Dental Hygienist in Washington
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for WA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Washington.
Jobs (WA)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a dental hygienist in Washington
To become a licensed Dental Hygienist in Washington, you must graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and successfully complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), a regional clinical exam (WREB, CRDTS, or ADEX), and the Washington State Dental Hygiene Drug and Law Examination. The licensing body is the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission. There are also continuing education requirements, including a one-time suicide prevention training and regular health equity training. Washington is part of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH), which aims to facilitate reciprocity with other participating states.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Washington. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Washington requirements
| Licensing body | Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Associate degree in Dental Hygiene from a CODA-accredited program |
| Exam | National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), a regional clinical exam (WREB, CRDTS, ADEX), and the Washington State Dental Hygiene Drug and Law Examination ($600) |
| Application fee | $500 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing education | 15.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Washington offers licensure by endorsement for hygienists from equivalent states, requiring a state law exam.Reciprocal states: Washington is one of three participating states in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH), which will create reciprocity among participating states once seven states become participating states. Otherwise, licensure by endorsement is available for applicants holding a valid, current, nonlimited license in another state with substantively equivalent licensing standards and who have been engaged in clinical practice within the previous year. The applicant must also pass the Washington State Drug and Law Examination. |
| Notes | Requires 7 hours of AIDS education and training (this information was not found in the search results and may be outdated). A one-time, three-hour suicide prevention continuing education training is required. Beginning January 1, 2024, licensed dental hygienists must complete two hours of health equity CE every four years. Renewal is annual on the licensee's birthday. Applicants must complete expanded function education in anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and restorative through their ADA CODA-accredited dental hygiene program or a Secretary of Health-approved program. A current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers certification is required for renewal. The WREB exam is no longer offered as of December 31, 2022, but scores prior to this date may be accepted. The ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination series consists of a computer-based simulation exam and a clinical simulated patient (manikin) based examination. The CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Examination is also accepted if passed after October 8, 2021. The Washington State Dental Hygiene Drug and Law Examination is a non-proctored online exam. |
Source: Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Washington? See whether Washington 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_circleWashington license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+7.0%)
Compare Dental Hygienist head-to-head
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