Understanding the laws to practice dental hygiene in your state of residency is important for prospecting new graduates. These competencies were evaluated in two different classes. Techniques in Pain Control and Dental Hygiene Theory IV.  We read through the practice act and statues from the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry that outlines the scope of practice for a dental hygienist. In anesthesia lab we made sure to understand what local anesthesia injections we were allowed to do and under what supervision. We then compared the Pennsylvania statues to those in another state. This helped us understand that different states have different duties in a dental hygienist's scope of practice. In Dental Hygiene Theory IV we outlined the state practice act in order to understand the initial licensing requirements, continuing education requirements, and duties of a dental hygienist. Understanding the law ensures that we are ready to work skillfully and responsibly upon licensure.