Certified dental hygienist programs

Valid Pa. Good moral character and U. Citizenship, 4. High school graduation year - Select One - Also required are written exams in infection control, as well as North Carolina jurisprudence. You can add bonuses, perks and other benefits, depending on various factors. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of those institutions naturally provide both types of dental programs.

Students rotate between the on-campus dental clinic and a clinic at Camp Lejeune. Generally, you will also be required to obtain a CPR certification. Private dental offices are the primary employers of hygienists.

In these settings, practicing in close collaboration with other health professionals, dental hygienists are involved in the assessment of oral health and the diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of oral diseases. Additional services may include oral cancer screening, dental charting, counseling about nutrition, and taking and developing radiographs. They may also perform similar duties while working in hospitals, schools, prison facilities, public health clinics or nursing homes.

While clinical settings are the most common employment situations, there are other opportunities for professionals who want to move beyond clinical work. Some hygienists become corporate representatives or even entrepreneurs , marketing dental products or services, working as consultants, or developing oral health products. Research opportunities are also available, through college and universities, corporations, nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.

Hygienists in these settings may be employed to conduct consumer research, or to test the efficacy of new dental products, procedures or theories. Professionals with a wealth of experience in clinical settings or other areas of practice may decide to help educate the next generation of oral health professionals. Colleges and universities employ hygienists as both classroom instructors and clinical instructors, and corporations may also employ hygienists as continuing education instructors.

Many also enter the field of administration , applying their experience to office management, direction of education programs, or heading corporate sales. Employment opportunities in areas such as research, education and administration are likely to require a foundation of clinical experience in addition to some advanced education. Depending on the career path they hope to pursue, some hygienists may need or want to further their education in outside fields, such as marketing or management.

Those who continue to practice in clinical settings may also find additional opportunities available to them. In most states, dental hygienists must renew their license by participating in continuing education. For the majority of states this occurs every two years, though for several states the cycle is one or three years. For each renewal cycle, each state requires a particular number of hours of continuing education.