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Become a Dental Hygienist in Illinois

Over 9,440 people are employed as dental hygienists in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) projects that number to grow by 5% during the decade to 2028. Between job growth and replacements you can expect 700 job openings in the state each year. [Seguir leyendo en español]

For information on Dental Assisting Schools in Illinois, see this page.

Requirements for Dental Hygienist in Illinois

To become a dental hygienist in the state of Illinois you must be a high school graduate or hold a GED, you must have successfully completed a 2 year dental hygiene program at a CODA-approved school, hold a current CPR certificate, have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and completed a clinical exam at the any of the Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Inc. (CRDTS), the Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc. (SRTA), the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), or the North East Regional Board (NERB).

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Dental Hygiene License in Illinois

Licensure is issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation (IDFPR).

Licensure is renewed every three years. In order to maintain licensure, you are required to complete thirty-six credits from continuing education during this three-year period.

How long does it take to become a dental hygienist in Illinois?

Dental hygienist programs require a minimum of two years of study but most programs in Illinois are five semesters or 2.5 years. You will also need to factor in the time taken to complete prerequisite courses prior to applying to a program, if required, and the time needed to take the National Board exam on completion of your program, and to process licensure.

Dental Hygienist Salaries in Illinois by Area

In 2020, the average salary for Dental Hygienists in Illinois, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $74,680, or $35.91 per hour. As you would expect, most dental hygienist jobs are found in the greater Chicago metropolitan area which straddles Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The average salary in this area is $76,640.

AreaTotal EmployedMean Hourly WageMean Annual Salary
Bloomington, IL150$28.65$59,580
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL80$32.98$68,590
Carbondale-Marion, IL60$29.98$62,370
Champaign-Urbana, IL180$26.86$55,870
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI6,320$36.77$76,490
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL370$30.34$63,120
Decatur, IL90$30.56$63,560
Kankakee, IL80$34.85$72,490
Peoria, IL300$28.46$59,200
Rockford, IL320$36.12$75,130
Springfield, IL140$36.20$75,290
St. Louis, MO-IL1,540$31.39$65,290

Dental Hygienist Schools in Illinois

There are 14 US Department of Education-recognized colleges in Illinois that offer dental hygiene programs. All but one of these are public state or community colleges. Search online for reviews and alumni opinions before making a decision for any college. Also, confirm the current accreditation status, financial aid and tuition fees directly with the college prior to enrollment.

Chicago – Chicagoland

Kennedy-King College is part of City Colleges of Chicago. It’s CODA-accredited AAS in Dental Hygiene program is offered at its campus in the heart of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Prerequisites for admission include 20 hours of college-level study with a grade “C” or better in Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology and Human Diversity.

The College of DuPage (COD) offers a full-time five-semester Dental Hygiene program. Successful completion of this CODA-accredited program of study leads to the award of an AAS degree. The College of DuPage also offers their “3+1” program in collaboration with the Concordia University of Chicago leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Healthcare Management. All classes are taken at COD’s campus in Glen Ellyn, about 30 minutes’ drive west of the Chicago Loop. We rate this among the top dental hygiene schools in Illinois.

Lewis University is located in Romeoville, about 40 minutes southwest of Chicago and about 10 minutes north of Joliet. This a private, Catholic, Lasallian university. In partnership with the College of DuPage, this is the only Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene available in the area. The program is offered in a 2+2 format. Classes are taken for the first two years at the Lewis University campus, and for the final two years at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Tuition for the last two years are charged at the College of DuPage’s rates, making this option for a 4-year degree more affordable.

Other Locations

llinois Central College in East Peoria offers a CODA-accredited Associate in Applied Science degree program in Dental Hygiene. The College takes a maximum of 24 students each year. The College has its own dental hygiene clinic, where students can gain experience working with the public.

The School of Allied Health at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale offers a CODA-accredited Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. The School offers a Dental Hygiene Clinic and a Community Dental Center to the public, and students gain some of their clinical experience here. Prerequisite courses for the program can be completed at SIU.

Heartland Community College no longer offers a Dental Hygiene program.

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