ILLINOIS DENTAL HYGIENE
EXAM: OVERVIEW AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Practice Questions
1. Under Illinois law, how many continuing education hours are required for dental
hygienists during each three-year licensing period?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 48 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires dental hygienists to complete a minimum of 36 hours of
approved continuing education during each three-year licensing period. The education
must be relevant to the treatment and care of patients, including clinical courses and
nonclinical subjects such as legal and ethical responsibilities.
2. Which of the following is specifically outside the dental hygienist's authorized
scope under the Illinois Dental Practice Act?
A. Oral prophylaxis
B. Dental radiographic exposure
C. Preventive applications authorized by law
D. Permanent cementation of a permanent crown
Rationale: Permanent cementation of permanent crowns is not an authorized dental
hygiene procedure. The Illinois rules specifically identify restorative and prosthetic
,procedures that dental hygienists may not perform. Dental hygienists must remain
within their statutory and regulatory scope.
3. Under general supervision in Illinois, how recently must the patient generally
have been examined by the dentist for certain procedures?
A. Within 30 days
B. Within 6 months
C. Within 1 year
D. Within 5 years
Rationale: For specified general-supervision procedures, Illinois law requires that the
patient have been examined by the dentist within one year of the dental hygiene
services. This requirement maintains dentist involvement in the patient's overall dental
care while permitting appropriate delegation.
4. What documentation is required when a patient receives qualifying general-
supervision dental hygiene services in a dental office?
A. Only a billing statement
B. Only a verbal discussion between the hygienist and dentist
C. The dentist must approve the dental hygiene services by a notation in the
patient's record
D. Documentation is optional
Rationale: The statute requires the dentist to approve the dental hygiene services by
notation in the patient's record. Proper documentation establishes that statutory
conditions for general supervision have been addressed and creates an appropriate
professional record.
5. How long is the renewal period for an Illinois dental hygienist license?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
,C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Rationale: The Illinois Dental Practice Act establishes a three-year renewal period for
dental hygienist licenses. Licensees must satisfy applicable renewal, continuing
education, and BLS requirements.
6. Which of the following is an example of a continuing education subject that
may qualify under Illinois law?
A. Personal investment strategies
B. Personal estate planning
C. Legal and ethical responsibilities
D. Personal vacation planning
Rationale: Illinois specifically recognizes relevant nonclinical subjects such as legal and
ethical responsibilities as potentially appropriate continuing education. The statute
excludes subjects such as personal investments and estate planning.
7. Under the general-supervision provision in Illinois, what must the patient be
told about the dentist?
A. That the dentist will personally perform every hygiene procedure
B. That the dentist may be out of the office while the dental hygiene services are
provided
C. That the hygienist is legally independent of the dentist
D. That the dentist is not responsible for the patient's care
Rationale: Illinois law requires patient notification that the dentist may be out of the
office during qualifying general-supervision dental hygiene services. This promotes
transparency regarding who is physically present while services are delivered.
, 8. A dental hygienist who was licensed in another state and was authorized to
administer local anesthesia in that jurisdiction wishes to practice in Illinois. What is
required?
A. Complete a 32-hour local anesthesia course
B. Complete a 6-hour supplemental course
C. No additional course is required
D. Repeat the entire dental hygiene program
Rationale: A dental hygienist who was licensed in another state and was authorized to
administer local anesthesia in that jurisdiction will not be required to complete an
additional course. Illinois recognizes prior authorization from other jurisdictions.
9. What is the maximum amount of continuing education credit allowed for
volunteer clinical services during each license renewal period?
A. 2 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours
Rationale: Illinois allows up to 4 hours of continuing education credit per license
renewal period for volunteer hours spent providing clinical services at a nonprofit
community clinic, local or state health department, or charity event.
10. Which activity is specifically identified as outside the permitted dental hygiene
scope in Illinois rules?
