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License renewal · Iowa

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Iowa

The Iowa Dental Board sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years (odd-numbered years); deadline: August 31 of every odd-numbered year. Continuing education: 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle (24-month period September 1 through August 31). 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 (odd-numbered years) — August 31 of every odd-numbered year

Source: legis.iowa.gov · dial.iowa.gov

Continuing education

30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle (24-month period September 1 through August 31).

  • at least 1 hour infection control (CDC standards)
  • at least 1 hour Iowa jurisprudence
  • mandatory reporter (child abuse / dependent adult abuse) training, renewed every 3 years; 2 CE hours credit per component
  • current CPR certification with a hands-on component (up to 3 CE hours credit)

The opioid and sedation requirements listed for dentists do not apply to dental hygienists.

Source: legis.iowa.gov · dial.iowa.gov

CPR / BLS

Providing evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that included a hands-on component unless exempted by rule;

Source: dial.iowa.gov · legis.iowa.gov · legis.iowa.gov

Late renewal and lapse

Failure to renew by August 31 adds a late fee (September of renewal year: $100; October: $150) on top of the renewal fee; failure to renew prior to November 1 following expiration causes the license to lapse and become invalid and the hygienist may not practice until reinstated. Reactivation of a lapsed license requires a reactivation application fee plus one past-due renewal fee, a criminal background packet, and evidence of CE (or two years practice in another state in the prior five).

Source: legis.iowa.gov · dial.iowa.gov

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: ia-plb.my.site.com

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 Iowa Dental Board licenses and regulates the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene & dental assisting in Iowa.” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Dental hygiene licenses, local anesthesia permits, dental assistant registrations, and dental radiography qualifications expire on August 31 of every odd-numbered year.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Each person who holds a license or faculty permit to practice dental hygiene: a minimum of 30 hours.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “The continuing education compliance period shall be the 24-month period commencing September 1 and ending on August 31 of the renewal cycle” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “A minimum of one hour of continuing education in the area of infection control.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “A minimum of one hour of continuing education in the area of Iowa jurisprudence related to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and dental assisting.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Licensees and registrants who regularly provide dental services to children shall complete training pertaining to identifying and reporting abuse in children.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Licensees and registrants who regularly provide dental services to adults shall complete training pertaining to identifying and reporting abuse in dependent adults.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “CPR Required for renewal – can claim up to three hours for completing course.” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “This requirement does not apply to dental hygienists.” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “may apply up to 50 percent of the required hours to the following renewal period” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “may not carry forward hours for courses in the areas of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), infection control, jurisprudence, dental radiography, or opioids” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Self-study activities, which are permitted with a maximum of 12 hours of continuing credit per renewal period.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “should maintain a record of all courses attended by keeping evidence of continuing education for four years following renewal” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Providing evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that included a hands-on component unless exempted by rule;” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Failure to maintain current certification in CPR that includes a hands-on component” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “CPR certification courses must be from nationally-recognized sponsor, and include a "hands-on", clinical component.” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Failure to renew a license, permit, registration or qualification prior to the expiration date will result in the assessment of a late fee” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Failure to renew prior to November 1 following expiration will cause the license, permit, registration, or qualification to lapse and become invalid.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Late Fee : September of Renewal Year: $100” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Late Fee : October of Renewal Year: $150” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Reinstatement applications require payment of a reinstatement application fee and one past-due renewal fee.” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Verify Licenses” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “must complete training through the Department of Human Services and renew the training every three years thereafter” — dial.iowa.gov
  • “Completion of this component of the mandatory reporter training results in two hours of continuing education credit.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Licensees and faculty permit holders may apply a maximum of 15 hours from the previous renewal period.” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “Payment of a reactivation application fee plus one past-due renewal fee” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “a completed criminal history background packet” — legis.iowa.gov
  • “practice of the profession in another state, district or territory for a minimum of two years within the previous five-year period” — legis.iowa.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.

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