New Hampshire Dental Hygienist license renewal and CE requirements
New Hampshire dental hygienists must complete 20 CEUs, which is 20 contact hours, every two years to renew their license with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners.
A New Hampshire dental hygiene license is valid for two years from the date it was issued, so the deadline follows the licensee's own issue date rather than a common statewide date. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification emails a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration, and by statute must give notice at least two months ahead, but missing the notice does not excuse a late renewal. The completed renewal application, fee and supporting documents must be filed on or before the expiration date. A hygienist whose license expires may not practice, and the expired license lapses one year after expiration, after which reinstatement rather than renewal is required. Renewal documents include a current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certificate.
Summary
New Hampshire dental hygienists must complete 20 CEUs, which is 20 contact hours, every two years to renew their license with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners. A New Hampshire dental hygiene license is valid for two years from the date it was issued, so the deadline follows the licensee's own issue date rather than a common statewide date. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification emails a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration, and by statute must give notice at least two months ahead, but missing the notice does not excuse a late renewal. The completed renewal application, fee and supporting documents must be filed on or before the expiration date. A hygienist whose license expires may not practice, and the expired license lapses one year after expiration, after which reinstatement rather than renewal is required. Renewal documents include a current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certificate. New Hampshire also mandates specific subjects. Infection control: 2 CEUs every renewal cycle. Medical Emergency Training: 2 CEUs every renewal cycle. BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component: 3 CEUs every renewal cycle. Restorative dentistry: 10 CEUs every renewal cycle (dental hygienists who have completed the expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) course). Pain management, addiction disorder, or both: 3 CEUs every renewal cycle (licensees required to register with the prescription drug monitoring program who hold a valid DEA number). No more than 15 CEUs may be self-study or online, hours do not carry over between cycles, and the first renewal is exempt.
New Hampshire Dental Hygienist renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the original issue date |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 20 CEUs |
| Category 1 minimum | 15 CEUs |
| Self-study or online cap | At most 15 CEUs |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Presenting an original paper, essay or formal lecture to a group of professionals, 20 minutes equals 1 CEU; Passing the written portion of the ADEX or a similar regional, state or manikin clinical examination for dental hygienists, credit for 100 percent of the required CEUs; Courses taken when initially obtaining a specialty, up to 3 CEUs; Courses required to maintain certification in a nationally recognized professional specialty board; Attending regional or national meetings of the ADHA, ADA, AGD and their recognized specialty organizations, up to 10 percent of the required CEUs |
Den 406.03(a), the dental hygienist paragraph, requires hygienists with an active New Hampshire license to complete a minimum of 20 CEUs per biennium, of which at least 15 must be in clinical dental care subjects. Dentists owe 40 CEUs with at least 30 clinical under Den 406.03(b). New Hampshire counts in CEUs but defines one CEU as one hour of attendance at lectures, seminars and meetings, so 20 CEUs equals 20 hours; Den 401.01(c) restates the hygienist requirement as 20 hours. Audio-visual programs, online programs and live webinars are capped together at 75 percent of the required CEUs, which is 15 for a hygienist and 30 for a dentist. Attending regional or national association meetings is capped at 10 percent. Excess CEUs do not carry forward. Basic life support does count here: Den 406.06(c) gives 3 CEUs per biennium for a BLS-HCP course from a qualified instructor with a hands-on component, and states that BLS-HCP is a clinical care subject, so it also helps meet the 15 clinical CEU minimum. A current BLS-HCP certificate must be filed with the renewal application. A hygienist who has completed the expanded function dental auxiliary course owes 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry in addition to the 20, a requirement dentists do not have. The board does not pre-approve courses. Hygienists whose first license came after graduation from an accredited college or university are exempt from continuing education for their first biennial renewal. Waivers are available for severe illness, incapacity or other hardship on written petition.
