Dental Hygienist License in Alaska

Alaska explicitly lists fees in the COS database: $100 application, $200 license, and $110 credential review, totaling $410 for initial licensure. The Alaska Board of Dental Examiners, under the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, oversees dental hygienist licensing. Applicants must graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and pass the NBDHE plus a regional clinical examination such as WREB or CDCA. Alaska's remote geography and widely dispersed population create significant demand for dental hygienists, particularly in rural and Alaska Native communities served by tribal health organizations and the Indian Health Service. Travel and itinerant dental hygiene positions are common throughout the state's vast territory. The state's high cost of living is reflected in above-average compensation for dental hygienists, though the initial licensing cost of $410 is moderate compared to other states. CE is required for biennial license renewal. The University of Alaska Anchorage offers a dental hygiene program, though the limited number of graduates means many positions are filled by out-of-state applicants. Alaska's dental hygienist workforce plays a critical role in preventive oral health, especially in community health aide programs that serve remote villages accessible only by air or boat.