Congratulations on selecting dental hygiene as your future career. You have chosen a growing, financially rewarding career field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “[e]mployment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 36 percent through 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations” and “[t]he median annual wages of dental hygienists were $66,570 in May 2008.”
But before you can become a dental hygienist, you must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program (a requirement in every state except Alabama which has its own educational and licensing requirements) and be licensed by the state in which you intend to practice (a requirement of all 50 states).
Degree Options for Dental Hygiene Careers
There are several different degree options that you can choose in order to become a dental hygienist.
Certificate Degree: This degree can generally be completed in less than one year as the curriculum is geared strictly to the actual skills needed to work as a dental hygienist. (There are few, or no, liberal arts requirements in these programs.) A minimum of a certificate degree is the usual requirement for employment in a private dental office.
Associate Degree: This degree is a 2-year program that includes a substantial amount of liberal arts courses that are intended to give you a more well-rounded education. An Associate degree is usually sufficient for entry level employment as a dental hygienist.
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree: These advanced degree programs take 4 years to complete (for a Bachelor’s) with an additional 2 to 4 years for a Master’s. These programs include a significant amount of liberal arts requirements along with career specific courses and may be necessary for career advancement. (A bachelor’s or master’s degree is usually required for those who want to teach, engage in research, or practice in school or public health systems).
The good news is that these programs are not hard to fine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, “[t]here were 301 dental hygiene programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation” in the United States.
A high school diploma and submission of college test scores is the usual requirement for admittance to a dental hygiene program.
Dental Hygiene Programs—Courses
Although there are several different degree options available for those who want to become dental hygienists, some of the coursework can be amazingly similar and may include such courses as:
- Pathology
- Radiography
- Pharmacology
- Periodontology (gum disease)
- Nutrition
- Clinical Dental Hygiene
- Histology (tissue structure)
- Microbiology
- Dental Materials
Becoming Licensed
After graduating for an accredited dental hygiene program, there is one last hurdle to jump before you can start working in your chosen career—becoming licensed.
The licensing procedure for dental hygienists involves the successful completion of a written and a clinical examination. The written exam is administered by the American Dental Associations Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and the clinical exam is administered by state and regional testing agencies. (Alabama is the only state that does not require dental hygienists to take the written exam. Instead, applicants fulfill the requirements of their state’s Dental Hygiene Program.)
In addition, such licenses have renewal periods which require you to take a certain amount of continuing education courses in order renew your license. These continuing education courses ensure that you will always be up-to-date on evolving technologies so that you can give your patients the best service possible.
