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Tennessee Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

US-TN · License preparation

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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.

Limited Educational License

License for a dental hygienist licensed in another state that limits practice to programs of the dental or dental hygiene educational institution employing the licensee as faculty (Rule 0460-03-.03).

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Dentistry · Application information

Educational licensure process (Rule 0460 03 .03)
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Age
At least eighteen (18) years of age (Rule 0460-03-.03(3)(a)).
Citizenship Or Lawful Presence
Proof of United States or Canadian citizenship or legal entitlement to live in the United States (Rule 0460-03-.03(5)).
Cpr
Current in-person CPR training with a manikin skills examination (Rule 0460-03-.03(7)).
Criminal Background Check
Criminal background check result from the Board-identified vendor (Rule 0460-03-.03(9)).
Education
Transcript showing the conferred dental hygiene degree sent directly from the institution (Rule 0460-03-.03(2)).
Faculty Appointment
The dean or director of the employing dental or dental hygiene educational institution submits a letter of recommendation and the faculty employment contract; termination of employment terminates the authority to practice (Rule 0460-03-.03(12)-(13)).
Fees
Licensure application fee, state regulatory fees and, if granted, the educational licensure fee (Rule 0460-03-.03(6)).
Good Moral Character
At least two letters from licensed dentists attesting to character and ability (Rule 0460-03-.03(4)).
Other State License
An active license in good standing in at least one state, active for at least one (1) year before application, with Certificate of Endorsement equivalents from every state of licensure (Rule 0460-03-.03(10)).
Reactivation of a retired limited educational license (Rule 0460 03 .08(2))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Faculty Appointment
Practice authority under this license continues only while the faculty appointment continues (Rule 0460-03-.03(13)).
Interview
If requested, an interview regarding continued competence when retirement exceeded two (2) years (Rule 0460-03-.08(2)(c)).
Request
Written request for licensure reactivation and renewal and state regulatory fees (Rule 0460-03-.08(2)(a)-(b)).
Reinstatement of an expired limited educational license (Rule 0460 03 .07(2))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Continuing Education
Continuing education for the entire time the license was expired (Rule 0460-03-.07(2)(b)).
Faculty Appointment
Practice authority under this license continues only while the faculty appointment continues (Rule 0460-03-.03(13)).
Fees
Payment of all past due renewal fees, state regulatory fees and the reinstatement fee (Rule 0460-03-.07(2)(a)).
Renewal of a limited educational license (Rule 0460 03 .07(1))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Dean Letter
A letter of request accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the dean or director of the educational institution (Rule 0460-03-.07(1)(c)3.).
Renewal Application
Completed renewal application and renewal and state regulatory fees on or before the expiration date (Rule 0460-03-.07(1)(c)).

Special Volunteer License (Dental Hygienist)

License permitting a dental hygienist to practice without remuneration solely within a specified free health clinic (Rule 0460-03-.11(1); T.C.A. § 63-1-201).

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Dentistry · Application information

Issuance or conversion to a Special Volunteer License (Rule 0460 03 .11(1)(a))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board Page Jurisprudence Statement
The Board page states: 'All dental professionals must complete the exam before your license will be renewed, reinstated/reactivated or issued initially.' Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(a) lists the requirements for this license and does not include the Ethics and Jurisprudence examination; the Board may still ask the applicant to complete it.
Certificate Of Fitness
Every state of licensure submits the equivalent of a certificate of fitness showing no disciplinary action (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(a)2.).
Free Health Clinic
Practice without remuneration solely at the specified private, not-for-profit free health clinic site (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(a)4. and (c)).
Licensure
Licensed to practice as a dental hygienist in Tennessee or any other state and never disciplined by any licensure board (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(a)).
Not Licensed In Tennessee
Applicants never licensed in Tennessee comply with Rule 0460-03-.01(3)(b), (4), (5), (8) and (9): photograph, character letters, citizenship or lawful presence, disclosures and criminal background check (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(a)3.).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation of a retired Special Volunteer License (Rule 0460 03 .11(1)(d)1. with Rule 0460 03 .08(2))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Interview
If requested, an interview regarding continued competence when retirement exceeded two (2) years (Rule 0460-03-.08(2)(c)).
No Fee
Rules requiring payment of fees do not apply (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(d)1.).
Reinstatement of an expired Special Volunteer License (Rule 0460 03 .11(1)(d)1. with Rule 0460 03 .07(2))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Continuing Education
Continuing education for the entire time the license was expired (Rule 0460-03-.07(2)(b)).
No Fee
Rules requiring payment of fees do not apply (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(d)1.).
Renewal of a Special Volunteer License (Rule 0460 03 .11(1)(d)1. with Rule 0460 03 .07(1))
Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination
Continuing Education
Continuing education and CPR rules of Rule 0460-01-.05 apply (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(d)2.).
No Fee
No fee is charged for issuance or the biennial renewal (Rule 0460-03-.11(1)(b)).

Tennessee Board of Dentistry Ethics and Jurisprudence examination

Provider
Tennessee Board of Dentistry (online exam linked from the Board page)
Format
Online open-book exam; no paper version
Passing score
Completion by answering twenty-five (25) questions correctly
Exam fee
No fee
Examination outline
  • T.C.A. Title 63, Chapter 1 - Division of Health Related Boards
  • T.C.A. Title 63, Chapter 5 - Dentists
  • Rule Chapter 0460-01 - General Rules
  • Rule Chapter 0460-02 - Rules Governing the Practice of Dentistry
  • Rule Chapter 0460-03 - Rules Governing the Practice of Dental Hygienists
  • Rule Chapter 0460-04 - Rules Governing the Practice of Dental Assistants
  • Rule Chapter 0460-05 - General Rules Governing Schools, Programs and Courses
Examination sources