Licensure, Registration, and Renewal Requirements
License required
A person may not practice dental hygiene in Michigan without a license issued by the Board. The standard pathway is graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited dental hygiene program, passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), passing a Board-approved clinical examination, and passing the Michigan jurisprudence examination. Applicants submit fingerprints and a criminal background check through BPL. Licensure by credentials may be available to experienced out-of-state hygienists; the Board reviews education, examination, and practice history.
Renewal and registration
Dental hygiene licenses renew every two years through the BPL online system. A renewal requires the licensee to attest to continuing education and current basic life support (CPR) certification; the exact CE hours and topic requirements are set by the Board. Late renewal is possible with a fee, but practicing on an expired license is unprofessional conduct. Michigan also uses registration for dental assistants and certain auxiliary categories; registration is not the same as a hygiene license and does not authorize hygiene services.
Worked example
An applicant passed the NBDHE and a clinical exam but skipped the jurisprudence exam. BPL will not issue the license. National and clinical exams establish clinical competence; the jurisprudence exam establishes knowledge of Michigan law.
Traps
Do not assume a license from another state transfers automatically. Do not practice while a renewal is pending if the license has already expired. Do not confuse a dental assistant registration with a hygiene license. Keep proof of CE and CPR; renewal attestation is subject to audit.