Pennsylvania Dental Hygienist Requirements
With strong job prospects, competitive pay, and the opportunity to make a real impact in the dental industry, becoming a Pennsylvania dental hygienist is a rewarding career path. Before you start your dental hygienist career, you’ll need to meet the Pennsylvania licensing requirements.
Pennsylvania Dental Hygienist Licensing Requirements
To become a licensed dental hygienist in Pennsylvania, you’ll have to complete the following steps.
- Graduate from an Accredited Dental Hygiene Program: Pennsylvania requires that all dental hygienists complete a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) approved dental hygiene program. Various schools in Pennsylvania offer this program including:
- All-State Career School
- Harcum College
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Fortis Institute – Scranton
- Lancaster County Career & Technology Center
- Luzerne County Community College
- Manor College
- Montgomery County Community College
- University of Pittsburgh
- Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination: Administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examination (JCNDE), the NBDHE is a mandatory examination that will assess your knowledge or dental hygiene principles, care, and clinical practices.
- Pass the Clinical Board Examination: In addition to passing the NBDHE, you’ll need to pass a regional or state-approved clinical exam to demonstrate hands-on skills. Pennsylvania accepts test results from multiple agencies including the CDCA, CRDTS, WREB, and SRTA.
- Obtain Your CPR Certification: To become a registered dental hygienist, you’ll need to obtain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved provider.
- Apply for Licensing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry: Once you’ve completed the above requirements, you can now submit your application to the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. You will have to submit test scores, certifications, and proof of graduation.
- Maintaining Your License: To keep your dental hygienist license up to date, you must complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.
Becoming a dental hygienist in Pennsylvania is a fantastic career choice with flexible work opportunities and strong job security. If you’re ready to get started, make sure to enroll in a CODA-approved program and begin preparing for your exams today!