West VirginiaDental Hygienist License Requirements

CPR/BLS Certification Required

Background Check Required

Local Anesthesia Administration Certification (optional, 12 hrs didactic + 15 hrs clinical, 75% written exam)

General Supervision Certification (optional, 2 yrs/3,000 hrs experience + 3-hr emergency course)

Public Health Dental Hygienist certification (optional)

CPR/BLS certification

West Virginia has a distinctive General Supervision Certification allowing the dentist to be absent up to 15 consecutive days (specific time limit). Public Health Dental Hygienists can practice in a broad range of settings (hospitals, schools, jails, community clinics, long-term care, group homes, homebound) without a prior patient exam by a dentist. Some basic services (fluoride, screening, education, counseling) require NO supervision at all. The state explicitly bars licensure for alcohol/drug abusers and anyone found guilty of exam cheating/fraud. Local anesthesia certification requires 27 total hours of training (12 didactic + 15 clinical) with a 75% written exam.

WV explicitly bars licensure for applicants found guilty of cheating, deception, or fraud in the examination.

WV explicitly bars licensure for alcohol or drug abusers.

General Supervision allows dentist to be absent up to 15 consecutive days -- a specific time limit unique to WV.

Public Health Dental Hygienist can practice in hospitals, schools, jails, community clinics, long-term care facilities, group homes, public health facilities, and homebound settings.

Some services (fluoride, screening, education, counseling) can be performed with NO supervision at all.

Local anesthesia certification requires substantial training: 12 hours didactic + 15 hours clinical + 75% written exam.

CE accepts any ADA or AGD approved provider -- relatively flexible.

Up to 80% of CE may be completed online/correspondence (with graded assessment).

WV Board address: 1319 Robert C. Byrd Drive, PO Box 1447, Crab Orchard, WV 25827.