DENTAL HYGIENIST License in Wyoming

Wyoming requires dental hygienist applicants to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a clinical examination, typically the WREB consistent with western states. The Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners oversees dental hygienist licensing. CE is required for biennial renewal, typically 24 hours per two-year period. Wyoming does not have a dental hygiene educational program within the state, requiring all applicants to complete their education in neighboring states such as Colorado, Montana, Utah, or Nebraska, creating persistent workforce pipeline challenges. Wyoming's small population, as the least populous state in the nation, and vast geography spanning the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains create significant dental professional shortages across almost the entire state. The state has implemented provisions allowing dental hygienists to provide services in public health settings and school-based programs with collaborative agreements. The Wind River Indian Reservation's dental needs, serving the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, are addressed through the Indian Health Service. Wyoming's energy-sector economy supports competitive dental hygienist compensation relative to the cost of living.