As the eighth largest state in the US, Colorado is one of the Mountain States. It is also a Four Corners state, along with Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Named after the Colorado River, this state is renowned for its dramatic scenery, encompassing soaring mountain peaks, golden grasslands, and colorful deserts. Few states in the US have more to offer when it comes to hiking, skiing, and other outdoor sports and activities.
The most populous city in Colorado is the capital, Denver. Some of Denver’s famous landmarks include Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Zoo, Elitch Gardens Theme Park, and the Denver Performing Arts Complex, as well as the iconic Casa Bonita themed restaurant.
So if you are thinking about becoming a dental hygienist in Colorado, you’ve made a great choice! You will never run out of things to see and do while you are living and working in the beautiful Centennial state.
Colorado Dental Hygiene Programs
If you are ready to embark on a career as a Colorado dental hygienist, here is a list of Colorado colleges which are offering accredited courses.
Institute | Address | Website | Program |
---|---|---|---|
Colorado Northwestern Community College | Box 302, 500 Kennedy Drive Rangely, CO 81648 | www.cncc.edu | AAS |
Community College of Denver | 1062 Akron Way, Lowry Bldg. #753 Denver, CO 80230 | www.ccd.edu | AAS |
Concorde Career College-Aurora | 111 North Havana Street Aurora, CO 80010 | www.concorde.edu | AAS |
Pueblo Community College | 900 West Orman Ave. Pueblo, CO 81004 | www.pueblocc.edu | AAS |
License Requirements
How can you become licensed as a dental hygienist to work in the state of Colorado? Following are the requirements you will have to meet:
- Provide your current address and contact information.
- Pay the $160 application processing fee.
- Complete and sign the Affidavit of Eligibility and provide your social security number.
- List and verify any other licenses you hold in related professions.
- You will have to obtain professional liability insurance before you can go into practice.
- Fill out screening and profiling information.
- Graduate from a CODA-accredited program in dental hygiene and provide your transcripts.
- Pass the exam administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and have your scores sent directly to the Office of Licensing—Dental Licensure address listed on the application.
- Take and pass a clinical examination administered by a regional testing agency.
- If you have not graduated within the last twelve months, you must prove you have engaged in active clinical practice, teaching, military dental hygiene service, or that you have passed a board-approved state or regional clinical examination.
Dental Hygienist Salary in Colorado
Will you make good money working as a dental hygienist in Colorado? Is this job in demand? To start answering these questions, let us take a look at the national statistics for dental hygienists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The BLS reports that dental hygienists make a median annual wage of $86,850 nationwide. With the field growing at a rate of 20%, this is an in-demand profession where you can earn great money.
So how much will you make in Colorado? The BLS reports that there are currently 4,470 dental hygienists hard at work in the Centennial state. That is a pretty dense concentration of professionals. The mean annual wage earned by those hygienists is $84,510. That is less than the average wage nationwide. It is less than dental hygienists working in New Mexico and Arizona are making, but more than hygienists working in Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, or Oklahoma are making.
Keep in mind that Colorado has a relatively high cost of living, so this may offset some of your extra earnings. Still, Colorado is a state abundant with opportunity in the field of dental hygiene!
Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
---|---|---|---|
Boulder | 300 | $41.50 | $86,330 |
Colorado Springs | 490 | $36.74 | $76,410 |
Denver, Aurora, Lakewood | 2600 | $42.82 | $89,060 |
Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 100 | $36.61 | $76,150 |
Fort Collins | 270 | $36.70 | $7,6340 |
Grand Junction | 140 | $33.03 | $68,690 |
Greeley | 120 | $42.47 | $88,330 |
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 200 | $37.14 | $77,250 |
Pueblo | 130 | $34.46 | $71,690 |
Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 120 | $38.43 | $79,930 |
Other states in the region
If you can’t find a school in Colorado with the right program, maybe you like one of the neighboring states better. Colorado borders Wyoming and Nebraska to the north, Nebraska and Kansas to the east, Oklahoma and New Mexico to the south, and Utah to the west.