License renewal · New Hampshire

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years (license valid 2 years from date of issuance); deadline: On or before the expiration of the license (OPLC emails notice at least 2 months before; renewal may be filed not more than 60 days before expiration). Continuing education: 20 CEUs of continuing education per biennium (1 CEU = one hour of attendance). 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 (license valid 2 years from date of issuance) — On or before the expiration of the license (OPLC emails notice at least 2 months before; renewal may be filed not more than 60 days before expiration)

Source: gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov

Continuing education

20 CEUs of continuing education per biennium (1 CEU = one hour of attendance).

at least 15 CEUs in clinical dental care subjects
successful completion of a BLS-HCP course that includes a hands-on component (earns 3 CEUs per biennium)
at least 2 CEUs in infection control (course must include the CDC Infection Prevention and Control guidelines in its syllabus)
at least 2 CEUs in Medical Emergency Training
hygienists who completed the EFDA course: at least 10 additional CEUs in restorative dentistry

Hygienists whose first license followed graduation from an accredited college are exempt from CE for the first biennial renewal.

Source: gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov

CPR / BLS

If applying to renew a dental hygienist license submit: ... A current copy of the applicants BLS-HCP certificate; and Successfully completed a BLS-HCP course that includes a hands-on component as required by Den 406.06(c).

Source: gc.nh.gov

Late renewal and lapse

A license expires if the completed renewal application, fee and supporting documents are not filed by the expiration date, and its holder is not authorized to practice until reinstated. Expired licenses lapse one year from expiration; a renewal filed after expiration but within one year is processed as a reinstatement (reinstatement application, registration fee, late fee and reinstatement fee). A lapsed license cannot be renewed; the hygienist must meet reinstatement requirements (documentation of 20 CEUs for the biennium, per Den 301.08).

Source: gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov · gc.nh.gov

Verify a license

We could not confirm the official lookup page for New Hampshire; start from the board's site.

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

“DENTISTS AND DENTISTRY” — gc.nh.gov
“Licenses issued by the office shall be valid for 2 years from the date of issuance” — gc.nh.gov
“renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license 2 years $187” — gc.nh.gov
“Applicants shall submit completed applications for renewal, the renewal fee, and any supporting documents required for renewal on or before the expiration of the license.” — gc.nh.gov
“not more than 60 days prior to the expiration of the license but on or before the expiration date” — gc.nh.gov
“at least 2 months before the date of expiration of their license” — gc.nh.gov
“Dental hygienists with an active New Hampshire license shall complete a minimum of 20 CEUs of continuing education per biennium.” — gc.nh.gov
“At least 15 CEUs earned in clinical dental care subjects;” — gc.nh.gov
“Successfully completed a BLS-HCP course that includes a hands-on component as required by Den 406.06(c);” — gc.nh.gov
“At least 2 CEUs earned in infection control in a course which includes the Center for Disease Controls Infection Prevention” — gc.nh.gov
“At least 2 CEUs earned in Medical Emergency Training; and” — gc.nh.gov
“At least 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry in addition to the 20 CEUs required by (a) above if the hygienist has completed the EFDA course.” — gc.nh.gov
“A licensee shall receive credit for 3 CEUs per biennium for successful completion of BLS-HCP course(s)” — gc.nh.gov
“A licensee shall receive credit for up to 75% of the required CEUs by participating in audio-visual or online programs or live webinars.” — gc.nh.gov
“Excess CEUs earned in one renewal period shall not be carried forward into the next renewal period” — gc.nh.gov
“shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first biennial renewal after their initial license was granted.” — gc.nh.gov
“The board shall not pre-approve courses.” — gc.nh.gov
“for a period of 3 years from the date of the program course” — gc.nh.gov
“A current copy of the applicants BLS-HCP certificate;” — gc.nh.gov
“Whether the applicant has provided a copy of their current BLS-HCP certificate;” — gc.nh.gov
“the holders of an expired license are not authorized to practice until the licenses have been reinstated.” — gc.nh.gov
“Expired licenses shall lapse one year from expiration.” — gc.nh.gov
“filed after the license has expired but within one year of expiration shall be accepted as an application for reinstatement” — gc.nh.gov
“Pays the registration fee, late fee, and reinstatement fee.” — gc.nh.gov
“Renewal applicants whose licenses have lapsed shall not practice as a dentist or dental hygienist until their licenses have been reinstated by the OPLC.” — gc.nh.gov
“Unless otherwise required by statute, 10% of licensees renewing in a given year shall be audited” — gc.nh.gov
“Licensees required to register with the prescription drug monitoring program and who possess a valid drug enforcement administration number” — gc.nh.gov
“documentation showing that the applicant has completed 20 CEUs for the biennium” — gc.nh.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.