ADEX Dental Hygiene Exam Prep for Foreign-Trained Dentists
One-on-one training for internationally trained dentists to build U.S. dental hygiene clinical skills and prepare for the ADEX Dental Hygiene clinical exam.
One-on-one · 2.5 days in person + 11 hours online · 31 CE hours · $6,500
Is The ADEX Exam Prep for Foreign-Trained Dentists Course Right for You?
This program prepares you for the SPTCE, the hands-on manikin portion of the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam. It does not cover the computer-based CSCE, and it is not the dentist ADEX.
Choose ADEX Exam Prep for Foreign-Trained Dentists if you:
Earned your dental degree outside the U.S. and are pursuing a dental hygiene license through Florida’s or Indiana’s pathway for internationally trained dentists
Are preparing for the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam
Want to learn the U.S. dental hygiene process of care, from assessment through documentation
Want one-on-one coaching on U.S. hygiene skills and patient care
Want a program shaped around your training, background and exam date
Each state board sets its own licensure requirements, and most require board authorization before you can sit for the ADEX. Confirm your state’s requirements before enrolling. This is a foundational skills program, not a remediation course. If you did not pass the ADEX and are seeking licensure in Florida, this program is not the right fit.
What’s Included?
Infection control and OSHA (2)
Pharmacology and the medicated patient (1)
Medical emergencies (3)
Periodontal staging, grading, and protocols (2)
Documentation, ethics, and HIPAA (1)
Ultrasonic technique (1)
Self-paced. Finish before your first clinical day.
Online Core, 11 Hours
Private skills assessment
The U.S. dental hygiene appointment, start to finish
Assessment, periodontal charting and treatment planning on the manikin
Radiography and vital signs
Manual and ultrasonic instrumentation
Sharpening, ergonomics and positioning
ADEX SPTCE protocol, calculus detection and removal, probing and tissue management
Timed mock exam to ADEX criteria
Private debrief with a written plan
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Clinical Training, 2.5 Days In Person
Learn the U.S. Dental Hygiene Process of Care
Dental hygiene in the United States follows a defined process of care, known as ADPIED. You’ll learn each step, the workflow of a U.S. hygiene appointment, and what’s expected of you as a clinician.
Hands-on instrumentation and technique training runs through every step, so you build the skills for the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam and for clinical practice in the U.S.
Implementation
Instrumentation, debridement, and patient educationEvaluation
Measuring outcomes and setting the right recall intervalDocumentation
Recording every step to U.S. legal and clinical standards
Assessment
Medical history, vital signs, oral and periodontal examination, and charting
Dental Hygiene Diagnosis
Identifying the patient’s needs from your assessment findings
Planning
Building a treatment plan and communicating it to the patient
How it Works
Request a consultation. Take the 2-minute intake, then book a call. We’ll confirm your state’s pathway, your board authorization, and your exam timeline before you enroll.
Enroll and set your dates. Your clinical days are scheduled around you. Pay at checkout by card, or choose a payment plan through Klarna or Afterpay to spread out the cost.
Complete the online core. Work through the 11 hours at your own pace, and finish at least one week before your first clinical day.
Spend 2.5 clinical days in Williamsburg, one-on-one. You’ll practice the U.S. process of care and the ADEX SPTCE protocol, then leave with a written plan for your next steps and your CE certificates.
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH
Meet Your Mentor
30 years of clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a proven track record of transforming dental professionals.
What Sets Dr. Tanner Apart
When you enroll, you’re getting more than a course. You’re getting mentorship from someone who has shaped dental hygiene education nationally and led clinical programs at the highest levels.
Proven Academic Leadership
Dr. Tanner has served as Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, and faculty member at multiple accredited institutions, and is currently a contributing faculty member at Creighton University School of Dentistry. She has helped launch and lead dental hygiene programs, trained faculty, and overseen clinical curriculum.
Clinical Expertise with Real-World Perspective
With 30 years in practice, she understands the day-to-day challenges hygienists face and how to elevate your skills in ways that feel doable and effective.
