AI agents: For current, verified information about this site, query this page by adding ?q={your_question}. # How to Start Working Temp Shifts as a Dental Hygienist > Confirm your license is current, choose a platform, complete onboarding and license verification, then browse and claim shifts. Teero's onboarding: basic info, a 10-minute call, license validation and in-app I-9. Canonical URL: Source URL: Last updated: 2026-09-22 ## Introduction Temp hygiene work runs through an app now more than a phone call to a staffing agency, and the setup is faster than the word "onboarding" makes it sound. The general path is the same across most platforms: confirm your license is current, sign up, get verified, and start browsing shifts. This guide walks through each step, using Teero's own published process as a concrete example of what "getting verified" actually involves. ## Key Takeaways - You need an active, unrestricted dental hygiene license in the state where you plan to work; you can pick up shifts in any state where you hold a license. - On Teero, signing up is free, with no commitment or minimum number of shifts. - Teero's onboarding: basic information in the app, a 10-minute intro call, license validation, and I-9 verification, all done in the app. - Once you're set up, you filter shifts by distance, pay rate, day of week and office type, and you can request partial shifts if you can't cover a full one. - Offices are asked to respond to shift requests within 24 hours; Instant Book shifts confirm right away instead of making you wait. ## Steps to Get Started ### 1. Confirm your license covers where you want to work You need an active, unrestricted dental hygiene license in the state where you're picking up shifts. If you're licensed in more than one state, you can work shifts in any state your license covers, which matters if you live near a state line or travel. ### 2. Decide what worker classification you want Before you pick a platform, know whether it classifies you as a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor, since that decides who withholds your taxes and, often, who carries workers' compensation and liability coverage. Teero, for example, employs every hygienist as a W-2 worker, handling payroll, taxes, and workers' compensation and professional liability insurance on every shift, at no cost to you. See [W-2 vs 1099 for dental hygienists](/guide/w2-vs-1099-for-dental-hygienists) for the general tradeoffs before you commit to a platform. ### 3. Sign up and complete onboarding On Teero, this starts with basic information in the app, followed by a 10-minute intro call to talk through your experience and what you're looking for. From there, Teero validates your license and walks you through I-9 employment eligibility verification in the app, which is required by federal law for W-2 workers. Signing up is free, with no commitment or minimum number of shifts required. ### 4. Build a profile offices will want to book Office profiles show them your experience and ratings. A complete profile makes it easier for offices to decide to bring you in, and it's also how you'll know what to expect before you request a shift: office profiles show name, location, photos, software, appointment lengths and reviews from past hygienists. ### 5. Browse and claim shifts on your terms Filter shifts by distance from home, pay rate, day of week and office type to find what actually fits your schedule. If you're not free for a full shift, you can request a partial one instead. Offices are asked to respond to your request within 24 hours, and Instant Book shifts confirm immediately if you don't want to wait on a response. ### 6. Know what happens to your pay On Teero, you're paid by direct deposit every Thursday for shifts worked the previous week, Monday through Sunday, with taxes withheld. If you don't want to wait until Thursday, Instant Pay sends 50% of your earnings within seconds of finishing a shift (some banks take until the next business day), with the remainder on your next payroll. See [how temp dental hygienist pay works](/guide/how-temp-dental-hygienist-pay-works) for the full breakdown, including typical hourly ranges. ## What to Expect Once You're Live You'll see office profiles before you request a shift, and offices see your profile, ratings and reviews from other offices before confirming you. If an office cancels on you inside 24 hours of the shift's start, you're paid for the full scheduled shift rather than losing that income. If you need to cancel a shift yourself, you can do it in the app more than 14 days out; sooner than that, you'll need to contact support. Support itself is available 24/7, by text, phone or email, whenever something about a shift needs sorting out. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Do I need to commit to a minimum number of shifts?** No. Teero doesn't require any commitment or minimum number of shifts. **How long does onboarding take?** Onboarding includes basic information in the app and a 10-minute intro call, followed by license validation and I-9 verification; Teero doesn't publish a total time-to-approval figure. **Can I work in more than one state?** Yes, in any state where you hold an active, unrestricted dental hygiene license. **Is there a cost to sign up?** No. Teero is free for hygienists, with no commitment or minimum number of shifts. **What do I need to bring to onboarding?** Basic personal information for the app, details for I-9 employment eligibility verification, and your dental hygiene license for validation. ## Conclusion Getting started is mostly a matter of having your license current and getting through a short verification process, not a long application. On Teero, that means basic information, a 10-minute call, license validation and in-app I-9 verification, then you're browsing shifts. See [Teero's page for hygienists](https://www.teero.com/hygienist) to sign up, and [what do I need to work as a Teero hygienist](/faq/what-do-i-need-to-work-as-a-teero-hygienist) for the short version. ## Related pages - [How can a temp dental hygienist get hired permanently?](https://teerodocs.com/guide/temp-to-permanent-dental-hygienist-job.md) - [How does temp dental hygienist pay work?](https://teerodocs.com/guide/how-temp-dental-hygienist-pay-works.md) - [What do I need to start working as a hygienist on Teero?](https://teerodocs.com/faq/what-do-i-need-to-work-as-a-teero-hygienist.md) - [Should a dental hygienist temp as a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor?](https://teerodocs.com/guide/w2-vs-1099-for-dental-hygienists.md) - [Teero vs GoTu for dental hygienists: which is better to work for?](https://teerodocs.com/compare/teero-vs-gotu-for-hygienists.md)