.C.3(c): licensed to practice dental hygiene in at least one state of the United States.

Provisional License

Faculty license limited to instruction, dental hygiene adjunct to instruction and intramural practice plans (Board Regulation 7, item 1.A).

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Provisional License (dental hygiene)
Dean Recommendation And Interview
Board Regulation 7 item 1.A.2(e)-(f): recommendation by the dean of the teaching institution, application and interview before the Board; the jurisprudence examination is passed before employment begins.
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.A.2(a): graduate of a fully accredited dental hygiene school in the United States, or of a foreign school with licensure in that country.
National Board Certification
Board Regulation 7 requires current certification by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; for a dental hygienist that certification is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-9-5(1)).
No Mississippi Failure
Board Regulation 7 item 1.A.2(d): has not failed the Mississippi dental hygiene licensure examination.
Scope And Renewal
Board Regulation 7 items 1.A.1 and 1.A.3-4: full-time or part-time faculty; renewal while employed in a teaching capacity.
State License
Board Regulation 7 item 1.A.2(c): licensed to practice in at least one state of the United States.

provisional military license

Provisional license authorizing dental hygiene practice in Mississippi for lawfully recognized non-active-duty military personnel whose active-duty status changed within the twelve months before applying.

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Provisional Military License (dental hygiene)
Active Duty Practice
Board Regulation 7 item 1.D.2(c): licensed practice for at least two (2) of the five (5) years before application while on active duty, and proof of qualifying for full licensure by examination or credentials.
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.D.2(a): graduate of a fully accredited dental hygiene school in the United States, or of a foreign school with licensure in that country.
Military Release
Board Regulation 7 items 1.D.1 and 1.D.2(e): released from active duty within the twelve (12) months before applying, shown by certified official orders.
National Board Certification
Board Regulation 7 requires current certification by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; for a dental hygienist that certification is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-9-5(1)).
No Mississippi Failure
Board Regulation 7 item 1.D.2(d): has not failed the Mississippi dental hygiene licensure examination.
Validity
Board Regulation 7 item 1.D.1(a)-(b): valid at most twenty-four (24) months; voided if no permanent license is secured.

Provisional Military Spouse License

Provisional military spouse license voided if the applicant has not secured a permanent Mississippi license within twenty-four months of issuance.

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Provisional Military Spouse License (dental hygiene)
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.E.2(a): graduate of a fully accredited dental hygiene school in the United States, or of a foreign school with licensure in that country.
Marriage And Orders
Board Regulation 7 item 1.E.2(e)-(f): certified marriage certificate to an active-duty member of the armed forces and certified orders assigning the spouse to a duty station.
National Board Certification
Board Regulation 7 requires current certification by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; for a dental hygienist that certification is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-9-5(1)).
No Mississippi Failure
Board Regulation 7 item 1.E.2(d): has not failed the Mississippi dental hygiene licensure examination.
Prior Practice
Board Regulation 7 item 1.E.2(c): licensed practice for at least two (2) of the five (5) years before application, and proof of qualifying for full licensure by examination or credentials.
Validity
Board Regulation 7 item 1.E.1(a)-(b): valid at most twenty-four (24) months; voided if no permanent license is secured.

provisional teaching license

A provisional teaching license for dental hygiene faculty, issued at the board's discretion.

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Provisional Teaching License (dental hygiene)
Dean Recommendation And Interview
Board Regulation 7 item 1.B.2(d)-(e): recommendation by the dean of the teaching institution, application and interview before the Board; the jurisprudence examination is passed before employment begins.
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.B.2(a): graduate of a fully accredited dental hygiene school in the United States, or of a foreign school with licensure in that country.
Intramural Limit
Board Regulation 7 item 2: intramural practice is limited to one year from licensure, after which a Provisional License (with licensure in at least one state) or full licensure is required.
National Board Certification
Board Regulation 7 requires current certification by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations; for a dental hygienist that certification is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-9-5(1)).
No Mississippi Failure
Board Regulation 7 item 1.B.2(c): has not failed the Mississippi dental hygiene licensure examination.

Volunteer/Limited Temporary License

License for qualified nonresident dental hygienists providing charitable and gratuitous dental services in charitable clinics, issued without examination.

Licensing authority: Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners · Application information

Issuance of the Volunteer/Limited Temporary License
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Cpr And Application
Board Regulation 7 item 1.F.1(e)-(f): current CPR card and the Mississippi Application for Volunteer/Limited Temporary License.
Education
Board Regulation 7 item 1.F.1(a): graduate of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program or school.
Gratuitous Service
Board Regulation 7 item 1.F.1(g): services rendered gratuitously with no revenue of any kind.
Out Of State License
Board Regulation 7 item 1.F.1(b)-(d): current license in another state as an actively practicing dental hygienist, in good standing with no pending disciplinary action, shown by affidavit of that state board.
Renewal
Board Regulation 7 item 1.F.2: renewable annually at no cost; not a means to obtain a permanent license.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Mississippi Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Written jurisprudence examination based on the Mississippi Dental Practice Act and the regulations adopted by the Board
Passing score
75% or higher
Examination outline
  • Mississippi Code Title 73, Chapter 9 - Dentists (Mississippi Dental Practice Act)
  • Miss. Code Ann. § 33-1-39 - Extension of professional license issued active duty military personnel
  • Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-50-1 and 73-50-2 - Military Family Freedom Act; Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act
  • Miss. Code Ann. §§ 93-11-64 and 93-11-151 through 93-11-163 - Social security numbers on license applications; license suspension for child support noncompliance
  • Regulations Adopted by the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners (Miss. Admin. Code Title 30, Part 2301, Chapter 1)
  • Rules of Procedure Adopted by the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners
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