Become a Dental Hygienist in California
The great state of California offers great opportunities for tomorrow’s dental hygienists. [Seguir leyendo en español]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% growth in employment for dental hygienists in the 10 years to 2028. This means you can expect over 1,370 job openings for dental hygienists in each of the coming years, when new jobs and job replacements are taken together. (To find out about dental assistant schools, state requirements, salaries and job outlook, visit this page.)
Requirements for Dental Hygienist in California
The licensure requirements for Dental Hygienists in California are the strictest nationwide. To become Registered in California, you must pass both clinical and written examinations in ethics and state dental law, and undergo a criminal history investigation. In order to apply for the exam, you must have completed an American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited dental hygiene program. Details of such programs are found below. Acceptable clinical examinations are provided by Central Regional Testing Services (CRDTS) and the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB)
Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP)
What is an RDHAP? A Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice [RDHAP] is a licensed registered dental hygienist with dental hygiene training that holds a specific license to allow the hygienist to practice in settings other than the traditional dental office. These practice settings may include schools, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, private homes and in some instances their own RDHAP offices.
The state of California also offers the possibility of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP). This title requires licensure as an RDH, a Bachelor’s degree and the completion of an RDHAP program. The first and most widely-recognized RDHAP program is the 150-hour program at West Los Angeles College.
Dental Hygienist Salaries in California by Area
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dental Hygienists in California earned an average of $109,520 annually or $52.65 per hour in 2020. Around a third of these jobs in California are found in the Los Angeles – Long Beach- Anaheim area. Just under three thousand are found in the Bay Area. Southern California offers 55% of all jobs and Northern California, 45%. The average salary for dental hygienists in Los Angeles is $110,250. This is above the state and Southern California average, but below-average salaries in Northern California and cities such as San Francisco.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 260 | $43.28 | $90,020 |
| Chico, CA | 250 | $45.52 | $94,680 |
| Fresno, CA | 220 | $42.63 | $88,670 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | ** | $39.74 | $82,660 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,980 | $45.16 | $93,940 |
| Madera, CA | 40 | $35.44 | $73,710 |
| Modesto, CA | 390 | $40.19 | $83,590 |
| Napa, CA | 150 | $47.66 | $99,140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 590 | $49.36 | $102,660 |
| Redding, CA | 90 | $43.57 | $90,620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,490 | $44.18 | $91,900 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,810 | $44.95 | $93,490 |
| Salinas, CA | 200 | $44.92 | $93,430 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 2,160 | $41.98 | $87,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 3,160 | $49.83 | $103,650 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,320 | $46.82 | $97,380 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 210 | $42.72 | $88,850 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 280 | $47.47 | $98,740 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 290 | $48.38 | $100,630 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 290 | $43.08 | $89,610 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 250 | $48.05 | $99,950 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 200 | $46.97 | $97,700 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 240 | $35.96 | $74,790 |
| Yuba City, CA | 50 | $44.48 | $92,510 |
Dental Hygienist Schools in California
The US Department of Education informs that there are 28 schools in the state offering education in this field. Many of the best dental hygiene schools in California can be found among the state’s strong collection of community colleges. A dental hygiene school offers quality training with affordable tuition. You can compare college reviews on sites like Niche.com and Cappex.com. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a full list of colleges.
Los Angeles Area
Cerritos College in Norwalk is a comprehensive community college serving an area of 52 square miles of southeastern Los Angeles county. Completion of the two-year program leads to an Associate in Arts Degree in Dental Hygiene. The program begins in the fall semester (August) of each year. Dental hygiene students require a minimum “C” grade in English, Mathematics and Reading and a valid CPR certification.
West Los Angeles College occupies 70 acres overlooking Culver City, Marina Del Rey and Greater West Los Angeles. As of 2016, it has begun offering a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Previously West LA College offered an AS degree. The prerequisites for this program include either all IGETC General Education Plan Courses or CSU General Education Plan Courses. The course plan must include various specified courses Anatomy, Physiology English and Math. All courses must be passed with a grade “C” or better.
