Arizona Dental Hygiene Programs
If you are ready to embark on your journey to become an Arizona dental hygienist, take a look at the list below. These colleges in AZ offer accredited programs in dental hygiene, and can get you started on your professional path.
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrington College Mesa | 1001 W. Southern Ave, Suite 130 Mesa, AZ 85210 | www.carrington.edu | AS |
| Fortis College - Phoenix | 555 N. 18th Street, Suite 110 Phoenix, AZ 85006 | www.fortis.edu | AS |
| Mesa Community College | 7110 E. McKellips Road Mesa, AZ 85207-0000 | www.messacc.edu | AAS |
| Mohave Community College | 3400 Highway 95 Bullhead City, AZ 86442 | www.mohave.edu | AAS |
| Northern Arizona University | P.O. Box 15065 Flagstaff, AZ 86011 | www.nau.edu | BS-DH |
| Phoenix College | 1202 W. Thomas Road Phoenix, AZ 85013 | www.phoenixcollege.edu | AAS |
| Pima County Community College | 2202 West Anklam Road Tuscon, AZ 85709 | www.pima.edu | AAS |
| Rio Salado College | 2323 W. 14th Street Tempa, AZ 85281 | www.riosalado.edu | AAS |
License Requirements
In order to qualify for a job as a dental hygienist in the state of Arizona, you must meet the following licensing requirements (you will notice they are a bit more extensive than those in some other states):
- Successfully complete an accredited dental hygiene program and provide the transcript.
- Take and pass your clinical examination. The administering agency must send the results directly to the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.
- Take and pass the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination. Your score will be electronically retrieved by the licensing team of the Arizona Board.
- Pass the Jurisprudence Examination and pay the $100 fee.
- Obtain and submit a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Complete the Arizona Statement of Citizenship or Alien Status for State Public Benefits Form.
- Get a current certification in CPR and submit a photocopy with your application.
- Those who have been licensed in another state for dental hygiene must submit a self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank and provide a letter of endorsement.
- If you have been employed by the government or military, provide a letter of endorsement.
- In some situations, depending on your work history, additional documentation may be required.
- There is a $1,000 licensure fee (quite high compared to fees in a lot of other states).
Dental Hygienist Salary in Arizona
As to how much Arizona dental hygienists make, it helps to start with a quick discussion of how much dental hygienists make nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for dental hygienists across the country is $89,540. This field is growing in demand at an astonishing rate of 20%, so there is a lot of opportunity. So how much will you make if you decide to move to Arizona? The BLS reports that Arizona currently employs around 3200 dental hygienists statewide, and that they are making a mean annual wage of $85,890. So that is great news! If you decide to get a job working in dental hygiene in Arizona, chances are good you will make more than average. You will also be making significantly more than dental hygienists working in neighboring Utah, who only pull in $68,570 per year on average. That is true despite the fact that dental hygienists are employed more densely in Utah.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 130 | $35.11 | $73,020 |
| Flagstaff | - | $41.02 | $85,330 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | - | $35.41 | $73,650 |
| Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale | 2280 | $42.53 | $88,470 |
| Prescott | 130 | $44.29 | $92,120 |
| Sierra Vista, Douglas | 50 | $40.30 | $83,820 |
| Tucson | 510 | $37.46 | $77,920 |