Become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia
Job prospects for Dental Hygienists in Georgia are outstanding.
Georgia’s Department of Workforce Statistics & Economic Research foresees that by the end of 2028, Georgia will have enjoyed 13% growth in the number of hygienists in the state over the previous decade. The finding matches the growth in health care professions generally.
Hygienists are primarily concerned with preventive dental health and with the treatment of gum disease. Part of the role involves advising patients on oral health and how to care for their teeth, mouth and gums at home on a daily basis. Hygienists professionally clean teeth, removing plaque and tartar that has built up on the teeth. This treatment usually called a scale and polish or prophylaxis. They also examine the head, neck, and the oral cavity for signs of disease, sometimes performing radiographic examinations. They often applicy of fluoride or sealants. The hygienist may also give advice about how diet affects gum and tooth health, and about preventing tooth decay.
Requirements for Dental Hygienist in Georgia
To become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia you must complete at least a 2-year Associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene at an institution recognized by CODA and by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. You must also pass a clinical exam with a score of 75 or higher. These exams are currently run by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS), although there may be other exams approved by the Board. You must also get a score of 75 or higher in the National Board Exam. Finally, you are required to pass an open-book jurisprudence exam with a score of 75 or higher.
Salaries in Georgia by Area
People employed in dental hygiene in Georgia were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to earn an average annual salary of $65,540 in 2020, which is equivalent to $31.51 per hour. Approximately 6,990 are employed as dental hygienists in the state. Around 3,490 of these jobs are found in the Greater Atlanta area. Annually there are about 200 job openings.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | 120 | $24.54 | $51,040 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 140 | $28.02 | $58,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3,490 | $33.37 | $69,410 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 320 | $28.28 | $58,810 |
| Brunswick, GA | ** | $27.46 | $57,120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 370 | $28.87 | $60,040 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 210 | $26.82 | $55,790 |
| Dalton, GA | 60 | $31.08 | $64,640 |
| Gainesville, GA | 100 | $30.89 | $64,250 |
| Macon, GA | 180 | $24.74 | $51,450 |
| Rome, GA | 70 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Savannah, GA | 330 | $30.23 | $62,880 |
| Valdosta, GA | 70 | $24.79 | $51,560 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 130 | $28.92 | $60,150 |
Dental Hygienist Schools in Georgia
There are 27 higher education offerings in the state of Georgia. Of those, 16 dental hygiene programs are accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Some of those institutions naturally provide training both for hygienists and assistants.
You can expect to receive classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction. Your education will include physiology and anatomy, pathology, periodontics (the study of gum disease), radiography, nutrition, medical ethics and patient management.
The nine largest higher education institutions in Georgia are publicly funded, offering Associate of Applied Science (AAS) two-year degree programs in hygiene, as well as a Bachelor of Science four-year BS degree. The institution you graduate from must be accredited by both CODA and the Georgia Board of Dentistry. In addition, Georgia dental hygiene institutions require CPR certification, criminal background and drug screening, and placement tests.
Important: Before applying for any program, we recommend you confirm the current accreditation status and federal aid eligibility directly with the college. Also, you should compare reviews online to read the opinions of alumni.
Atlanta
Atlanta Technical College offers an Associate Degree, CODA-accredited program in dental hygiene, with on-campus courses, 100% online courses, and “hybrid” courses, with online and face-to-face learning components. You must have a current CPR card, a TB skin test within five years, and be medically cleared for classroom participation. A grade “C” or better is require in all courses to graduate. Criminal background and drug testing is required at various stages of the program. All other information, including financial aid programs, can be obtained from their easy-to-navigate and informative website: www.atlantatech.edu.
Athens
Athens Technical College, a public college, claims that 73% of its 10,000 students receive financial aid. They also have a “dual enrollment program” that allows high school students to earn college credits while working on their HS diploma. ATC is located in Georgia’s northeast region, at the center of Clarke County, and it offers an Associate Degree, CODA-accredited program in hygiene. Check out their list of per-credit and per-term fees here.
Augusta
Augusta University’s College of Applied Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene and a two-year BS-DH Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program for students who have already completed an dental hygiene associate degree.
Morrow
Apart from its on-campus activities, Clayton State University‘s dental hygiene program ranked number one in the 2017 Top Online Colleges for Dental Hygiene Degrees (compiled by research publisher SR Education Group). Located in Morrow at the heart of Clayton County, CTU, a public college that offers a four-year Bachelor of Science dental hygiene program, also operates a clinic where students treat patients under the supervision of faculty members. As a result, students are exposed to a live health care enviroment and learning experience.
Other Georgia Dental Hygiene Schools
Darton State College, is a public community college that offers a four-year BS program in dental hygiene. DST is located in Albany, a city of 77,000 people in the Southwest of the state. Central Georgia Technical College offers a two-year Associate program. It’s Warner Robins campus is located in Macon, a city of 154,000 inhabitants in the center of Georgia. You can also apply for a two-year, CODA-recognized AS dental hygiene program at Georgia Highlands College, with campuses in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, and Douglasville.
Related Professions
Other related health care professions include dental assistant, medical assistant, surgical technologist, radiologic technologist, phlebotomist, EKG technician, pharmacy technician and optician.
College Listings
FAQs
How Much Do Dental Hygienists Make in Georgia?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia dental hygienists earn between $49,200 and $68,110 annually on average. ZipRecruiter.com reports a median salary of $75,598 and an hourly rate of $32 for Georgia.
How Do I Become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia?
To become a Georgia dental hygienist, you must earn a degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. You must also pass the National Board exam, a clinical exam, and a jurisprudence exam before applying to the Georgia Board of Dentistry for a license.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia?
To become a licensed Georgia dental hygienist, you must complete an accredited, post-secondary program. Depending on the school and degree, it may take two to four years to complete.