Dental Hygienist Schools in Virginia (Top Programs)

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Dental Hygienist Schools in Virginia

Do you want to work as a dental hygienist in Virginia?

In that case, read on for the info we have compiled in the article below.

Education Requirements for Licensing

The first step in starting your career is attending a dental hygiene program.

This program must be at least 2 years long and accredited by the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

At the end of the program, you will be awarded an associate’s degree.

If you want to get better credentials, you can also opt for a bachelor’s degree.

The topics you will study during your program include:

  • Microbiology
  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Intermediate mathematics
  • Psychology and sociology
  • Nutrition
  • English and communication
School Name Address
Lord Fairfax Community College 6480 College St, Warrenton, VA 20187
Northern Virginia Community College 4001 Wakefield Chapel Rd, Annandale, Virginia 22003-3796
Old Dominion University 5115 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23529
Thomas Nelson Community College 99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666
Virginia Commonwealth University 910 W Franklin St, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2512
Virginia Western Community College 3093 Colonial Ave, Roanoke, Virginia 24015

Additional Qualifications

For the following extra certifications, you will need to finish a CODA-accredited course.

Local Anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide

To get either of these permits, you need 35 hours of class on:

  • Patient psychological and physical assessment
  • Record keeping and medical history evaluation
  • Anatomical issues regarding the administration of local anesthesia
  • Pharmacology of vasoconstrictors and local anesthetics
  • Local and systematic complications arising from anesthesia
  • Management of medical emergencies
  • Mandibular infiltration techniques
  • Pharmacology of nitrous oxide

After you finish the class, you will also have to pass an exam.

General Anesthesia Monitoring

In order to care for a patient who is under general anesthesia, you need to take a course on the below topics:

  • EKG readings
  • Baseline vital signs
  • Temperature
  • Blood pressure
  • Oxygen saturation
  • Pulse
  • Respiration

Take the Licensing Exams

The first exam you need to take and pass is The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).

The test has 350 questions related to dental hygiene and costs $400.

Before you can apply for a license, you must also pass one of the following clinical exams:

  • Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA)
  • Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS)
  • Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
  • Commission on Dental Competency Assessments
  • Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)
  • American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX)

Applying for a Dental Hygiene License

To apply, make sure to submit the following paperwork:

  • Proof of completing a CODA-accredited program
  • Original transcripts from your school
  • Complete résumé of your activities since you graduated from your approved dental hygienist school
  • NBDHE score results
  • Clinical exam scores
  • Up to date self-queried report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB)
  • $175 application fee

Licensing by Credentials

If you already have a license in another state, you will have to submit the below documents:

  • $275 fee
  • License verification
  • Score reports from school
  • Proof of having worked as a dental hygienist for 2 out of the 4 past years
  • Proof of holding a license in another state
  • Legalized statements from your out of state employers in the last 4 years

Salary

Location and extra credentials will increase how much a dental hygienist from Virginia will earn.

Annual Salary Range:
$54K
$74K
$94K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Virginia Beach $71,605
Norfolk $70,526
Chesapeake $70,436
Arlington $82,892
Richmond $75,067
Newport News $70,167
Alexandria $82,892
Hampton $70,167
Roanoke $69,176
Portsmouth $70,526

Regional Salary in Virginia

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA80$77,080$37.06$98,710$61,830
Charlottesville, VA130$89,360$42.96$101,950$66,990
Harrisonburg, VA90$88,290$42.45$102,930$64,180
Lynchburg, VA100$80,210$38.56$98,530$61,170
Richmond, VA760$91,230$43.86$104,780$81,230
Roanoke, VA200$81,880$39.37$96,950$61,700
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA60$88,390$42.5$103,110$63,540
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC930$89,160$42.86$98,140$79,690
Winchester, VA-WV90$86,020$41.36$101,660$63,360
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Dental Hygienists, OCC Code 29-1292, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Renewing your License

In Virginia, dental hygiene licenses need annual renewal.

To be able to do this, you have to take 15 extra education hours.

USA Dental Hygiene by State


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