How to Get Your Dental Hygienist License in Virginia (2026)

## How to Become a Registered Dental Hygienist in Virginia Virginia is one of the largest states on the East Coast for dental hygiene employment, with a diverse job market spanning the high-salary Northern Virginia/DC suburbs, the military-heavy Hampton Roads corridor, the Richmond metro, and a network of academic medical centers. Licensure is overseen by the Virginia Board of Dentistry, which operates under the Department of Health Professions (DHP). ### Step 1: Complete an Accredited Dental Hygiene Program You must graduate from a dental hygiene program holding active Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation. Virginia has several strong in-state options, including programs at Old Dominion University (Norfolk), Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond), Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale), Wytheville Community College, and others. CODA-accredited programs typically award an associate of applied science (AAS) or a bachelor of science in dental hygiene (BSDH). Either degree qualifies you for Virginia licensure. If you are considering expanded practice roles or teaching, a bachelor's or graduate degree will be increasingly valuable. Confirm CODA accreditation status on the CODA website before enrolling. Programs undergo regular re-accreditation reviews, and accreditation status can change. ### Step 2: Pass the NBDHE The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, is required for Virginia dental hygienist licensure. The exam is computer-based and divided into two components: - **Component A:** Biomedical, dental hygiene science, and public health content - **Component B:** Patient case studies testing clinical reasoning A passing score is 75 on a 49–99 scale. Most graduates sit for the NBDHE during the final semester of their program or immediately after graduation. Allow two to three months for structured preparation; commercial review courses such as Dental Hygiene Mastery and RDH Prep are popular among Virginia candidates. ### Step 3: Pass a Clinical Examination Virginia accepts the ADEX (American Board of Dental Examiners) dental hygiene clinical examination. The ADEX is patient-based and evaluates your clinical proficiency in periodontal assessment, scaling and root planing, radiographic evaluation, and infection control. Testing sites are available throughout Virginia and in neighboring states. Schedule your exam well in advance — spring exam dates fill quickly, particularly in the Northern Virginia and Richmond markets. Virginia does not currently accept the CRDTS exam for new applicants; confirm current accepted exams with the Board of Dentistry at the time of application, as exam acceptance policies can evolve. ### Step 4: Apply for Your State License After passing both the NBDHE and the ADEX, apply to the Virginia Board of Dentistry through the DHP licensing portal at dhp.virginia.gov. Key details for 2026: - **Regulatory body:** Virginia Board of Dentistry, Department of Health Professions (DHP) - **Application fee:** Approximately $75–$130 (verify current fee on the DHP website) - **Required documents:** Completed online application, official NBDHE score, official ADEX score report, official transcript from a CODA-accredited program, criminal history disclosure, and any jurisprudence attestation required by the board Virginia requires applicants to pass a jurisprudence examination covering the Virginia Dental Practice Act. This is a brief online exam typically completed as part of the application process. ### Continuing Education Requirements Virginia RDH licenses are renewed every two years. The current requirement is **15 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle**. Virginia does not mandate specific topic areas for the full 15 hours for dental hygienists in most practice settings, but review the Board of Dentistry's current renewal requirements for any updates to mandatory content areas. CE must be obtained from ADA CERP-recognized or AGD PACE-recognized providers. Online CE is widely accepted. Retain CE certificates for at least four years. ### Virginia Dental Hygienist Salary Ranges Virginia has one of the widest salary ranges for RDHs of any East Coast state, driven largely by the cost-of-living and demand differential between Northern Virginia and the rest of the state: - **Northern Virginia / DC suburbs (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, Loudoun):** $82,000–$105,000/year — among the highest RDH salaries in the entire country, driven by proximity to the DC labor market and high household incomes - **Richmond metro:** $70,000–$85,000/year - **Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News):** $68,000–$82,000/year — military dental clinics at Langley AFB, Naval Station Norfolk, and Quantico Marine Corps Base are significant employers; federal pay scales apply - **Shenandoah Valley / rural Southwest Virginia:** $60,000–$73,000/year - **Per-diem / part-time:** $40–$58/hour, with Northern Virginia per-diem rates at the top of that range ### Top Employers for Dental Hygienists in Virginia - **Military dental treatment facilities** — Naval Station Norfolk, Langley Air Force Base, Quantico Marine Corps Base, and Fort Belvoir all operate large dental commands employing both military and civilian dental hygienists - **Inova Health System** (Northern Virginia) — major regional health system with dental affiliates - **VCU Health / VCU School of Dentistry** (Richmond) — academic dental clinic and affiliated practices - **Sentara Healthcare** (Hampton Roads) — large regional health system - **Carilion Clinic** (Roanoke) — major western Virginia health system - **Dental Depot, Aspen Dental, Heartland Dental, and Pacific Dental** — DSO group practices with multiple Virginia locations - **Private multi-specialty practices** throughout Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach corridors