License renewal · Kentucky

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Kentucky

The Kentucky Board of Dentistry sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years (biennial); deadline: December 31 of even-numbered years. Continuing education: 30 hours of continuing education during the two-year licensure period. 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 (biennial) — December 31 of even-numbered years

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · dentistry.ky.gov · dentistry.ky.gov

Continuing education

30 hours of continuing education during the two-year licensure period.

At least 10 of the 30 hours in a live interactive presentation format
At least 20 of the 30 hours must focus on clinical skills and knowledge (board CE page); at most 10 hours may come from volunteer clinical work, business operations/best practices, or dental/dental hygiene association business meetings (201 KAR 8:563 Section 5)
General supervision registered hygienists: a live 3-hour board-approved course on identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies each biennial license period (may be part of the 30)

CPR certification does not count toward the 30 hours (board CE page)

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · dentistry.ky.gov

CPR / BLS

Maintain an active certification in CPR or a more comprehensive program that meets or exceeds the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · dentistry.ky.gov

Late renewal and lapse

A hygiene license not renewed by December 31 of an even-numbered year is expired for reinstatement purposes. Board fee page: reinstatement of an expired license $240 if reinstated Jan. 1-15, $370 Jan. 16-31, $630 after Feb. 1; a hygienist who has not actively practiced in the two years before filing must complete a board-approved plan before resuming practice.

Source: dentistry.ky.gov · apps.legislature.ky.gov

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: kbd.portalus.thentiacloud.net

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

“All dental hygienist licenses issued by the board shall expire on December 31 of even-numbered years and shall be renewed to remain active.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“expire on Dec. 31 of every even-numbered year” — dentistry.ky.gov
“A Kentucky licensed dental hygienist shall complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education during the two (2) year licensure period” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“A minimum of ten (10) hours taken in a live interactive presentation format” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“At least twenty of these hours must focus on clinical skills and knowledge” — dentistry.ky.gov
“A maximum of ten (10) hours that meet the requirements of subsection (2)(h) - (j) of this section.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“retain those documents for a minimum of five (5) years.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“shall complete a live three (3) hour course approved by the board in the identification and prevention of potential medical emergencies” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“a dental hygienist registered in public health dental hygiene shall complete nine (9) hours of continuing education to maintain public health registration” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“must complete five hours of CE in the area of public health as well as a three hour board-approved course on medical emergencies” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Maintain an active certification in CPR or a more comprehensive program that meets or exceeds the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“CPR certification should also be maintained and does not count toward the 30 hours.” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Failure to renew will result in reinstatement penalties as well as potential disciplinary action for practicing without a license.” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Renewal reinstatement of an expired license from Jan. 1 - 15: $240” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Renewal reinstatement of an expired license from Jan. 16 - 31: $370” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Renewal reinstatement of an expired license after Feb. 1: $630” — dentistry.ky.gov
“52 Ky.R. 198, 974, 1115; eff. 1-22-2026.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“Renewal of general dental license: $110” — dentistry.ky.gov
“Licensee Search” — dentistry.ky.gov
“shall only complete one-half (1/2) the required hours for that period;” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“shall not be required to complete continuing education hours for that period;” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“During the license renewal process, licensees shall attest to their compliance with the requirements of this section.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“Licensees may be audited to determine compliance with the requirements of this section.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“Business operations and best practices; and (j) Dental or dental hygiene association or society business meetings.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“A license that is not properly retired or renewed shall be considered expired for reinstatement purposes.” — apps.legislature.ky.gov
“has not actively practiced dental hygiene in the two (2) years preceding the filing of the renewal application shall complete a continuing education plan” — apps.legislature.ky.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.