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NBDHEBlogArticle

NBDHE Tutor: Your Guide to Success on the Exam

Discover how an NBDHE tutor can help you succeed on the dental hygiene board exam. Learn tutoring benefits, process, costs, and preparation tips.
Storyteller NBDHEBooster
By NBDHEBooster
Last updated: December 12th, 2025

I. Why Work with an NBDHE Tutor?

It can be overwhelming to prepare for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) with hundreds of pages of content to learn and review, countless practice tests, and pressure to pass on the first try. Half the battle is overcoming the stress and anxiety that comes with preparing for the exam and with your dental hygiene courses and so many things to keep up with during school, many dental hygiene students may find that it would be helpful for additional support. That's where an NBDHE tutor can make a difference. With one on one tutoring with the right tutor, you will be able to achieve personalized learning, accountability, and expert guidance to be confident on exam day and be on your way to becoming a licensed dental hygienist.

This article provides information on what an NBDHE tutor does, benefits of hiring one, and how tutoring can supplement your self-study. By the end, you'll be able to decide whether tutoring is the right investment for you.

II. Benefits of Hiring an NBDHE Tutor

With the amount of pressure to pass on the first try, dental hygiene students often invest in tutoring services to achieve such results. However, there are deeper benefits in hiring an NBDHE tutor.

  1.  Personalized study plans: Tutors will help in designing a plan that fits your timeline, your learning style, your weaknesses, and most importantly, your expectations.
  2. Real exam-like practice: In order to be confident on test day, you must be able to write the exam under similar conditions. Tutoring sessions will allow you to simulate these practice exams to help you feel confident and prepared for exam day.
  3. Confidence building: Think of an NBDHE tutor as a personal coach who tailors your preparation, keeps you on track, and helps you reach your goal as efficiently as possible.

III. How to Prepare with an NBDHE Tutor

If you're ready to start with an NBDHE tutor, here's a brief overview on how your NBDHE prep will look like with an NBDHE tutor:

As part of your NBDHE prep, we recommend completing a full-length or section-based NBDHE practice test before your first tutoring session. This gives your tutor a clear picture of your current strengths, weaknesses, and test-taking habits. Many tutors (and platforms like BoosterPrep) use diagnostic testing to create a performance baseline.

Once you have completed an initial consultation, you and your tutor will create a schedule that is personalized and fits your needs. This schedule will include sessions every week with your tutor to help you master the concepts needed to succeed. One of the most important things that expert tutors will do is provide feedback to keep you on track as you prepare for the NBDHE exam.

IV. The NBDHE Tutoring Process: How It Works

Initial Consultation

An initial consultation with an NBDHE tutor will include going over the results of a diagnostic exam, looking at which exam concepts to focus on, and understanding what strategies or teaching styles will work well for you and what will not. Your tutor will identify which content areas need the most attention (like biology, biomedical sciences, or dental anatomy), and which test-taking strategies need refining. This conversation helps ensure your plan is fully customized.

Study Plan Creation

In order to support your NDBHE prep, your tutor will work with you in creating a study plan. This is especially important as it considers how you would like to pace your studying, your preferred timeline, and daily routine - essentially ensuring that flexible scheduling is an available option for you. This plan will outline when to review each subject, how many practice questions to complete per day, and when to schedule review and rest days.

Tutoring Sessions

During these sessions, your tutor will:

  • Review key content areas
  • Go over missed practice questions
  • Teach test-taking strategies
  • Adjust your study plan as needed

These sessions are highly interactive with the goal of helping you think like the NBDHE exam expects.

Homework and Feedback

Your progress happens between sessions. After each meeting, your tutor will assign focused practice questions or review tasks. Completing these ensures you reinforce what you learned and show up ready to move forward next time.

V. Strategies Tutors Use for NBDHE Success

In order for NBDHE tutors to support you, there are several strategies they use to help students build their skills and confidence to boost your exam performance:
 

  • Active recall and spaced repetition: Tutors use study techniques like active recall (testing yourself rather than re-reading notes) and spaced repetition (reviewing material at increasing intervals). These methods help transfer information from short-term to long-term memory which is critical for retaining NBDHE facts and concepts.
     
  • Case-based learning: Because much of the NBDHE tests clinical reasoning, tutors guide students through case studies to develop better clinical thinking. You’ll learn to interpret patient scenarios, apply dental hygiene related knowledge, and reason through complex questions.
     
  • Error analysis: Rather than just marking answers wrong, tutors help you recognize why you missed those practice questions. Was it a knowledge gap? A reading mistake? A time issue? Understanding your error patterns is one of the fastest ways to improve your score.
     
  • Timed practice exam sessions: Many tutors simulate NBDHE timing to train endurance and pacing. These sessions help you stay calm, focused, and efficient when facing 350 questions across two long testing sessions.
    Pro-Tip: To understand the structure of the NBDHE exam and how many questions will be on the exam, visit How many questions are on the NBDHE.
     
  • Continuous feedback and motivation: Tutors regularly check your progress and provide constructive feedback, helping you stay accountable and motivated. They celebrate milestones and keep you focused on your end goal: passing on the first try. These strategies not only build knowledge but also confidence so that by exam day, you’ll know both what to answer and how to approach every question.

