OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Nevada Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

US-NV · License preparation

403 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.

Registered Dental Hygienist (license to practice dental hygiene)

General license to practice dental hygiene in Nevada issued under NRS 631.300 and renewed biennially.

Licensing authority: Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners (Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada) · Application information

Licensure by endorsement (NRS 622.530; NAC 631.030(2))
Disciplinary History
NRS 622.530(2): no discipline, civil or criminal liability for professional misconduct, suspension or revocation, refusal of a license, or pending disciplinary action in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Eligibility
NAC 631.030(1)(u)(2): evidence of eligibility to apply for a dental hygiene license under NRS 631.290.
License Elsewhere
NRS 622.530(1)(a) and the Board checklist: holds a corresponding valid, unrestricted and active dental hygiene license in the District of Columbia or any state or territory of the United States.
No Practice Period
NRS 631.190(2): the Board may not require a dental hygienist applying by endorsement to have practiced for a specified period immediately preceding the application.
Other Approved Examination
NAC 631.030(2)(b) also accepts a passing score on "other examination approved by the Board"; the Board checklist names the National Board examination with a score of 75 or higher.
Licensure by examination (NRS 631.290 and 631.300)

All of the following:

Application Documents
NRS 631.220(1) and NAC 631.030(1): notarized or declared application, photograph, fee, fingerprints, official transcript, current CPR certification, NPDB self-query report and verification letters from other licensing boards (Licensure Application Guide checklist).
Board Written Examination Alternative
NRS 631.300(1)(a) alternatively allows "a written examination given by the Board upon such subjects as the Board deems necessary for the practice of dental hygiene"; no official source identifies such an examination currently offered.
Eligibility
NRS 631.290(1): of good moral character, over 18 years of age, and a graduate of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program of not less than 2 years of academic instruction at a regionally accredited institution.
National Board Score
NRS 631.300(1)(a): the Joint Commission certificate must show the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination passed with a score of at least 75.
Teledentistry
NRS 631.220(2): an applicant who intends to provide services through teledentistry must show at least 2 hours of teledentistry continuing education or a teledentistry course completed for graduation.
Wreb Certificate
NRS 631.300(1)(b)(2) accepts a Western Regional Examining Board certificate showing a passed WREB clinical examination; WREB merged into CDCA-WREB (2021), which delivers only ADEX examinations, so a WREB result is prior evidence only.
Licensure by military credential (active or retired military personnel and military spouses; expedited license)
Clinical Examinations
Licensure Application Guide and Board web page: "Show passing of all sections of the National Board Examination and any clinical examinations"; the source does not identify a particular clinical examination.
Deferred Items
Licensure Application Guide: transcripts, National Board scores, work authorization, NPDB report, verification letters and the passed jurisprudence examination may be submitted within 90 days of the initial approval date.
Military Status
Licensure Application Guide: applicant is active or retired military personnel or a military spouse (copy of military ID, active-duty orders or discharge papers).
Reinstatement of an inactive dental hygienist license by a licensee who maintained an active license and practice outside Nevada (NRS 631.335(1)(a); NAC 631.170(2))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Items
NAC 631.170(2)(a)-(i): renewal fees, employment list, reports of unprofessional-conduct claims, liability and peer review appearances, prorated continuing education, good-standing certification from each jurisdiction of practice, good moral character and any other information required by the Secretary-Treasurer.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reinstatement of a dental hygienist license on inactive status (without active practice elsewhere) or retired status for less than 2 years (NAC 631.170(3))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Items
NAC 631.170(3) as amended by R054-26: renewal fees, a signed petition for reinstatement (notarized, or with a declaration under penalty of perjury and a copy of a valid identification card), prorated continuing education and an employment list.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reinstatement of a dental hygienist license suspended for failure to renew, within 12 months of suspension (NRS 631.330(2)(b) and (3))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Items
NRS 631.330(2)(b): reinstatement fee and compliance with the renewal requirements of NRS 631.330(2)(a).
Timing
NRS 631.330(3): the license must be reinstated within 12 months after suspension; otherwise it is automatically revoked.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Biennial renewal of a dental hygienist license (NRS 631.330)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Renewal Items
NRS 631.330(2)(a): renewal fee, proof of the required continuing education and all information required to complete the renewal, on or before June 30 of each even-numbered year for dental hygienists (Board web page).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Limited License Instructor (limited license to practice dental hygiene)

Annual limited license under NRS 631.271 for dental hygiene instructors under contract with the Nevada System of Higher Education or an accredited program.

Licensing authority: Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners (Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada) · Application information

Limited license to practice dental hygiene as an instructor (NRS 631.271)

All of the following:

Adex Alternatives
NRS 631.271(1)(e): the ADEX clinical examination is one of alternative criteria; an applicant who holds a dental hygiene license issued by another state, territory or the District of Columbia, or presents a Western Regional Examining Board certificate for a clinical examination passed within the 5 preceding years, is not required to pass it.
Contract
NRS 631.271(1)(c): a contract with the Nevada System of Higher Education or an accredited dental hygiene (or other dental) program to serve as an instructor at its clinic, hospital or facility.
Disqualifications
NRS 631.271(2): no limited license to a person involved in disciplinary action, whose license was revoked or suspended, or who was refused a license in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Eligibility
NRS 631.271(1)(a) and (d): qualified for a Nevada dental hygiene license and satisfies NRS 631.290.
Practice Limits
NRS 631.271(3): practice only at the contracted facility, no private practice, compensation only from the contracting institution unless a Board permit is issued under NRS 631.271(4).
Annual renewal of a limited license to practice dental hygiene (NRS 631.271(5))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Items
NRS 631.271(5): renewal on or before expiration, compliance with NRS 631.330 renewal requirements and a review at the discretion of the Board; the holder must still satisfy the limited-license requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Restricted Geographical License (restricted geographical license to practice dental hygiene)

License under NRS 631.274 for a dental hygienist licensed elsewhere to practice in requesting underserved counties, federally qualified health centers or nonprofit clinics without a clinical examination.

Licensing authority: Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners (Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada) · Application information

Restricted geographical license to practice dental hygiene without a clinical examination (NRS 631.274)
Clinical Scores If Taken
Licensure Application Guide checklist item 10: ADEX or WREB clinical examination scores must be provided if the applicant has taken the examination.
Disqualifications
NRS 631.274(3): no license to a person whose license was revoked or suspended, who was refused a license, or who has pending disciplinary action in any U.S. jurisdiction.
License Elsewhere
NRS 631.274(2)(a): holds a dental hygiene license issued by another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
Practice Limits
NRS 631.274(5): practice only in the requesting county or counties or for the contracting health center or clinic; no private practice.
Waiver Request
NRS 631.274(1): a board of county commissioners (rural underserved area), two or more such boards jointly, or the director of a federally qualified health center or nonprofit clinic serving underserved populations in Washoe or Clark County must request the waiver of the clinical examination.
Biennial renewal of a restricted geographical license to practice dental hygiene (NRS 631.330)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Items
NRS 631.330(2)(a): renewal fee, proof of continuing education and all information required to complete the renewal; the license lapses when the qualifying contract ends (NRS 631.274(6)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

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

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

Nevada Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Online written examination on the contents and interpretation of NRS Chapter 631 and the Board regulations (NAC Chapter 631)
Examination outline
  • NRS Chapter 631 - Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy and Expanded Function Dental Assistance
  • NAC Chapter 631 - Dentistry and Dental Hygiene
Examination sources