Searching for how to become a dental hygienist in Florida? Becoming a dental hygienist in Florida is a great way to start a career in the healthcare industry.
There are many schools that offer programs in dental hygiene, and the average salary for this position is quite high.
In order to become a dental hygienist in Florida, you will need to complete an accredited program and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
The job outlook for this profession is quite good, and there are many opportunities for advancement.
Dental hygienists interact closely with their patients every day and perform a crucial supporting role in the oral healthcare industry.
Find the top dental hygienist colleges in Florida or recognized dental hygienist schools in Florida if this sounds like the career option for you.
To bring you up to speed, this article has been thoroughly researched and put together.
The third-most-populous state in the US, Florida, draws a sizable number of young, ambitious people looking for better opportunities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of dental hygienist jobs in Florida is expected to increase by 17% over the course of seven years, until 2028.
In order to become a dental hygienist in Florida, there are a few steps that must be followed. First, an individual must obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Next, they must complete an accredited dental hygiene program.
After completing the accredited dental hygiene program, the individual must then pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
Finally, obtaining a license from the Florida Department of Health is a must.
More on How to become a dental hygienist in Florida
If you want to become a dental hygienist in Florida, there are a few things you need to do.
As we said, you must complete an accredited dental hygiene program Next, and you must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).
Once you have all of these things, you will be able to start working as a dental hygienist in Florida!
The requirements to become a dental hygienist in Florida are pretty straightforward.
You must have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete an accredited dental hygiene program.
In addition, you must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE before you can obtain your state license.
The average salary for dental hygienists in Florida, is $39 per hour, or $74000, per year.
There are many schools that offer dental hygiene programs in Florida However, the top schools for this profession are Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, and Rasmussen College.
These schools offer great programs that will prepare you for your career as a dental hygienist in Florida.
The job outlook for dental hygienists in Florida is very positive!
The demand for this profession is expected to grow by 30% from 2021, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations!
This means that there will be a lot of job opportunities available for qualified individuals like yourself.
Some common duties of dental hygienists in Florida include removing tartar and plaque from teeth, providing fluoride treatments, taking x-rays, and teaching patients how to practice good oral hygiene habits.
Common challenges faced by those in this profession include dealing with difficult patients, working long hours on your feet, and exposure to radiation
What is the average salary of a dental hygienist in Florida?
Oral hygiene treatments such as tooth cleaning and disease detection are provided by dental hygienists.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for dental hygienists in Florida was $31.82 per hour or $66,170 per year.
These estimates are realistic, however, they may vary depending on your location and the dental clinic/hospital with which you are working.
| Type | Salary |
| Hourly | $32.63 |
| Monthly | $5,660 |
| Annual | $67,870 |
Salary Based on Years of Experience
| Years of Experience | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
| Less than 1 year (Starting) | $21.90 | $3,800 | $45,550 |
| 1-4 years | $28.24 | $4,900 | $58,740 |
| 5-9 years | $33.69 | $5,840 | $70,070 |
| 10-19 years | $37.89 | $6,570 | $78,810 |
| 20 years or more | $41.61 | $7,210 | $86,550 |
Approved Schools for Dental Hygiene in Florida
Attending any of Florida’s top dental hygiene schools can help you stand out from the competition and get hired for the highest-paying positions.
These are more comparable to medical schools without an MCAT requirement.
Having said that, Florida has a wide range of top-notch schools, making it challenging to choose.
In order to assist you in limiting your options, we examined a few of the approved dental hygienist colleges in Florida.
Miami Dade College, Miami
Being one of the top schools in dental hygiene in Florida, the school continues to graduate students who have been well-schooled in the field of dental hygiene, after undergoing rigorous didactic and lab sessions, and comprehensive clinical training at clinics that are well equipped with twenty-first-century equipment.
Its associate degree can be completed within two years of comprehensive study and 88 credits as a whole.
Their program commences in August and its classes are full-time and also held during the day.
Its curriculum includes courses such as dental materials, dental practice, dental radiology, and a whole lot of other very important courses like management and leadership.
