Passing the Dental Hygienist State Exam and Becoming Licensed
Dental careers are in high demand, and many people are aspiring to become dental hygienists thanks to the excellent job prospects and short training time. After completing dental hygiene programs, students must then pass a dental hygienist state exam and become licensed.
Each state has its own licensing regulations and the curriculum of all accredited dental hygienist training programs is designed to meet the expectations of their state’s board. Graduating from one of these accredited schools is a requirement for the state certification. Most states require completion of a two year program as well as a written and clinical exam. The written exam to become a dental hygienist is called the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and is given by the American Dental Association's Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, whereas the clinical examination is usually given by state or regional examination boards.
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About The Exam
The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination is a computerized test and the application fee is $265. After applying, eligible candidates are notified of the date and time of their scheduled test. The exam is offered at various testing locations throughout the United States. Results are received by mail around 3 to 4 weeks after taking the exam.
The written exam consists of 350 questions, of which 200 are general and 150 are based on a series of specific dental hygiene patient cases. The general questions are related to topics such as science, pathology, radiology, periodontics, anatomy, dental materials and tools, and pharmacology.
Although the dental hygiene programs provide all of the educational background necessary to pass the test, further individual study is highly recommended. Like any major exam, there are tactics than can help improve the chances of a high score. Preparation books are available in stores and online. Taking practice exams is highly recommended so you will know what you expect when you take the exam as well as what kinds of answers they are looking for.
The practical exam may given by your state or regional licensing board and the price varies depending on location but is generally $100-200. In most of these clinical exams, the student must perform dental procedures using a live patient. It is the student’s responsibility to find a willing friend or family member who meets the tooth health requirements to be used for the exam. The student will perform general dental hygiene procedures on the patient and demonstrate their ability to record information about their dental health such as tooth and gum condition.
Failure And Retaking The Exam
If the exam is failed, it is possible to retake but different states have different requirements on what happens in the event of a failure. Depending on which portion of the test was failed and how many times, it may be necessary to undergo further training or coursework before being eligible to retake the exam so be sure to check what your local requirements are.
The period of validity for dental hygienist licenses varies from state to state, but most states require a set minimum number of hours of continuing education per year for the renewal of the license. For example, in Michigan the license is valid for two years and 40 hours of continuing education must be completed before renewal, whereas in New York the license is renewed every three years and only 24 hours of continuing education is required during that period.
It is a requirement in every state for dental hygienists to be licensed and certified, and graduates of dental hygiene schools will find generally themselves prepared to pass the necessary examinations. The effort certainly pays off as dental hygienists have no trouble finding well-paid work.
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