Dental Hygienist in Maryland
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for MD. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Maryland.
Jobs (MD)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a dental hygienist in Maryland
To become a licensed Dental Hygienist in Maryland, you must complete a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, which typically takes 2-4 years. You'll need to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), a regional or state-approved clinical examination (such as ADEX or CDCA-WREB-CITA), and the Maryland Jurisprudence Exam. The licensing body is the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners, and the initial application fee is $275. Maryland offers licensure by endorsement for out-of-state applicants and is exploring an interstate compact for dental and dental hygiene licensure.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Maryland. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Maryland requirements
| Licensing body | Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Associate degree in Dental Hygiene from a CODA-accredited program |
| Exam | National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), the ADEX clinical exam, and the Maryland Jurisprudence Exam |
| Application fee | $275 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 30.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Maryland offers licensure by endorsement for out-of-state hygienists, despite no formal reciprocity agreements.Reciprocal states: Maryland does not have formal reciprocity agreements, but offers licensure by endorsement for those licensed in other states and a temporary volunteer license for out-of-state hygienists. Maryland is also considering joining the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact. |
| Notes | CPR certification is required and does not count towards CE hours. A 2-hour Board-approved course on abuse and neglect is required every other renewal cycle. Renewal is biennial on the licensee's birth month. Minimum age for dental hygienists is not explicitly stated, but dentists must be at least 18 years old. |
Source: Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Maryland? See whether Maryland recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Dental Hygienist license reciprocity guide.
work_outline Job outlook
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleMaryland license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+7.0%)
Compare Dental Hygienist head-to-head
See all comparisons →Considering a Dental Hygienist vs another career? Side-by-side breakdowns of pay, training time, and licensing.