Required CE topics for New Hampshire dental hygienists
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infection controlAt least 2 CEUs in infection control, in a course whose syllabus includes the Centers for Disease Control's Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines and Recommendations. Same absolute figure as the dentist rule, so a larger share of the hygienist total. | 2 CEUs | Every renewal | All licensees | N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(3) |
| Medical Emergency TrainingAt least 2 CEUs in Medical Emergency Training. Same absolute figure as the dentist rule. The canonical topic list in the brief has no medical emergencies key, so a short snake_case key is used. | 2 CEUs | Every renewal | All licensees | N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(4) |
| BLS-HCP course with a hands-on componentSuccessful completion of a Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers course with a hands-on component is part of the biennial continuing education requirement, and Den 406.06(c) awards 3 CEUs per biennium for it and treats it as a clinical care subject. The course must be given by an instructor qualified through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, National Safety Council, American Safety and Health Institute, American College of Emergency Physicians or Military Training Network, or be sponsored or approved by one of the organizations in Den 406.06(a)(1). A current certificate must be filed with the renewal application. The requirement and the 3 CEU value are identical for dentists, so they cover a larger share of the hygienist total. | 3 CEUs | Every renewal | All licensees | N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(2); Den 406.06(c); Den 401.02(b)(3) |
| Restorative dentistryAt least 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry, and the rule states these are in addition to the 20 CEUs required of every hygienist, not part of them. It reaches only hygienists who have completed the EFDA course. Dentists have no counterpart requirement. | 10 CEUs | Every renewal | Dental hygienists who have completed the expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) course | N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(5) |
| Pain management, addiction disorder, or bothThree CEUs in pain management, addiction disorder or a combination, or alternatively an online examination in those areas, evidenced as part of the biennial renewal. Den 406.03(c) is written for licensees generally rather than for dentists only, so it reaches a hygienist only if that hygienist is required to register with the prescription drug monitoring program and holds a valid DEA number, which is uncommon in dental hygiene. It is recorded with that scope rather than dropped. | 3 CEUs | Every renewal | Licensees required to register with the prescription drug monitoring program who hold a valid DEA number | N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(c); RSA 318-B:41, VI |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 3 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | The board does not pre-approve courses. Licensees pick courses directly related to the practice of dental hygiene, and Den 406.06(a) lets a hygienist take up to 100 percent of the required CEUs from courses sponsored or approved by the American Dental Hygienists' Association and its component and constituent societies, the American Dental Association and its societies, the Academy of General Dentistry, state or local dental or dental hygiene associations, dental, medical and dental hygiene schools, hospital sponsored courses and conferences, governmental health agencies and health institutions, and postgraduate dental or dental hygiene schools. Certificates or printouts from the ADHA, the NH Dental Hygienists' Association or their sponsoring organization, the AGD, and the NH Dental Society, ADA and their recognized specialty organizations are accepted. Documentation must show the licensee's name, full course name, date, location, duration in days and hours, provider name and mailing address, and number of CEUs. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a New Hampshire RDH need to renew?
- New Hampshire dental hygienists must complete 20 CEUs, which is 20 contact hours, every two years to renew their license with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners. Den 406.03(a), the dental hygienist paragraph, requires hygienists with an active New Hampshire license to complete a minimum of 20 CEUs per biennium, of which at least 15 must be in clinical dental care subjects. Dentists owe 40 CEUs with at least 30 clinical under Den 406.03(b). New Hampshire counts in CEUs but defines one CEU as one hour of attendance at lectures, seminars and meetings, so 20 CEUs equals 20 hours; Den 401.01(c) restates the hygienist requirement as 20 hours. Audio-visual programs, online programs and live webinars are capped together at 75 percent of the required CEUs, which is 15 for a hygienist and 30 for a dentist. Attending regional or national association meetings is capped at 10 percent. Excess CEUs do not carry forward. Basic life support does count here: Den 406.06(c) gives 3 CEUs per biennium for a BLS-HCP course from a qualified instructor with a hands-on component, and states that BLS-HCP is a clinical care subject, so it also helps meet the 15 clinical CEU minimum. A current BLS-HCP certificate must be filed with the renewal application. A hygienist who has completed the expanded function dental auxiliary course owes 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry in addition to the 20, a requirement dentists do not have. The board does not pre-approve courses. Hygienists whose first license came after graduation from an accredited college or university are exempt from continuing education for their first biennial renewal. Waivers are available for severe illness, incapacity or other hardship on written petition.
- How often does a New Hampshire RDH license need to be renewed?
