Skip to main content

License renewal · Arkansas

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Arkansas

The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years (even-numbered years); deadline: January 1 of even-numbered years; a license not renewed within thirty (30) days after January 1 is forfeited. Continuing education: 40 CEUs for every two-year reporting period (1 CEU = minimum 50 minutes; reporting period starts on an even-numbered year). Each fact below is quoted from an official state source, linked beside it, and was checked on 2026-10-12. Confirm with the board before you rely on it: rules change.

Renewal cycle and deadline

every 2 years (even-numbered years) — January 1 of even-numbered years; a license not renewed within thirty (30) days after January 1 is forfeited

Source: healthy.arkansas.gov

Continuing education

40 CEUs for every two-year reporting period (1 CEU = minimum 50 minutes; reporting period starts on an even-numbered year).

  • at least 1 CE hour in each 2-year reporting period on infection control

Courses on money management, investments, time with professional/financial consultants, and professional organizational business meetings do not qualify.

Source: healthy.arkansas.gov

CPR / BLS

Each licensed dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must take a Healthcare Provider level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation course and submit a photocopy of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation card or certificate with the renewal form that confirms that he or she holds at least a current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation of Healthcare Provider level, effective January 1, 2003.

Source: healthy.arkansas.gov · healthy.arkansas.gov

Late renewal and lapse

Failure to renew within 30 days after January 1 of even-numbered years results in forfeiture of the license. A forfeited license can be relicensed at any time until January 1 of the year following the forfeiture by applying in writing, paying all accrued renewal fees plus an additional penalty of $200, and furnishing proof of ethical conduct and compliance since the renewal date; after two years the dentist/hygienist must also pass a clinical-skills reexamination.

Source: healthy.arkansas.gov

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: search.statesolutions.us

For the office manager

The renewal is the hygienist's to complete, but a lapsed license is the practice's problem on the schedule. Keep each hygienist's expiry date where an alert reaches both of you well before it, long enough for any CE still owed. The free renewal calendar makes reminders for your own calendar; LVL Up Performance keeps the dates on each staff record and alerts ahead. Neither tracks CE hours or checks anything with the board.

Sources, quoted

  • “The Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners was established by the Legislature in 1887” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “On January 1 of even- numbered years, every dentist and dental hygienist must renew his or her license” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Failure to renew a license within a period of thirty (30) days after January 1 of even-numbered years shall result in forfeiture of the license.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “shall be relicensed, at any time until January 1 of the year following the forfeiture” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “plus an additional penalty of two hundred dollars ($200)” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Undergoing reexamination and passing the examination required by the regulations of the board.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “The requirement for minimum continuing education for Arkansas licensed dental hygienists will be forty (40) CEUs for every two (2) year reporting period.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “One (1) continuing education unit equals a minimum of fifty (50) minutes.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Each reporting period will start on an even numbered year.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “At least 1 CE hour in each 2-year reporting period must be on the subject of the infection control.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “will not be carried forward to the succeeding reporting period” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Home study courses which include a post-test and the issuance of a certificate of completion will be accepted.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “will begin January 1 of the calendar year following their licensure and be pro-rated if not at the start of the new reporting period” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Such courses or programs which will not qualify for approval are money management, investments” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “ASBDE shall require acceptable continuing education as a prerequisite for license renewal.” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Does CPR count toward my CE hours? Yes” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “Each licensed dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must take a Healthcare Provider level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation course” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “submit a photocopy of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation card or certificate with the renewal form” — healthy.arkansas.gov
  • “License Verification (dental license, hygiene license, and dental assisting permit)” — healthy.arkansas.gov

Checked 2026-10-12. Something out of date? Write to mauricio@lvlupperformance.com and we will fix it. This page is information, not legal advice.

Other states