Dental Hygienist License in Nevada

Nevada requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a clinical examination, typically the WREB. The Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners oversees dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for annual license renewal, typically 20 hours per year. Nevada permits dental hygienists to provide certain services under general supervision and has expanded the scope of practice to include local anesthesia administration with additional certification and training hours. The College of Southern Nevada and Truckee Meadows Community College offer CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs. Nevada's population is heavily concentrated in the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas, which employ the vast majority of the state's dental hygienists in private practice, casino-affiliated health programs, and community health centers. The state's rapid population growth and tourism-driven economy create consistent demand for dental services. Rural Nevada, including the vast Great Basin region and mining communities, faces severe dental professional shortages, and the state has implemented workforce incentive programs to attract hygienists to these underserved communities where access to oral health care is limited.