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Perhaps you want to work as a dental hygienist in South Carolina.
In that case, read our article to learn how to get a license in the field.
Article Table of Contents
Education requirements
First of all, you need to take part in a dental hygiene program that is approved by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
The minimum education requirement for South Carolina is an associate’s degree.
To get this, you need to enroll in a 2-year program.
The topics you will learn in class include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Chemistry: general, organic, and biological
- Principles of dental hygiene
- Tooth morphology
- Head and neck anatomy
- Dental and medical emergencies
- Dental radiology
- Dental pharmacology
- Oral pathology
- Dental health and nutrition
- Public health dentistry
- Clinical dental hygiene
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 2715 W. Lucas Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501 |
| Trident Technical College | 7000 Rivers Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29423-8067 |
| York Technical College | 452 S Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730 |
Take the required exams
South Carolina requires 3 exams you need to pass before you can get licensed.
National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)
This is the first exam, and it is offered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE).
The test has 350 questions in total, covering the general and practical aspects of dental hygiene.
Jurisprudence exam
This test needs to be passed after the National Board Exam.
It covers the state laws and regulations and is open book.
You can also choose to take it online, and can retake it if you fail.
Clinical exam
In South Carolina, you can take either of the following 2 clinical exams:
- Southern Regional Testing Agency’s (SRTA) Dental Hygiene Exam
- American Dental Hygiene Licensing Examination (ADHLEX) Exam
During this exam, your ability to practice your daily job duties will be assessed.
Extra permits
If you want to get more credentials, you can apply for an additional permit.
These are as follows:
Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification
To get this permit, you must meet the next criteria:
- Up to date CPR certification
- An approved nitrous oxide class
- Take the Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Exam offered by the Board
Anesthesia Certification
To get this permit, you must comply with the following requirements:
- Up to date CPR certification
- An approved local infiltration anesthesia class
- Take the Infiltration Anesthesia Certification Exam
After you get these permits, you have to renew it once at 24 months.
Apply for your dental hygiene license
To get your license, you must send in the following to the Board:
- $150 fee
- Official school transcripts
- Verification of Licensure form, in case you have a license in another jurisdiction
- National Board Dental Hygiene Examination test results
- Test scores from the clinical test
- Background check
- Three references letters from practicing dentists
- Proof of current CPR certification
Salary Information
Depending on the degree one earned and experience, their salary can be higher than the average shown below.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $71,128 |
| Columbia | $70,346 |
| North Charleston | $71,128 |
| Mount Pleasant | $71,128 |
| Rock Hill | $73,724 |
| Greenville | $73,076 |
| Summerville | $70,814 |
| Goose Creek | $71,024 |
| Sumter | $66,976 |
| Hilton Head Island | $69,561 |
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 570 | $74,830 | $35.98 | $91,990 | $62,050 |
| Columbia, SC | 600 | $69,130 | $33.24 | $77,430 | $52,560 |
| Florence, SC | 140 | $66,150 | $31.8 | $74,590 | $60,110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 680 | $69,790 | $33.55 | $78,560 | $61,600 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 100 | $70,920 | $34.1 | $79,660 | $61,380 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 240 | $72,750 | $34.98 | $79,740 | $61,640 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 200 | $70,480 | $33.88 | $79,200 | $53,930 |
| Sumter, SC | 60 | $64,880 | $31.19 | $77,070 | $58,920 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
License Renewal
In order to get your license renewed every 2 years, you have to take 14 extra education hours.
Your CPR certification should also be renewed every 3 years.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygiene by State