As the southernmost New England state, Connecticut is considered part of the Tri-state area along with New York and New Jersey. While it is the third smallest state as measured by area, it is also the fourth most densely populated. Its capital is Hartford, while its most densely populated city is Bridgeport.
Connecticut is home to Yale and UConn, and boasts a highly educated and urbane populace. While you will never be far from a city in Connecticut, you will find that there are some surprisingly quiet colonial towns if you are looking for a more laid-back ambiance. You also may be astonished at all the opportunities there are to get out and enjoy nature. Connecticut is famous for its vivid fall foliage and sandy beaches. On that note, seafood lovers will feel right at home here living along the Atlantic seaboard. This is the place to grab a lobster roll!
Connecticut Dental Hygiene Programs
If your dream is to become a dental hygienist in Connecticut, your first step is to select an accredited program. Following is a list of colleges in Connecticut which are offering courses in dental hygiene.
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwin College | One Riverside Drive East Hartford, CT 06118 | www.goodwin.edu | AS |
| Lincoln College of New England | 2279 Mount Vernon Road Southington, CT 06409 | www.lincolncollegene.edu | AAS |
| Tunxis Community College | 271 Scott Swamp Road Farmington, CT 06032 | www.tunxis.commnet.edu | AS |
| University of Bridgeport | 60 Lafayette Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 | www.bridgeport.edu | AS BS-DH |
| University of New Haven | 419 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516 | www.newhaven.edu | AS-DH BS-DH |
License Requirements
If you want to become licensed as a dental hygienist in Connecticut, here are the requirements you will have to meet before you submit your application:
- Pay the application fee of $150.
- Graduate from a dental program accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) and provide official transcripts.
- Complete and pass the National Board Examinations.
- Complete and pass a clinical performance examination via the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies, the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments, the Southern Regional Testing Agency, the Western Regional Examining Board or the Central Regional Dental Testing Service.
- If you have previously held a license in another state, provide verification.
Dental Hygienist Salary in Connecticut
But is Connecticut the right place to live and work as a dental hygienist? To figure that out, we need to first consider the mean annual salary earned by dental hygienists nationwide, and then compare it to what dental hygienists are making in Connecticut.
The BLS reports that nationwide, dental hygienists are making $87,890 on average each year. Jobs are growing at a rate of 20%, which is much faster than the national average for all professions. So the demand is there, and there should be many opportunities to advance your career as the years go by.
What are dental hygienists making in the state of Connecticut? The BLS reports that 3,990 dental hygienists call Connecticut home, and that they are making an annual mean wage of $83,630.
That is higher than the national average, and is also significantly higher than salaries earned in Rhode Island and New York. Massachusetts wages are comparable, though slightly lower than those in Connecticut. So if you live in this area, you will earn pretty good money. Just don’t forget that the cost of living in the Tri-State area can be high.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk | 1230 | $41.62 | $86,570 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | 100 | $29.90 | $62,200 |
| Danbury | 200 | $40.95 | $85,180 |
| Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford | 1230 | $40.09 | $83,390 |
| New Haven | 690 | $40.58 | $84,410 |
| Norwich, New London, Westerly | 350 | $38.37 | $79,800 |
| Waterbury | - | $38.52 | $80,120 |
States in the area
If your choices in Connecticut leaves something to desire, you might be interested schools in the same region. Connecticut borders Massachusetts to the north, Rhode Island to the east, and New York to the west.