VI. How Much Does an NBDHE Tutor Cost?

The cost of an NBDHE tutor can vary widely depending on experience, session length, and how customized the tutoring program is. On average, you can expect to pay:

Tutoring TypeAverage Hourly RateDescription
Independent Tutors$40–$70/hrOften experienced dental hygienists offering flexible one-on-one sessions. May require you to bring your own study materials.
Professional Tutoring Services$80–$150/hrStructured programs with curated resources, diagnostic testing, and progress tracking. Usually led by dental hygiene educators.
Comprehensive Prep Packages$500–$1,200+ totalBundled tutoring and study tools that include multiple sessions, question banks, and personalized study plans. Ideal for students seeking guided, start-to-finish prep.

Several factors can influence how much money you’ll pay for an NBDHE tutor:

  • Experience and Credentials: Tutors with prior NBDHE teaching or grading experience tend to charge more, but their expertise often leads to faster progress.
     
  • Session Frequency and Duration: Weekly or twice-weekly sessions add up, but consistent engagement yields stronger results.
     
  • Customization Level: Tutors who develop detailed study plans, track your performance, and adapt lessons to your learning style may charge higher rates.
     
  • Online vs. In-Person: Online tutoring is often more affordable and flexible, while in-person sessions can cost slightly more due to travel or location-based fees.
     
  • Cost of Exam and Registration: It is also important to research the NBDHE exam cost and how this will affect how much money you are willing to invest in an NBDHE tutor.

VII. Tutoring vs. Self-Study: Is It Worth It?

Prep MethodAverage CostProsCons
Self-Study Platforms (like NBDHEBooster)$200–$300 totalAffordable, flexible scheduling, and comprehensive with full question banks and practice tests and mini quizzes.Requires discipline and self-accountability.
Tutor-Only Approach$600–$1,500 totalPersonalized, structured, and guided by an expert who pinpoints weaknesses quickly.More expensive and dependent on scheduling.
Combined Approach (Tutor + NBDHEBooster)$700–$1,200 totalThe best of both worlds: guided learning plus full practice resources.Moderate cost, but highest pass-rate potential.

While self-study works for some, many students find tutoring a smart investment, especially if they’re short on time or aiming to guarantee a first-time pass. A few weeks of tutoring can save you the cost, stress, and time of retaking the NBDHE, which can cost hundreds more in exam fees and lost preparation time.

Why It’s Worth Investing in a Tutor

Think of tutoring as investing in peace of mind and efficiency. A skilled NBDHE tutor can:

  • Help you master difficult topics faster and fill in the gaps in any weaknesses you may present with
  • Teach test-taking strategies and develop critical thinking skills that raise your score
  • Keep you accountable and motivated
  • Reduce anxiety and uncertainty

When you factor in the potential savings from avoiding a retake and the confidence you’ll gain, the value of expert guidance easily outweighs the cost.

VII. Common Mistakes Students Make When Choosing a Tutor

It can be overwhelming to look for the right tutor for you. Here are some tips:

Avoid tutors who:

  • Can’t explain how they help students improve
  • Have no NBDHE-specific experience
  • Offer no progress tracking or plan

Questions to Ask Before Booking

  • How will you structure my study plan?
  • How do you measure progress?
  • What topics do you specialize in?
  • How often do you recommend meeting?

A good tutor should answer confidently and make you feel supported and not pressured, they are there to fill in the gaps of your NDBHE prep.

VII. Where to Find the Best NBDHE Tutors

Some important qualities of good NBDHE tutors include:

  • A licensed dental hygienist or dental-education expert
  • Experience specifically with the NBDHE and is familiar and updated with boards dates
  • A structured teaching approach and provides feedback during your tutoring sessions
  • Good reviews or proven results
  • Flexible scheduling and clear communication

If you decide tutoring is right for you, NBDHEBooster Tutors offer:

  • One-on-one personalized support
  • Expert dental hygiene educators
  • Structured study plans
  •  Video crash courses to help you study
  • High-yield practice and coaching
  • Proven strategies to help you pass on the first try

Start your NBDHE tutoring journey with NBDHEBooster and access resources to study smarter, not harder.

Get started at the NBDHEBooster website https://boosterprep.com/nbdhe

VII. FAQ

Q: Is an NBDHE tutor necessary to pass the exam?

A: It is not always necessary for all dental hygiene students to hire an NBDHE tutor. You may NOT need a tutor if, for example, you’re already scoring well on practice questions, have a strong study discipline, understand your weak areas and can fix them alone, and can study on your own schedule and pace. However, if you feel like you’re struggling, overwhelmed, or at risk of failing. A tutor can maximize your full potential and improve your chances of success.

Q: How many sessions do students usually need with a tutor?

A: Most students meet 1–2 times per week for accountability and steady progress. The number of weeks will usually depend on how you have created your personalized schedule with your tutor.

Q: Can online tutoring be as effective as in-person sessions?

A: Online tutoring can be just as effective as in-person tutoring sessions. Consistency on your end is key and tutors provide support and motivation to keep you on the right track. Online sessions provide the benefits of flexibility compared to in-person sessions.

Q: What qualifications should an NBDHE tutor have?

A: Good NBDHE tutors are usually dental hygienists or dental hygiene educators. They should be familiar with the national board exam for dental hygiene, have experience in tutoring dental hygiene students, and should have proven reviews on their services.

Q: Does tutoring guarantee passing the exam?

A: No tutor can promise that but a good tutor significantly increases your chances for a first-time pass.