Cypress College is a community college in Cypress, CA, just west of Anaheim and east of Long Beach. The College is about 25 miles south of Los Angeles (about 35 minutes without traffic). Prerequisites for their Dental Hygiene program include a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all college work attempted, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all science prerequisites and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for all course prerequisites. On successful completion of the program, dental hygiene students are awarded an Associate of Science degree. Further south, in Contra Mesa, is Orange Coast College which does not offer a dental hygiene program but does offer an accredited dental assisting program.
Pasadena City College offers a two-year Associate in Science degree in Pasadena, about 10 minutes north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. The program is CODA-accredited. To apply you must be able to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both written and spoken English, have a minimum grade “C” and GPA of 3.0 in prerequisite courses.
The University of Southern California’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry has a distinguished faculty and offers the most advanced dental hygiene education in the State. Students at USC have access to a Bachelor of Science degree program, a Master of Science degree program or a six-year “DH/DDS Pathway” option, which on completion awards a BS in Dental Hygiene and a Doctor of Dental Science degree.
The Department of Education reports no dental hygiene schools in the San Fernando Valley. The nearest options are West LA College, USC and Pasadena City College.
Bay Area
Chabot College in Hayward, in the Bay Area of Northern California is a community college with CODA accreditation and a strong track record in its dental hygiene program. The program is now in its tenth year with 100% of the students passing the National Dental Hygiene Board Exam. Students benefit from the fact that the college runs its own dental hygiene clinic where they can get hands-on experience. Program prerequisites include a minimum grade “C” in both Science and General Education courses taken, and a minimum GPA of 2.5. Science prerequisite courses include Anatomy, Chemistry, Microbiology and Physiology.
Diablo Valley College is one of three publicly supported two-year community colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District. The Dental Hygiene program is offered at the College’s Pleasant Hills Campus in the East Bay Area. Entrance into the program is highly competitive. Most selected applicants maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their prerequisite courses and 2.8 in their Associate in Arts, or Associate in Science degree courses.
Foothill College is found in Los Altos Hills in the South Bay Area. Its main building has won awards for its architectural design. Its dental hygiene program has been in existence for over 50 years. In its current form, it offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene (BS-DH) on completion, and is one of only 15 community colleges in the state to do so.
Other schools in Southern California
Loma Linda University is a private, non-profit university affiliated to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene at its campus in Palm Desert, Southern California.
West Coast University is a private, for-profit university offering a 3-year accelerated Bachelor’s degree program at its Orange County campus in Anaheim.
Other Schools in Northern California
Cabrillo College offers a very popular dental hygiene program at its campus in Aptos, by Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County. The college is located about 37 miles from San Jose and 75 miles from San Francisco. The program is affiliated with the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco and awards an AS degree in dental hygiene. The current wait list is between 1 and 2 years. Program prerequisites include a GPA of 2.7 in Science subjects and a minimum grade “C” in all general education courses. The college also offers postgraduate studies in the form of an Expanded Duties Course (local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, soft tissue curettage), a Sealant course and continuing education in Oral Pathology.
FAQs
What Colleges in California Have Dental Hygiene Programs?
There are several accredited dental hygiene programs in California, including at West Coast University, Fresno City College, the University of Southern California, Oxnard College Sacramento City College, Concorde Career College, Carrington College, and San Joaquin Valley College, among others.
How Much Do Registered Dental Hygienists Make in California?
According to Indeed.com, the average hourly rate for a California registered dental hygienist is $48.88. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered dental hygienists in California earn an average annual salary of $109,970.
How Long does it Take to Become a Dental Hygienist in California?
It takes two years to train as a dental hygienist as hygienists must obtain an Associate’s in Applied Science degree. Once completed, you will need to apply for a license through the Dental Hygiene Board of California.