Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland (Top Programs)

Dental Hygienist Schools in Maryland

Do you want to become a dental hygienist in Maryland?

In that case, read on for info on the steps required to start your career.

Training Requirements

The first step towards getting a license is enrolling in a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) accredited program.

You can attend an entry-level program, for which you don’t need more than your high school diploma.

If you already have some experience in the field, you can enroll in a degree-completion program or master program.

Keep in mind that the entry-level programs require good grades, especially in math and sciences.

The entry-level programs comprise 70 credit hours, in topics such as:

  • Introduction to dental health
  • Dental hygiene techniques
  • Oral anatomy
  • Dental materials
  • Dental histology and embryology
  • Clinical dental hygiene
  • Radiology
  • Dental office management, jurisprudence, and ethics
  • Oral pathology
  • Community dental health education
  • Private practice preparation

You will also need to attend practice hours that will be supervised by a practicing dentist.

You also need to take a CPR course with one of the following organizations:

  • American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
  • American Red Cross’s Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Professional Rescuers
School Name Address
Allegany College of Maryland 12401 Willowbrook Rd SE, Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2596
The Community College of Baltimore County 7201 Rossville Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21237
University of Maryland-Baltimore 620 West Lexington St, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1627

Take the Licensing Exam

Before earning your license, you need to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) exam and a clinical test.

The written exam is made of 2 parts.

The first part includes 350 questions on:

  • The scientific basis for dental hygiene practice
  • Provision of clinical dental hygiene services
  • Community health/research principles

The second part of the test has 150 questions based on 15 patients with various dental health issues.

The clinical exam

This test is also made of 2 parts and covers topics like:

  • Patient assessment
  • Scaling
  • Plaque/stain removal
  • Pocket depth measurements

The first part of the exam is the Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE), while the second part is the Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (PTCS).

The PTCS has a duration of 4 hours.

Apply for the License

The application is available on the Board website, and you should also submit:

  • Submit the National Board scorecard to the Board
  • Send the NERB ADEX exam report
  • A $275 fee
  • Passport-sized photo – signed
  • Dental hygiene school diploma copy
  • Certified letters from the states where you hold a certification
  • Maryland State Jurisprudence Exam and notarized affidavit
  • A $50 fee to Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners

Salary Expectations

A higher degree will provide higher education options, which in return will help you find a better job.

Annual Salary Range:
$56K
$77K
$87K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Baltimore $76,862
Columbia $76,737
Germantown $80,461
Silver Spring $82,746
Waldorf $82,522
Ellicott City $76,812
Frederick $80,019
Glen Burnie $76,862
Gaithersburg $82,522
Rockville $82,647

Renewing your License

In Maryland, dental hygienist certifications must be renewed every year for a fee of $182.

In order to renew it, you need to take 30 extra education classes.

USA Dental Hygiene by State


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