How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Texas
Dental hygienists clean teeth, take X-rays and screen for gum disease and oral cancer. Texas programs are mostly two- to three-year associate degrees, plus a few bachelor's degrees, and lead to the national board exam, a clinical exam and a Texas license.
Step 1: Finish an Accredited Program
Texas has 28 accredited dental hygiene programs: 23 associate degrees, 5 bachelor's degrees. The median program runs about 21 months. Of the 13 that publish a total cost, prices run from $4,290 (Lamar Institute of Technology) to $29,729 (Texas State Technical College, Harlingen). 2
Highest reported NBDHE rates among larger programs: Austin Community College (100%), Houston City College (100%) and Amarillo College (93.0%).
Compare every Texas dental hygiene program, or by area: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth.
Step 2: Pass the NBDHE
The median Texas program reports a 96.5% rate (4 programs reporting), but results range from 90.0% to 100%. Graduates who passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, as the program publishes it. CODA does not require programs to post a standard set of outcomes, so many Texas programs publish none, and those that do differ in years and detail.
Step 3: Get Credentialed
Texas requires a dental hygienist license from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). New graduates of a CODA-accredited program must pass the NBDHE, a Board-approved regional clinical exam (TSBDE validates ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA scores), and the TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment, and complete fingerprinting, BLS CPR and a human trafficking course.
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) from the JCNDE.3 | $600 |
| Pass the ADEX dental hygiene exam (clinical plus computer-based OSCE), given by CDCA-WREB-CITA, within seven years before applying.4 | $1,300 |
| Alternative: take the CRDTS dental hygiene exam instead of ADEX.5 | $1,175not counted |
| Complete the TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment within one year before applying.6 | Not published |
| Apply online to TSBDE for licensure by examination and mail the supporting documents (transcript, NPDB self-query, CPR card, human trafficking course certificate).7 | $125 |
| Get fingerprinted through IdentoGo using the service code TSBDE emails after you apply.8 | Not published |
| After approval, pay the initial renewal to activate the license (the approval letter lets you practice for 30 days).9 | Not published |
Typical fees to start working: $2,025. Counts the NBDHE ($600), the ADEX exam with its typodont fee ($1,300) and the TSBDE application ($125). Extra costs not counted: the ADEX facility fee, the Jurisprudence Assessment, IdentoGo fingerprinting and the initial license renewal, whose current amounts are not confirmed; CRDTS ($1,175) is an alternative to ADEX. Texas hygienist licenses renew every two years with continuing education, and the Jurisprudence Assessment must be retaken once every four years.
Jobs and Pay Across Texas
About 16,380 dental hygienists work in Texas. The middle half earn between $85,280 and $107,320 a year; new graduates usually start toward the lower end. Texas expects about 1,370 openings a year statewide through 2034, from new positions, retirements and people changing jobs, with the number of jobs growing 21.8% (from 15,550 to 18,950).
What Dental Hygienists Earn by Area
The Texas median is $99,240 a year. 1 Pay is highest around Austin ($105,480), Houston ($104,930), Dallas ($101,870) and lowest around Texarkana ($82,800) and Laredo ($82,440). At the median program cost, setting aside 10% of the Texas median wage pays the program back in about 1.4 years.
Sources and Dates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Dental Hygienists (29-1292), May 2025 estimates.
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (American Dental Association) (CODA), checked Nov. 2026.
- JCNDE NBDHE 2026 Candidate Guide, 2026 Candidate Guide, updated 9/17/2026.
- ADEX Dental Hygiene (CDCA-WREB-CITA), Page references 2026 manuals; fee year not stated; checked Nov 2026.
- CRDTS Dental Hygiene, Class of 2027 fees; checked Nov 2026.
- TSBDE Hygienist License by Exam, checked Nov 2026.
- TSBDE Dental Hygiene Licensure Application, Application form dated April 2025; checked Nov 2026.
- TSBDE Dental Hygiene Licensure Application, Application form dated April 2025; checked Nov 2026.
- TSBDE Dental Hygiene Licensure Application, Application form dated April 2025; checked Nov 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Texas and metro areas (employment and wage percentiles), May 2025 estimates.
- Texas Workforce Commission, long-term occupational projections, 2024 to 2034.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or CODA. Our independence policy