Santa Fe College, Gainesville
Comprising a very rich and serene learning environment, Santa Fe College boasts of one of the most dedicated faculties, its practicals-based learning structure, and an opportunity for students to hone their knowledge and field-related skills.
The requirements for obtaining an associate degree in dental hygiene from the institution include partaking actively in 35 to 37 rigorous learning hours weekly.
During this period, you will be trained in a variety of work settings including public health, outpatients, and so on.
Its coursework is one of the most expansive as it includes courses related to anatomy, biology as well as clinical courses.
After graduation, students who passed through this rigorous learning journey can now take other certification tests and also apply for licensure.
Eastern Florida State College, Cocoa
With its Communocentric ideology, Eastern Florida State College continues to graduate students who have the interest of their community at heart.
Part of how they achieve this is through the consistent community dental health campaigns they do annually, as well as the well-equipped dental clinic they have set up.
The associate degree offered by the school has a curriculum that comprises general education, science, and dental hygiene courses, and lasts for two years.
Meanwhile, the school only admits about 12 students annually, so applicants are advised to do all they can to improve their chances.
Some of the ways of getting your chances up include completing courses in related courses in nutrition, anatomy, and some other health courses and scoring a minimum of a “C” even before submitting an application.
St Petersburg College, Clearwater
Known by many to have, in the past over 50 years, graduated students who have gone on to excel in the state and national competency exams for licenses.
St Petersburg College offers two major degree certificates, namely;
- Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree: This 58 credits curriculum can be completed in two years, during which students would be trained in the fields of dental hygiene such as; dental materials, dental pharmacology, community dental health, periodontics, radiography, and a number of other relevant courses.
They also offer the opportunity to study in Jamaica to eligible students.
- Dental Hygiene B.A.S. Degree: All the courses in this program are offered completely online. It expands on the knowledge you have gained in your associate and greatly widens career prospects in research, education, management, and sales.
Broward College, Fort Lauderdale
Broward College offers a broad range of services such as scholarships that continue to serve as support to students.
This is in addition to its very comprehensive curriculum.
Annually, around August, about 26 students are accepted into the department, during this period, students are exposed to one year of training in dental assisting, and another year in dental hygiene.
One of the major perks of the program is that every student is offered the opportunity to seek internship opportunities after completing the first year in dental assisting.
And a grace period of three years is given during which you can prepare to enroll in the dental hygiene program.
This allows students to gain very valuable experience and on-the-job skills.
Valencia College, Orlando
Founded in 1977, Valencia College continues to provide quality healthcare education to students, with their very equipped dental clinic, students will have the opportunity to hone their skills before actual practicing years.
Its curriculum is a very robust one, unlike that of other colleges, Valencia College has a curriculum that exposes not just health-related knowledge to the students, but it also prepares them for leadership in their intending organizations. This in turn improves the students’ career prospects.
Gulf Coast State College, Panama City
As the name already gives away, the school is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the Gulf of Mexico and has been in existence since 1996.
The school is equipped with twenty-first-century dental hygiene equipment installed in its state-of-the-art clinic.
Its two years degree course offers students the opportunity to practice alongside learning.
And after graduating, such a student will be able to practice in a broad range of settings.
Ranging from dental clinics, schools, research teams as well as other related fields.
Florida State College, Jacksonville
Florida State College’s excellent dental hygiene training supported by a dedicated faculty has led to students passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination with outstanding pass rates.
To become a dental hygienist in FL, you can consider this two-year associate degree that starts once a year in the fall semester.
The coursework comprises 16 credits in general education courses, 12 credits in sciences, and 60 credits in dental hygiene coursework.
To graduate, you must complete all these courses with a minimum grade of “C,” after which you will acquire the knowledge and skills required to offer clinical and therapeutic dental services to patients to improve their oral health.
The courses are offered in a sequence and include oral anatomy, oral histology, preventive dentistry, introduction to clinical procedures, dental radiology, periodontics, dental materials, community oral health, and ethics and laws relevant to your dental practice.
Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee
Tallahassee Community College is a prominent community college that serves dental hygiene aspirants from the counties of Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla.
The dental hygiene program offered by TCC is an associate degree that can be completed in six semesters, provided you complete 15 credit hours each term. To be eligible for the program you need to have a minimum grade of “C” in all the pre-requisite courses.
