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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.
Article Table of Contents
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:| 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 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,130 | $91,870 | $44.17 | $104,440 | $75,780 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 80 | $85,980 | $41.34 | $98,340 | $60,200 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 60 | $67,940 | $32.66 | $88,470 | $49,380 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 160 | $77,180 | $37.11 | $92,190 | $61,560 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 190 | $84,290 | $40.53 | $99,320 | $63,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygiene by State