Dental Hygienists License in Virginia

Virginia requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a clinical examination. The Virginia Board of Dentistry, under the Department of Health Professions, oversees dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for biennial renewal, with a minimum of 15 hours per year including a required course in CPR and topics in pharmacology and infection control. Virginia has expanded dental hygiene practice to include a remote supervision dental hygienist provision, allowing experienced hygienists who meet additional training requirements to provide preventive services in certain community settings with a remote supervising dentist rather than one who is physically present. The state has CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, Northern Virginia Community College, and several other institutions throughout the state. Virginia's northern region near Washington DC offers a competitive employment market with above-average salaries, while the southwestern Appalachian region and Southside Virginia face persistent dental professional shortages. Military installations across the state, including Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Naval Station Norfolk, also employ dental hygienists.