Licensed Dental Hygienist License in Alabama

Alabama requires applicants to be at least 19 years of age and graduate from an approved dental hygiene school or complete the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program (ADHP). The ADHP is a distinctive alternative pathway to licensure specific to Alabama, designed to increase the dental hygiene workforce in underserved areas of the state. The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama oversees licensing for both dentists and dental hygienists. Alabama requires passage of the NBDHE and a clinical examination for licensure. The state has dental hygiene programs at Wallace State Community College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and several other institutions throughout the state. Alabama's rural Black Belt region experiences significant shortages of dental professionals, creating employment opportunities for hygienists willing to practice in underserved areas. CE is required for annual license renewal. Alabama law defines the scope of dental hygiene practice as preventive and educational services performed under the supervision of a licensed dentist. The state permits expanded duties including sealant placement, fluoride application, and radiograph exposure. Alabama has addressed workforce shortages through scholarship and loan repayment programs for dental hygienists who commit to practicing in high-need communities.