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Healthcare
How to become a Dental Hygienist
Cleans teeth, screens for gum disease and educates patients, working alongside a dentist. From dental assistant: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.
- Time to get there
- 2–3 years
- Typical pay
- $76k–$95k
- Starting from
- Dental assistant
Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from dental assistant and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.
Commonly asked for
- Associate degree from an accredited hygiene program required
- Dental assistant experience helps an application but is not required
- State licence and national board exam required to practise
The route
Complete an accredited hygiene program
Associate degree; competitive entry, and chairside experience helps your application.
Typical titles at this level
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Receptionist
Pass the national board
Written exam plus a regional clinical exam on a live patient.
License with your state
Includes a jurisprudence exam on that state's dental law.
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Destination
Dental Hygienist