Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Iowa
Living in the state of Iowa comes with many opportunities, one of which is the option to become a dental hygienist. For Iowans who enjoy working with their hands, enjoy science courses and want to pursue a rewarding career in the dental health field, dental hygiene may be the ideal choice.
Demand for dental hygienists is on the rise across the country, and in 2020 they made a median annual income of $77,090, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With a strong income and job outlook like that, what does it take to become a dental hygienist in Iowa?
Find out about becoming a dental assistant in Iowa here.
Entry level requirements for dental hygienist
There are a few requirements that must be met before beginning the journey to becoming a dental hygienist in Iowa. First, individuals must have completed high school or obtained an equivalent degree such as a GED. After that, they should enroll in an accredited dental hygiene program that has been approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Requirements for Dental Hygienists in Iowa
In order to grant licensure, the Iowa Dental Board requires all dental hygienists to complete a program of study accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as well as the Iowa jurisprudence exam.
There are several accredited dental hygiene programs located throughout Iowa. The tuition for these programs is typically around $4,000-$6,000 per year for in-state residents.
After completing an accredited program, you will be eligible to take the NBDHE and the Iowa jurisprudence exam. Once you have passed these exams, you will be a licensed dental hygienist in Iowa.
Dental Hygienist schools in Iowa
There are many good schools that offer dental hygienist programs in Iowa. Here is a list of some of the better ones, according to U.S. News & World Report:
1. Kirkwood Community College – Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Iowa Lakes Community College – Estherville, IA
3. Marshalltown Community College – Marshalltown, IA
4. Southeastern Community College – West Burlington, IA
5. Scott Community College – Bettendorf, IA
Kirkwood Community College – Cedar Rapids, IA
Kirkwood Community College is a two-year public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school offers an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene.
The program requires completion of 70 credit hours and takes four semesters to complete. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Iowa jurisprudence exam for licensure.
Tuition for in-state residents is $4,104 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $5,880 per year.
Iowa Lakes Community College – Estherville, IA
Iowa Lakes Community College is a two-year public school located in Estherville, Iowa. The school offers an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program requires the completion of 70 credit hours and takes four semesters to complete. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Iowa jurisprudence exam for licensure.
Tuition for in-state residents is $4,104 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $5,880 per year.
Marshalltown Community College – Marshalltown, IA
Marshalltown Community College is a two-year public school located in Marshalltown, Iowa. The school offers an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program requires the completion of 70 credit hours and takes four semesters to complete. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Iowa jurisprudence exam for licensure.
Tuition for in-state residents is $4,104 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $5,880 per year.
Southeastern Community College – West Burlington, IA
Southeastern Community College is a two-year public school located in West Burlington, Iowa. The school offers an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program requires the completion of 70 credit hours and takes four semesters to complete. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Iowa jurisprudence exam for licensure.
Tuition for in-state residents is $4,104 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $5,880 per year.
Scott Community College – Bettendorf, IA
Scott Community College is a two-year public school located in Bettendorf, Iowa. The school offers an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program requires the completion of 70 credit hours and takes four semesters to complete. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Iowa jurisprudence exam for licensure.
Tuition for in-state residents is $4,104 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $5,880 per year.
These schools all offer two-year programs that will lead to an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. All of these programs are accredited by CODA and will satisfy the educational requirements for licensure in Iowa.
Dental Hygiene Programs in Iowa
Iowa’s abundance of community and technical colleges offer options to satisfy the Iowa Dental Board’s requirement of ADA-CODA accreditation, and students can easily find associate degree programs, such as these:
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.
Students can take classes at the Clinton, Muscatine or Scott campuses of this school, which partners with Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois, to offer an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. Once students reach upper-level dental hygiene courses, they must take them on the Carl Sandburg campus. There are no specific prerequisites listed for this program of study.
Iowa Central Community College.
Iowa Central Community College main campus in Fort Dodge, students can earn a CODA-accredited associate’s degree. The program is competitive—prerequisites to be considered for this dental hygiene program include a GPA of at least 2.5; a satisfactory assessment score from ALEKS 20, Compass or ACT tests; completion of prerequisite classes including Human Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry and intro to Biochemistry; and a clean background check.
Continuing education requirements for dental hygienists
While there are no specific continuing education requirements for dental hygienists in Iowa, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that all licensed dental professionals complete at least 15 hours of CE every year. Additionally, the ADA suggests that dental hygienists take courses related to their practice area in order to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and developments
Licensure for Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Iowa
After you’ve completed training, you must pass an Iowa Dental Hygiene exam approved by the Iowa Dental Board, such as one of the following:
- Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. exam, administered by the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS)
- The Western Regional Examining Board, Inc. (WREB) exam
- The Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) exam
- The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) exam, accredited by the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) and the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies, Inc. (CITA)
After that, you must pass the Iowa jurisprudence exam, and then you’re ready to be a licensed dental hygienist.
Job outlook and salary expectations for dental hygienists in Iowa
The job outlook for dental hygienists in Iowa is looking positive according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 report. That year, 2,250 dental hygienists were employed in Iowa, with a strong mean income of $35.68 per hour.
Dental hygienists in Iowa can expect to see good job opportunities in the coming years. The BLS projects that employment of dental hygienists will grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth is due to an aging population and an increased emphasis on preventive care. As people live longer and take better care of their teeth, the demand for dental services will continue to increase.
In Iowa, the median annual salary for dental hygienists was $77,090 as of 2020, according to the BLS. This is higher than the national median salary of $76,220. Dental hygienists in Iowa make a good income and can expect to see strong job growth in the coming years.
While the career is on the rise nationally, it’s also quickly rising in Iowa, with a projected 15 percent rise in employment in the state by 2028. If you’re interested in a career in dental hygiene, Iowa is a great state to pursue it in.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 70 | $35.65 | $74,150 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 260 | $32.96 | $68,550 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 370 | $30.34 | $63,120 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 580 | $34.13 | $70,990 |
| Dubuque, IA | 150 | $31.45 | $65,410 |
| Iowa City, IA | 120 | $31.46 | $65,430 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 450 | $33.28 | $69,230 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 160 | $34.30 | $71,340 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 70 | $33.59 | $69,870 |
Dental Hygienist Jobs in Iowa
Most dental hygienists were employed in the Des Moines area in 2017, says the BLS. Other areas of strong employment were Davenport and the Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area. The highest-paid Iowa dental hygienists that year were in De Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and the Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area. In these cities, the mean income for dental hygienists ranged from $34 to $37 per hour.