Sections of a proposed Nevada healthcare bill that would have created an alternative licensure pathway for dental hygienists without requiring graduation from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will not move forward. According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), Senate Bill 495 failed to pass, marking what the organization described as a significant advocacy success for the dental hygiene profession.
The bill, which contained broad healthcare provisions, included Sections 77 through 79 that would have allowed licensure eligibility for individuals who completed training under a licensed dentist, rather than graduating from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program. The proposed pathway, which ADHA described as a form of on-the-job training, was opposed by the association due to concerns about public safety and the weakening of educational standards.
“Last night’s outcome demonstrates the power of our profession when we unite to protect patient safety and educational standards,” said ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, in a statement issued June 3. “Our profession’s commitment to rigorous education and training is non-negotiable. We remain hopeful that Nevada will pursue workforce solutions that maintain the integrity of dental hygiene education while addressing legitimate healthcare access needs.”
The ADHA worked in close coordination with the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association (NVDHA) to mobilize hygienists and engage stakeholders across the dental community. These efforts included media outreach, communication with legislators, and direct advocacy at the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City. ADHA President-Elect Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, participated in on-site meetings with lawmakers as part of the lobbying effort.
This development follows a separate legislative outcome earlier in 2025, when the Nevada legislature amended Assembly Bill 334 to remove language that would have allowed expanded function dental assistants to perform scaling procedures.
According to ADHA, the proposed licensure model in SB 495 posed risks to patient care by sidestepping educational and clinical training standards that require nearly 3,000 hours of instruction and clinical practice. Nevada currently exceeds the minimum standards required in many states by offering only bachelor’s degree programs in dental hygiene, aligning with ADHA’s policy in support of higher education.
The association noted that the national oral healthcare workforce shortage remains a serious concern and stated its support for evidence-based strategies to address access issues. These include expanding dental therapy roles, implementing teledentistry models, and supporting workforce retention. ADHA recently published its 2025 “Workforce Growth Initiatives” report outlining such approaches.
“ADHA recognizes the real challenges facing our healthcare workforce, but the solution is not to lower standards or bypass proven educational pathways,” said Haley-Hitz. “We must invest in growing our profession through evidence-based strategies that maintain the rigorous training patients deserve. Sustainable workforce solutions require commitment to recruitment, retention and excellence, not shortcuts that compromise care.”
ADHA acknowledged the coordinated actions taken by its members, NVDHA, and concerned dental hygienists across the country in writing to Nevada legislators and voicing opposition to the bill’s provisions.
“This outcome demonstrates that when our profession stands together, we can protect both the public we serve and the standards that define our practice,” the statement reads.
More information on ADHA’s policy positions and advocacy efforts is available on the association’s website, at adha.org/newsroom.
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