Becoming a Dental Hygienist in New York

Ready to embark on a new career in Dental Hygiene? Health care is enjoying robust growth in job openings across the US. The state of New York follows that trend. [Seguir leyendo en español]

There are currently 12,290 people employed in Dental Hygiene in New York. In the decade to 2028, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth in this field of 25%. (Find out about job prospects, salaries and Dental Assistant Schools in New York here).

Requirements for Dental Hygienist in New York

To become a dental hygienist in New York, you must have earned a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and have completed a New York State registered licensure-qualifying or American Dental Association-accredited dental hygiene program. You will then be required to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, a regional or state clinical board examination and a jurisprudence exam. You will also need a current CPR certification.

In order to administer or monitor nitrous oxide analgesia or local infiltration anesthesia, a dental hygienist must have Restricted Anesthesia Certification. Certification requires completing an educational program that includes 30 hours of didactic coursework and 15 hours of clinical training at dental or dental hygienist school that is registered with the New York State Education Department, or a similar program accredited by an “acceptable accrediting body””. The State Department of Education provides full details of the requirements in both the didactic and clinical components here.

How Long are Dental Hygienist Programs in New York?

Most dental hygiene programs last two academic years, but some, such as the “fast track” AAS degree at NYU, may be completed in as little as 17 months. Bear in mind that each college program has prerequisite courses which you are required to complete prior to application. Also, once you have completed the program, you will want to take the National Board exam to gain licensure and you will need to take this into account when calculating the total time required before you can get to work in this profession.

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Dental Hygienist Salaries in New York

The average salary for Dental Hygienists in New York in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $76,950, or $36.99 per hour. There are currently 10,640 dental hygienist jobs in the New York City – Newark – Jersey City metropolitan area. Current employment projections suggest there will be around 1,240 job openings per year in the ten years to 2028. Salaries in the NYC area average $89,830 but can be as high as $104,120.

Area	Total Employed	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Salary
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	590	$30.30	$63,010
Binghamton, NY	250	$26.17	$54,430
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	1,110	$27.07	$56,300
Elmira, NY	60	$30.63	$63,710
Glens Falls, NY	80	$33.05	$68,750
Ithaca, NY	70	$31.70	$65,930
Kingston, NY	70	$38.05	$79,140
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	10,640	$41.36	$86,020
Rochester, NY	1,010	$29.74	$61,860
Syracuse, NY	570	$32.57	$67,740
Utica-Rome, NY	180	$32.79	$68,200
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	100	$31.83	$66,200

Dental Hygienist Schools in New York

The US Department of Education recognizes eleven colleges offering dental hygiene programs in New York. Of these, nine are public state and community colleges, one is a private for-profit college and one – NYU – is a four-year, private not-for-profit university. Search for college reviews online to get the most up-to-date opinions on program and faculty quality. You may also be interested in dental hygienist programs in New Jersey.

New York City

The City University of New York – CUNY – offers dental hygiene programs at two of its colleges. Hostos Community College in the Bronx and City Tech in Brooklyn both offer Associate in Applied Science degrees in dental hygiene. Both colleges offer patient care clinics to the public, which affords students the opportunity to gain clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Hostos offers the possibility of completing the program in three years, rather than the usual two years for students who are academically compromised by familial and financial obligations. Both colleges require completion of general education courses with a grade “C” or better in Biology and Chemistry.

The NYU College of Dentistry is located at 345 E. 24th Street (corner of First Avenue) in Manhattan. The college offers both a “fast track” Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Dental Hygiene. The AAS Degree offers evening tracks so completion may be in as little as 17 months but can be extended to three-and-a-half years. The BS can be completed in 3 to 4 years, depending on your accepted transfer credits. Prerequisites include Biology and chemistry courses successfully completed at the high school or college level with a grade of B or better. High school applicants require a grade point average of 80% or higher, and SAT or ACT test scores. Transfer applicants are required to have a grade point average of 3.0 from 12 credits of college study.

Long Island

Farmingdale State College offers both Associate in Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degree programs. The BS degree expands the new career opportunities available to the dental hygiene student, offering foundation courses in the areas of teaching, research and public health. High school applicants to the AAS program are required to complete two units of Laboratory Biology and Laboratory Chemistry, two units of Sequential 1 and 2 or Elementary Algebra and either Intermediate Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry or College Math.

Upstate New York

Erie Community College, a SUNY college, offers a CODA-accredited AAS program at its North Campus in Williamsville, about 20 minutes’ drive from central Buffalo. The program prerequisites include an 88% high school average, Biology, Chemistry and Math 1.