Becoming a Dental Hygienist in South Dakota

Dental hygienists are responsible for cleaning teeth, performing oral examinations to check for diseases and sharing information with patients on how they can maintain their dental health. You will need to communicate effectively, pay careful attention while performing tasks and enjoy working with your hands if you are interested in building a career as a dental hygienist.

Requirements for Becoming a Dental Hygienist in South Dakota

Aspiring dental hygienists in South Dakota will need to complete a degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and then apply for a license through the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry in order to become a hygienist in this state. You will also need to complete the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) offered by the American Dental Association (ADA), in addition to a regional or state clinical exam. After doing so, you will be eligible to apply for your license with the Board.

Dental Hygienist Schools in South Dakota

Completing a CODA-accredited training program for dental hygienists will be necessary in order to apply for your license with the Board. There is currently only one CODA-accredited program in South Dakota, listed below:

University of South Dakota. This school is located in the city of Vermillion and offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This degree program will require about four years of study to complete. A total of 32 students are admitted to the program each year, and admissions requirements can be found here.

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Dental Hygienist Licensure in South Dakota

Once you have earned either an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, you will need to complete a clinical exam accredited by one of the following organizations:

Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS)
The Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
The Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA)
The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA)
The Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)

After doing so, you will be eligible to apply for your license with the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry, as long as you have also successfully completed the NBDHE.

Dental Hygienist Salary in South Dakota

According to figures reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dental hygienists in South Dakota earned an average of $35.76 per hour during 2020, which is equivalent to $74,380 per year. The top 10 percent of dental hygienists working in this state earned more than $86,910 per year, according to the same data.

BLS figures also indicate that there were 630 people working as dental hygienists in South Dakota during 2018. By 2028, the BLS expects there will be a total of 730 people employed in this career field in South Dakota, signifying an 11 percent expansion in the field during this 10-year period.

Working as a Dental Hygienist in South Dakota

Dental hygienists in South Dakota can expect to earn the highest compensation in cities like Bristol, Claire City and Eden.

Hospitals, dental clinics, medical facilities, schools or even prisons are just some of the places where dental hygienists can be found working. If you excel at making others feel comfortable and teaching them how to take care of themselves, a career as a dental hygienist may be a fulfilling choice for you.