Healthcare

How to become a Dental Hygienist

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

The steps

1. 1

   Complete an accredited hygiene program

   Associate degree; competitive entry, and chairside experience helps your application.

   2–3 years

2. 2

   Pass the national board

   Written exam plus a regional clinical exam on a live patient.

   NBDHE

3. 3

   License with your state

   Includes a jurisprudence exam on that state's dental law.

   4–8 weeks

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.