Looking for a state in the Northeast where you can find a wealth of opportunity in the field of dental hygiene? Massachusetts is the 14th most populous state in the US and also the 3rd most densely populated. The state has many nicknames, including The Bay State, The Puritan State, The Baked Bean State, and The Old Colony State.
What is it like living in Massachusetts? Few states are as rich in colonial history. In fact, Plymouth was the first colony in New England, founded clear back in 1620. Harvard University, still one of the most prestigious schools in the world, can trace its history back to 1636. Massachusetts was the birthplace of the First Great Awakening, and Boston became known in the 18th century as the “Cradle of Liberty.” The colony had a prominent role in the American Revolution, and during the Civil War, it was home to many social and political movements. It remains a progressive state today.
What can you do in Massachusetts? Popular landmarks include the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Freedom Trail, Tanglewood in Lenox, and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. You can also visit Fenway Park and take in a Red Sox game.
Massachusetts Dental Hygiene Programs
Ready to become a dental hygienist in Massachusetts? Congratulations on choosing an exciting career in a high-paying state! Your next step is going to be to shop around for a program at a school of your choice. Below you can find a list of Massachusetts colleges which offer accredited dental hygiene programs. Start calling around and researching your options, and when you are ready, enroll in a dental hygiene school of your choice!
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Community College | 777 Elsbree St. Fall River, MA 02720 | www.bristolcc.edu | AS |
| Cape Cod Community College | 2240 Iyannough Road West Barnstable, MA 02668 | www.capecod.edu | AS |
| MCPHS University | 179 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 | www.mcphs.edu | BS-DH |
| Middlesex Community College | 33 Kearney Square Lowell, MA 01852 | www.middlesex.mass.edu | AS |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | 444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440 | www.mwcc.mass.edu | AS-DH |
| Quinsigamond Community College | 670 W. Boylston St. Worcester, MA 01606 | www.qcc.edu | AS |
| Regis College | 777 Dedham St. Newton Centre, MA 02459 | regiscollege.edu | AA BS-DH |
| Springfield Technical Community College | One Armory Square, Suite 1, P. O. Box 9000 Springfield, MA 01102 | www.stcc.edu | AS |
License Requirements
If you want to become a dental hygienist in the state of Massachusetts, you will need to be prepared to meet the following licensing requirements:
- Graduate for an accredited program in dental hygiene in the state of MA.
- Take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
- Take and pass the CDCA clinical exam.
- One year of practice is required.
- A background check may be required. The check will look at your exam scores as well as two letters of recommendation from previous employers. You will need to have transcripts available from your high school and the college you attended. There may be a look at criminal history as well. If you have been charged with a felony or serious misdemeanor, you may be denied licensure.
You do not need a CPR license in order to become licensed as a dental hygienist in MA, but you may want to do so anyway to make yourself a more competitive job candidate.
There is no temporary license, teacher license, or retired/inactive license offered by the state.
Dental Hygienist Salary in Massachusetts
But how much can you earn working in Massachusetts as a dental hygienist? That’s a good question. First off, the median annual pay for dental hygienists nationwide according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is 83,880 per year, or $40.33 per hour. In Massachusetts however, you can earn a mean annual pay of $82,750, or $39.79 an hour.
As you can see, you can make significantly more money working in Massachusetts than you can in many other states! The cost of living in MA is high, so you will not get to keep all of that extra pay, but if you are careful with your expenses, you should be able to enjoy some extra income.
How is demand in the field of dental hygiene? According to the BLS, it is growing at a rate of 20%. That is quite a bit faster than the average nationwide for all other occupations, so this is the right time to get into the field.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | 320 | $39.51 | $82,170 |
| Boston, Cambridge, Nashua | 4410 | $40.30 | $83,810 |
| Leominster, Gardner | 140 | $38.15 | $79,350 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan | 100 | $39.88 | $82,960 |
| New Bedford | - | $38.31 | $79,690 |
| Pittsfield | 40 | $37.54 | $78,080 |
| Springfield | 500 | $35.53 | $73,910 |
| Worcester | 710 | $41.65 | $86,630 |
Neighboring states
Massachusetts has great dental hygiene schools, but they are not for everyone. If you want to broaden your horizon, there are other states in the Northeast that may be better suited to you. Massachusetts (officially called a commonwealth) is bounded to the north by Vermont and New Hampshire, to the east and southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Rhode Island and Connecticut, and to the west by New York.