Dental Hygienist Schools in North Dakota (Top Programs)

North Dakota’s dental hygienists must obtain a license in order to fulfill their duties.

The license is issued by the North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners to those who completed their education and who then passed the exams.

Educational Requirement for Dental Hygienists

Future dental hygienists across the US must attend a college program that grants at least a minimum of an associates’ degree.

This program lasts for 5 semesters in North Dakota.

Many individuals choose to study for longer and obtain a Bachelors’s degree instead.

Enrollment in these programs is usually for those who have a high school diploma and obtained grades over C in specific classes, such as: 

• Chemistry
• Anatomy and Physiology
• College Composition

Other enrollment requirements are:

• Up-to-date immunizations
• CPR certification
• Passing an eye exam
• Passing the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test
• An ACT score of at least 19
• 8 hours of dental hygienist observation

To be accepted for the licensing exams, the training programs must be accredited by CODA.

Some of the courses in these programs are:

• Oral anatomy
• Oral embryology and histology
• Dental radiology
• Periodontics
• Head and neck anatomy
• Local anesthesia
• Oral pathology
• Community dental health
• Dental jurisprudence
• Dental materials

Hands-on experience in clinics associated with the educational institution is part of the training.

Examinations

Below you’ll find more information related to the 3 exams needed to pass for the license.

NBDHE exam

This exam mandated at a national level has a part made of 350 questions and another part in which 12 to 15 patients are consulted.

This exam costs $400, is organized at the Pearson Vue testing centers and can be scheduled with some 2 or 3 months in advance through the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, the agency offering it.

Regional Exam

The Board in each state recognizes and requires a specific regional exam to be passed before issuing licenses.

In some states, more regional exams are accepted for licensure.

In North Dakota, the exams offered by one of the following agencies can be taken:

• Council of Interstate Testing Agencies
• Central Regional Dental Testing Service
• Western Regional Examining Board

Each agency offers a slightly different exam, though all of them test the candidates’ skills and knowledge in the dental hygiene field.

Jurisprudence Exam

The Board in North Dakota requires candidates to pass the jurisprudence exam as well.

This exam is available through the educational institution where training was completed, on the day of the Board reviews and interviews the candidate.

Applying for the License

All candidates for the dental hygiene license in North Dakota must fill out an application form and send it to the Board along with the following documents:

• Application fee – $200
• High school diploma – copy
• Official transcript from the school
• NBDHE exam results
• Regional exam results
• 3 professional references.
• Background and fingerprint check
• A recent photo

The references have to be completed and confidential, and can include licensed dentists or other professionals.

In this state passing a physical and an eye exam is mandatory, and have to take place within two years of the application date.

Expected Salary

Experience and location are among the main factors influencing the salary of a dental hygienist in North Dakota.

Regional Salary in North Dakota

Renewing the License

Dental hygienists in North Dakota must renew their licenses every 2 years.

For this purpose, they have to continue their education.

There is a minimum of 16 hours that must be completed as follows:

• 1 hour for the CPR course
• 2 hours of infection control
• 2 hours of an ethic of jurisprudence

Up to 8 hours can be completed through online education or publications review.

Dental Hygiene by State