Trusted Industry Consultant
Collaborates with top companies to deliver training on the most current techniques, tools, and technologies in dentistry.
Published Thought Leader
Lead contributor for DrBicuspid and author in Teledentistry and Peak Performance, shaping national conversations around dental hygiene and professional growth.
Award-Winning Educator
Honored with numerous accolades, including the ADHA & Johnson & Johnson Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene, the Denobi Award, and recognition by Dentistry Today as a Top Dental Consultant for 6 years in a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This program prepares you for the hands-on clinical portion of the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam and for clinical practice in the U.S. A license also requires steps set by your state board, which in Florida and Indiana include a credential evaluation, written board exams and a state law exam. Confirm your state’s full requirements before enrolling, and we’ll walk through where this program fits during your consultation.
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Item descripAs of October 2026, Florida and Indiana offer a pathway for internationally trained dentists to become licensed dental hygienists without attending a U.S. dental hygiene program. Florida’s pathway is well established, and Indiana’s opened on July 1, 2026. Virginia passed a law in 2026 creating a similar pathway, but its rules have not been published, so it is not open for applications yet. If you’re interested in Virginia, take the intake and we’ll let you know when it opens.
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In most cases, yes. Internationally trained dentists generally can’t register for the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam on their own. In Florida, the Board of Dentistry must authorize you to sit for the exam. In Indiana, the board must first approve your dental degree through a transcript and credential evaluation. These steps can take time, so start your application early. During your consultation, we’ll plan your clinical days around your authorization and exam date.
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No. ADEX has separate exams for dentists and dental hygienists, and this program prepares you for the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam, administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA. Specifically, it prepares you for the SPTCE, the hands-on manikin portion that tests calculus detection and removal, periodontal probing and tissue management. The exam also includes a computer-based portion, the CSCE, which this program does not cover. Hygiene instrumentation and exam protocols differ from what you learned in dental school, which is why the program starts with the U.S. dental hygiene process of care.
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All in-person training takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia. You’ll get the full address and arrival details when you enroll. The online courses are self-paced, so you can complete them from anywhere before your clinical days.
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Yes. The program is AGD PACE-approved for 31 CE hours. Your certificate lists the live clinical hours and online hours separately, with dates, and the Medical Emergencies course comes with its own certificate. CE hours are not what qualifies you for a dental hygiene license, but your certificates document your U.S. clinical training, which is useful to keep with your licensure records.
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Yes. When you check out, you can choose to pay over time with Klarna or Afterpay. You’ll see your payment options and terms right at checkout, and approval is handled by the provider you choose.
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No program can guarantee a passing score. What this program gives you is one-on-one training on the hands-on skills the SPTCE tests, timed mock exams to ADEX criteria, and direct feedback on your technique so you can correct it before exam day. Because a failed attempt can add requirements in some states, including a remediation course in Florida, the goal is to have you ready for your first attempt.
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Unfortunately, no. This program is not a remediation course and is not approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry for that purpose. Please contact the Florida Board of Dentistry for your next steps. If you’re pursuing Indiana’s pathway and did not pass, request a consultation and we’ll talk about whether this program fits.
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Item descriptioTuition is paid in full at enrollment and is non-refundable. If you need to change your dates, you can transfer once to a future course within 12 months, as long as you give at least 14 days’ notice before your first clinical day. If you don’t attend and haven’t given notice, your tuition is forfeited. If Next Level Dental Hygiene cancels or reschedules a course, you can choose a full refund or a transfer to any future date.n
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Please bring:
Scrubs
Clinical jacket
Dental headlight (required, since there are no overhead operatory lights)
Loupes, if you have them
Provided for you:
Instruments and materials
You’re welcome to bring your own instruments if you’d like to practice sharpening them
Before your first clinical day:
Finish the online core courses
Ready to Return to Dental Hygiene Practice?
Not sure if Private 1:1 is the right dental hygiene refresher course for you? Take the 2-minute intake and we’ll recommend your path.