- Dental Hygienist licenses in New Hampshire renew every two years. A New Hampshire dental hygiene license is valid for two years from the date it was issued, so the deadline follows the licensee's own issue date rather than a common statewide date. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification emails a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration, and by statute must give notice at least two months ahead, but missing the notice does not excuse a late renewal. The completed renewal application, fee and supporting documents must be filed on or before the expiration date. A hygienist whose license expires may not practice, and the expired license lapses one year after expiration, after which reinstatement rather than renewal is required. Renewal documents include a current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certificate.
- What specific CE topics are required for New Hampshire dental hygienists?
- Infection control: 2 CEUs every renewal cycle. Medical Emergency Training: 2 CEUs every renewal cycle. BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component: 3 CEUs every renewal cycle. Restorative dentistry: 10 CEUs every renewal cycle (dental hygienists who have completed the expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) course). Pain management, addiction disorder, or both: 3 CEUs every renewal cycle (licensees required to register with the prescription drug monitoring program who hold a valid DEA number). Citations: infection control (N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(3)), Medical Emergency Training (N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(4)), BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component (N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(2); Den 406.06(c); Den 401.02(b)(3)), restorative dentistry (N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(a)(5)), and pain management, addiction disorder, or both (N.H. Code Admin. R. Den 406.03(c); RSA 318-B:41, VI).
- Do New Hampshire dental hygienists have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 3 years. The board does not pre-approve courses. Licensees pick courses directly related to the practice of dental hygiene, and Den 406.06(a) lets a hygienist take up to 100 percent of the required CEUs from courses sponsored or approved by the American Dental Hygienists' Association and its component and constituent societies, the American Dental Association and its societies, the Academy of General Dentistry, state or local dental or dental hygiene associations, dental, medical and dental hygiene schools, hospital sponsored courses and conferences, governmental health agencies and health institutions, and postgraduate dental or dental hygiene schools. Certificates or printouts from the ADHA, the NH Dental Hygienists' Association or their sponsoring organization, the AGD, and the NH Dental Society, ADA and their recognized specialty organizations are accepted. Documentation must show the licensee's name, full course name, date, location, duration in days and hours, provider name and mailing address, and number of CEUs.
- Is the first New Hampshire RDH renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. New Hampshire does not require continuing education for a RDH's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules, Board of Dental Examiners, Den 100 to Den 500 (Den 401 license renewal, Den 406 continuing education)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- RSA 310:8, License Renewals and Reinstatements; Expiration and LapseStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Board of Dental Examiners, NH Office of Professional Licensure and CertificationState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Board of Dental Examiners Education and Training, NH Office of Professional Licensure and CertificationState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Renew Your License Online, NH Office of Professional Licensure and CertificationState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
New Hampshire licenses dental hygienists and regulates them through the Board of Dental Examiners, administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. The board's page lists a Dental Hygienists Committee, but the board holds the rulemaking and licensing authority and Den 406.03 sets both requirements in one section, with the hygienist figures in paragraph (a) and the dentist figures in paragraph (b). The 20 CEU hygienist total and the 15 CEU clinical minimum were read in the hygienist paragraph, not scaled from the dentist figures. The mandated subject amounts are not proportional: infection control, medical emergency training and BLS-HCP carry the same absolute CEU figures for both credentials, so they consume a much larger share of the hygienist total, and the hygienist rule adds a 10 CEU restorative dentistry requirement for EFDA course completers that sits on top of the 20 rather than inside it. The rules were substituted in full effective December 2, 2025, which moved continuing education from Den 403 to Den 406; the board's education and training page still tells readers to refer to Den 403, an outdated cross reference rather than a difference in substance. The renewal basis was taken from RSA 310:8, II, which says licenses issued by the office are valid for two years from the date of issuance and that this supersedes any conflicting term in a board's own statute. Third party CE summaries still describe New Hampshire hygienists as renewing between February and April of odd-numbered years; that staggered scheme predates the 2023 OPLC consolidation and was not used. The self-study cap is recorded as 15, which is the 75 percent of the required CEUs that Den 406.06(d) allows for audio-visual, online and live webinar participation; note that New Hampshire counts live webinars inside that cap. The unit is recorded as ceu because the rule literally counts CEUs, with contact_hour_equivalent set to 20 because Den 406.02(d) defines one CEU as one hour of attendance. The mandatory topic keys basic_life_support, medical_emergencies, restorative_dentistry are not on the canonical topic list in the brief, so short snake_case keys were used.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.