Dental Hygienist License in Colorado

Colorado requires graduation from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, CE, specific coursework, and passage of a third-party clinical examination. Notably, Colorado has no criminal record prohibitions for dental hygienist licensure, making it one of the more accessible states for applicants with past convictions. Military members and spouses are exempt from licensure requirements under Colorado law. The Colorado Dental Board, operating under the Division of Professions and Occupations within the Department of Regulatory Agencies, oversees licensing. Colorado was an early adopter of unsupervised dental hygiene practice, allowing hygienists to practice without a supervising dentist in certain settings since 1987, making it a national trailblazer for independent dental hygiene practice. This progressive approach has expanded access to preventive dental care, particularly in schools, nursing homes, and community health centers along the Front Range and in rural mountain communities. Colorado has CODA-accredited programs at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Community College of Denver, and Pueblo Community College. The state's growing population and outdoor lifestyle drive consistent demand for dental hygienists throughout both metropolitan and resort communities across the state.