License renewal · Michigan

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Michigan

The Michigan Board of Dentistry (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) sets the rules. Renewal: every 3 years; deadline: on or before the expiration date shown on each license (no single calendar date is stated); renewal may be started no sooner than 90 days before the expiration date. Continuing education: 36 hours of board-approved continuing education during the 3 years before the end of the license cycle. 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 3 years — on or before the expiration date shown on each license (no single calendar date is stated); renewal may be started no sooner than 90 days before the expiration date

Source: michigan.gov · legislature.mi.gov

Continuing education

36 hours of board-approved continuing education during the 3 years before the end of the license cycle.

At least 12 hours in programs directly related to clinical issues including delivery of care, materials used in the delivery of care, and pharmacology
2 hours in pain and symptom management
1 hour in dental ethics and jurisprudence with inclusion of delegation of duties to allied dental personnel
1 hour in infection control, which must include sterilization of hand pieces, personal protective equipment, and the CDC's infection control guidelines
At least 12 hours from synchronous, live courses or programs (in person or virtual)
Implicit bias training: 1 hour for each year of the license cycle (not creditable toward the 36 hours)
One-time human trafficking training

No more than 18 of the 36 hours may be done asynchronously, noninteractive; Implicit bias training required by R 338.7004 may not be counted as CE credit (R 338.11704(8))

Source: michigan.gov · ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us

CPR / BLS

Possess current certification in basic or advanced cardiac life support for health care providers with a hands-on component from an agency or organization that grants certification pursuant to standards substantially equivalent to the standards adopted in Rule 338.11705(4).

Source: michigan.gov · ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us

Late renewal and lapse

A license not renewed by the expiration date may be renewed within 60 days after the expiration date on application, payment of renewal and late renewal fees and fulfilling CE; the licensee may continue to practice during the 60 days. After 60 days the license is null and void and the licensee may not practice; relicensure within 3 years of expiration requires the application processing, renewal and late renewal fees (MCL 333.16201). Late-fee amount not stated on the pages read; the RDH guide lists relicensure (lapsed less than 5 years) at $118.80.

Source: legislature.mi.gov · michigan.gov

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: www.michigan.gov

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

“Renewal Cycle: 3 years” — michigan.gov
“A licensee or registrant shall renew the license or registration on or before the expiration date as prescribed by rule.” — legislature.mi.gov
“no sooner than 90 days prior to the expiration date of current license.” — michigan.gov
“Registered Dental Hygienist Renewal Application Fee: $78.00” — michigan.gov
“36 hours of continuing education as outlined in Rule 338.11704 approved by the board earned as follows:” — michigan.gov
“shall complete not less than 36 hours of continuing education approved by the board under R 338.11704a” — ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us
“At least 12 hours in programs directly related to clinical issues including delivery of care, materials used in the delivery of care, and pharmacology.” — michigan.gov
“2 hours in pain and symptom management.” — michigan.gov
“1 hour in dental ethics and jurisprudence with inclusion of delegation of duties to allied dental personnel” — michigan.gov
“1 hour in infection control, which must include sterilization of hand pieces, personal protective equipment” — michigan.gov
“At least 12 of the continuing education hours must be from attending synchronous, live courses or programs, per R 338.11704.” — michigan.gov
“No more than 18 of the 36 hours of the required continuing education hours may be done asynchronously, noninteractive.” — michigan.gov
“required to complet 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of their license or registration cycle.” — michigan.gov
“have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking” — michigan.gov
“Possess current certification in basic or advanced cardiac life support for health care providers with a hands-on component” — michigan.gov
“An applicant shall possess current certification in BLS or ACLS for healthcare providers with a hands-on component” — ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us
“an applicant for renewal shall retain documentation of meeting the requirements for a period of 5 years from the date of applying for license renewal.” — michigan.gov
“may be renewed within 60 days after the expiration date on application, payment of renewal and late renewal fees” — legislature.mi.gov
“the license or registration is considered null and void.” — legislature.mi.gov
“an individual may be relicensed or reregistered within 3 years after the expiration date on application, payment of the application processing, renewal” — legislature.mi.gov
“Registered Dental Hygienist Relicensure (Lapsed less than 5 years) - $118.80” — michigan.gov
“Licenses may also be verified online on the Bureau’s License Verification website free of charge.” — michigan.gov
“Find / Verify a Licensed Professional or Business” — michigan.gov
“not less than 12 hours devoted to registered dental hygienist functions, and not less than 12 hours devoted to registered dental assistant functions.” — michigan.gov
“By accepting the renewal attestation you as the licensee are certifying that you have met all continuing education requirements” — michigan.gov
“an applicant may not earn continuing education credit for implicit bias training required by R 338.7004” — ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us
“An applicant for renewal is not required to submit proof of completion of their CE hours.” — michigan.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.