No person shall practice as a dental hygienist in this state until such person has passed a written and a clinical examination conducted or approved by the board. The fee for such examination shall be paid to the executive director and shall be in an amount established by the board. The board shall issue licenses and license certificates as dental hygienists to those persons who have passed the examination in a manner satisfactory to the board, and the license certificate shall be posted and displayed in the place in which the hygienist is employed.
OCGA § 43-11-70