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License renewal · Wisconsin

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Wisconsin

The Dentistry Examining Board (Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services) sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years (odd-numbered years); deadline: October 1 of each odd-numbered year. Continuing education: 12 credit hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date, related to the clinical practice of dental hygiene or the practice of medicine. 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) — October 1 of each odd-numbered year

Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · dsps.wi.gov

Continuing education

12 credit hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date, related to the clinical practice of dental hygiene or the practice of medicine.

  • not less than 2 of the 12 hours in infection control

First renewal after initial licensure is exempt from the CE requirement.

Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · dsps.wi.gov

CPR / BLS

The examining board may not renew a license to practice dental hygiene unless the applicant for renewal attests that he or she has complied with s. 447.055 and any rules promulgated by the examining board under s. 447.055, that he or she has a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and that he or she has current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator

Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · dsps.wi.gov

Late renewal and lapse

If the department does not receive the renewal application before the renewal date, the credential can be restored by paying the renewal fee and a $25 late renewal fee (Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(a)). A hygienist who has not met the CE requirement by the renewal date may not practice dental hygiene until the license is restored under DE 2.03(5). Credentials not renewed within 5 years of the renewal date are subject to additional restoration requirements set by rule.

Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: license.wi.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

  • “Dentistry Examining Board” — dsps.wi.gov
  • “25. Dental hygienist: October 1 of each odd-numbered year.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date, a dental hygienist shall complete 12 credit hours of continuing education” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “you must complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.” — dsps.wi.gov
  • “a dental hygienist shall complete 12 credit hours of continuing education related to the clinical practice of dental hygiene or the practice of medicine.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “Not less than 2 of the 12 credit hours shall include training in infection control.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “No more than 2 of the 12 credit hours may be satisfied by training related to basic life support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “The credit hours required under sub. (1) may be satisfied by independent study, correspondence, or internet programs or courses.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the applicant is licensed.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “for not less than 6 years after completion of each credit.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “unless the person has taught, prepared, attended, or otherwise completed, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “that he or she has a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “that he or she has current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “Current CPR and AED certification.” — dsps.wi.gov
  • “by payment of a late renewal fee of $25.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “the holder of the credential may restore the credential by payment of the applicable renewal fee” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “fails to renew the credential within 5 years after its renewal date” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “shall not practice dental hygiene until his or her license is restored under s. DE 2.03 (5) .” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “Click here for Credential Look Up” — dsps.wi.gov
  • “One credit hour of a college level course is equivalent to 6 credit hours of continuing education.” — docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  • “October 1 of an odd-numbered year through September 30 of the next odd-numbered year” — dsps.wi.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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