A. Oral prophylaxis
B. Coronal polishing when otherwise authorized
C. Dental health education
D. Use of a high-speed handpiece intraorally
EXAM: OVERVIEW AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Practice Questions
1. Under Illinois law, how many continuing education hours are required for dental
hygienists during each three-year licensing period?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 48 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires dental hygienists to complete a minimum of 36 hours of
approved continuing education during each three-year licensing period. The education
must be relevant to the treatment and care of patients, including clinical courses and
nonclinical subjects such as legal and ethical responsibilities.
2. Which of the following is specifically outside the dental hygienist's authorized
scope under the Illinois Dental Practice Act?
A. Oral prophylaxis
B. Dental radiographic exposure
C. Preventive applications authorized by law
D. Permanent cementation of a permanent crown
Rationale: Permanent cementation of permanent crowns is not an authorized dental
hygiene procedure. The Illinois rules specifically identify restorative and prosthetic
,procedures that dental hygienists may not perform. Dental hygienists must remain
within their statutory and regulatory scope.
3. Under general supervision in Illinois, how recently must the patient generally
have been examined by the dentist for certain procedures?
A. Within 30 days
B. Within 6 months
C. Within 1 year
D. Within 5 years
Rationale: For specified general-supervision procedures, Illinois law requires that the
patient have been examined by the dentist within one year of the dental hygiene
services. This requirement maintains dentist involvement in the patient's overall dental
care while permitting appropriate delegation.
4. What documentation is required when a patient receives qualifying general-
supervision dental hygiene services in a dental office?
A. Only a billing statement
B. Only a verbal discussion between the hygienist and dentist
C. The dentist must approve the dental hygiene services by a notation in the
patient's record
D. Documentation is optional
Rationale: The statute requires the dentist to approve the dental hygiene services by
notation in the patient's record. Proper documentation establishes that statutory
conditions for general supervision have been addressed and creates an appropriate
professional record.
5. How long is the renewal period for an Illinois dental hygienist license?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
,C. 3 years
D. 5 years
Rationale: The Illinois Dental Practice Act establishes a three-year renewal period for
dental hygienist licenses. Licensees must satisfy applicable renewal, continuing
education, and BLS requirements.
6. Which of the following is an example of a continuing education subject that
may qualify under Illinois law?
A. Personal investment strategies
B. Personal estate planning
C. Legal and ethical responsibilities
D. Personal vacation planning
Rationale: Illinois specifically recognizes relevant nonclinical subjects such as legal and
ethical responsibilities as potentially appropriate continuing education. The statute
excludes subjects such as personal investments and estate planning.
7. Under the general-supervision provision in Illinois, what must the patient be
told about the dentist?
A. That the dentist will personally perform every hygiene procedure
B. That the dentist may be out of the office while the dental hygiene services are
provided
C. That the hygienist is legally independent of the dentist
D. That the dentist is not responsible for the patient's care
Rationale: Illinois law requires patient notification that the dentist may be out of the
office during qualifying general-supervision dental hygiene services. This promotes
transparency regarding who is physically present while services are delivered.
, 8. A dental hygienist who was licensed in another state and was authorized to
administer local anesthesia in that jurisdiction wishes to practice in Illinois. What is
required?
A. Complete a 32-hour local anesthesia course
B. Complete a 6-hour supplemental course
C. No additional course is required
D. Repeat the entire dental hygiene program
Rationale: A dental hygienist who was licensed in another state and was authorized to
administer local anesthesia in that jurisdiction will not be required to complete an
additional course. Illinois recognizes prior authorization from other jurisdictions.
9. What is the maximum amount of continuing education credit allowed for
volunteer clinical services during each license renewal period?
A. 2 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours
Rationale: Illinois allows up to 4 hours of continuing education credit per license
renewal period for volunteer hours spent providing clinical services at a nonprofit
community clinic, local or state health department, or charity event.
10. Which activity is specifically identified as outside the permitted dental hygiene
scope in Illinois rules?
A. Oral prophylaxis
B. Coronal polishing when otherwise authorized
C. Dental health education
D. Use of a high-speed handpiece intraorally
