Documents Every Dental Hygienist Needs for Temp Agencies
The exact documents a dental hygienist needs to work through temp and PRN agencies, license, CPR/BLS, immunizations, ID, and more, plus how to keep them current and send them in one step.
Temping and PRN work is one of the best things about being a dental hygienist, you set your own schedule and see how different offices run. The catch is that every new agency and every new office wants to verify your credentials before you walk in, and they all ask for the same documents in a slightly different order. Get your packet assembled once and you can say yes to a shift in minutes instead of spending an evening digging through email.
The core packet every agency asks for
Whatever the agency, the baseline set is remarkably consistent:
- Active RDH license for the state you’ll be working in (plus any local-anesthesia or expanded-function permit)
- Current CPR / BLS card (most offices require BLS for Healthcare Providers specifically)
- Government photo ID
- Immunization & titer records, typically Hepatitis B (or titer), MMR, varicella, Tdap, an annual TB screening, and often flu and COVID
- Resume / work history and sometimes professional references
What some offices and agencies add
Depending on the agency and the practice, you may also be asked for:
- Malpractice / professional liability declaration page, if the agency doesn’t cover you
- Social Security card or work-authorization documents for payroll/I-9
- NPI number
- A signed agency agreement and direct-deposit form
- OSHA / HIPAA training certificates
- A recent negative TB test if your annual screening has lapsed
Three things that get a credential rejected
It’s almost never the wrong document, it’s a small problem with the right one:
- An expiration that’s too close. A CPR card that lapses next month can get flagged. Renew before you apply, not after a shift falls through.
- A blurry or partial photo. If the license number or expiration date isn’t readable, it bounces back. Capture the full document in good light.
- The wrong state. Your license has to match the state where the shift is. If you cross state lines for work, you need an active license in each, see transferring or adding a license by endorsement.
Keep the packet current, not just complete
The packet that got you onboarded in January is stale by summer if your CPR or TB screening expired in between. The agencies that book you the most are the ones that never have to chase you for a refreshed document. Track each item’s expiration so you renew ahead of time and your packet is always shift-ready. A simple credential organization system keeps every date in one place.
Send everything in one step
This is where DentaReady earns its keep for temps. Your license, CPR, immunizations, and ID live in one encrypted profile with every expiration tracked. When a new agency or office asks for your credentials, you send a verified, point-in-time packet by link or share sheet, no scanning, no re-uploading to yet another portal. And because the profile is yours, it travels with you to the next agency, and the one after that.