Offered in the fall, this program admits only a limited number of students each year.
To complete its broad curriculum, you will go through face-to-face didactic sessions, lab experiences, and clinical rotations.
Upon graduation, you will enhance your clinical reasoning and communication skills and be proficient in performing all the functions required of a dental hygienist working in entry-level positions.
Hillsborough Community College, Tampa
At its oldest and largest campus in Dale Mabry, Hillsborough Community College provides an environment that is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as labs and a dental clinic where dental hygiene students are mentored by an able faculty.
The dental hygiene program offered in the fall is an associate that takes five consecutive semesters to complete.
If you complete the general education coursework before starting the dental hygiene courses, then a commitment of 35 to 40 hours each week will suffice to complete the dental hygiene coursework.
You will learn to perform scaling, cleaning, plaque removal, root planning, application of dental sealants, dental radiography, and educating patients about oral hygiene.
Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth
Palm Beach State College offers a dental hygiene program in FL that is affordable and of high quality.
Small-sized classes, an excellent faculty, and a well-equipped dental clinic make it a rather enriching place to pursue a career in the allied dental field.
The college’s transfer agreements with several other institutions make a transfer into a four-year college a hassle-free process.
The program is an associate that can be completed in just 21 months of full-time study.
Beginning in the fall, you must complete a total of 88 credits that comprise 18 natural science courses, 18 general education courses, and 52 dental hygiene courses.
Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the national and state licensure exams.
For those aspiring for broader career avenues, you can transfer credits towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management.
Indian River State College, Fort Pierce
Indian River State College provides employment-ready dental hygiene training with an affordable tuition cost.
Student support services, financial aid, personalized attention, and an experienced faculty make this educational experience a rather smoother one.
By completing this two-year associate degree in dental hygiene, you will develop vital skills required for this career such as interpersonal skills, communication, critical thinking, organizational skills, and a lifelong commitment to learning.
Students go through practice experiences at the college’s dental clinic where they provide dental care to a diverse population under the supervision of faculty.
The curriculum provides a solid grounding by integrating anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, general pathology, nutrition, and pharmacology along with dental hygiene courses.
Job Outlook for Dental Hygienists in Florida
Dental hygienists are in high demand in Florida.
The job outlook for dental hygienists is very good, with an expected growth rate of 30%.
There are many reasons why becoming a dental hygienist is a great career choice. Here are some of the top reasons Dental hygiene is a growing field.
As people become more aware of the importance of oral health, the demand for dental hygiene services will continue to grow Dental hygienists have an excellent salary and benefits package.
The average salary for a dental hygienist in Florida is $39 per hour, or $74000, per year.
In addition to competitive salaries, most dental hygienists also receive great benefits including health insurance and retirement plans.
Dental hygienists can work flexible hours Many dental practices offer part-time or flex-time schedules that allow dental hygienists to work around their other commitments.
Dental hygiene is a rewarding career helping others improve their oral health.
As a dental hygienist, you will be directly involved in improving your patients’ oral health and quality of life This can be very rewarding work!
Common Duties of Dental Hygienists in Florida
In order to become a dental hygienist in Florida, you must first complete an accredited dental hygiene program.
Once you have completed the necessary education and training, you will then need to obtain a license from the Florida Board of Dentistry.
The requirements to become a licensed dental hygienist in Florida are as follows:
- -You must be at least years of age.
- -You must have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.
- -You must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).
- -You must pass the clinical examination administered by the American Council of Dental Examiners (ADEX).
- -You must obtain liability insurance.
- -You must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.
After you have met all of the above requirements, you will then be able to apply for your license and practice as a dental hygienist in Florida.
Conclusion on How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Florida:
Being a Dental Hygienist in Florida is one of the best things that could happen to you. Dental hygienists in Florida may be in charge of applying preventative materials.
Furthermore, oral health education and patient treatment recommendations are offered. Diseases and oral lesions are recognized and addressed once more, as are dental hygiene habits.
Courses in Dental Hygiene Programs vary. That is all the more motivation to enroll in one of Florida’s Best Dental Hygienist programs.