If it is your dream to live and work as a dental hygienist in the southwest, one state to consider is Nevada. As the seventh most extensive state in the US geographically, Nevada is also the ninth least densely populated. Around a third of the population lives in the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area. Much of the surrounding land is wide open. As such, Nevada is a vibrant desert state of astonishing contrasts.
Chances are good that if you move to Nevada to work as a dental hygienist, you yourself will also be somewhere in the Las Vegas-Paradise metro area. This is of course a gambler’s paradise. It is also a great place to take in shows along with numerous other tourist attractions. Wherever you turn, there are literally countless activities to enjoy.
You will also want to take some time to get out of town now and again, as there are some truly astonishing wilderness areas to explore like the Valley of Fire State Park, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and of course Death Valley National Park. Also make sure you spend some time at Lake Tahoe, and be sure to check out Hoover Dam.
Nevada Dental Hygiene Programs
Ready to start on your journey to become a dental hygienist in the state of Nevada? Below you can view a list of colleges in Nevada which currently offer accredited programs in dental hygiene.
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Southern Nevada | 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89146 | sites.csn.edu | AS |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | 7000 Dandini Blvd., RMDT 415 Reno, NV 89512 | www.tmcc.edu | AS |
License Requirements
What do you need to do to get licensed to work as a dental hygienist in Nevada?
- Graduate from an accredited program in dental hygiene and provide your certified transcript.
- Successfully pass either the ADEX or WREB clinical regional exam and provide certified certificates of your scores. These have to be mailed directly to the Board.
- Pass the Jurisprudence Exam.
- Get fingerprints taken and provide your fingerprints cards.
- Pay your application fee.
- Provide a 2×2 color photo.
- Submit a self query to the National Practitioners Data Bank and provide the results.
- Obtain CPR certification and submit a copy to the Board.
- Provide verification of your identity and citizenship status.
- If you have held licenses in any other states, you must submit certified verification of licensure letters for all jurisdictions.
Dental Hygienist Salary in Nevada
Love the idea of becoming a Nevada dental hygienist, but not sure if this is the right state to work in from a practical standpoint? Let’s take a look at the salary and employment data which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides to see whether Nevada is the right choice for you.
$73,440 is the mean annual salary for dental hygienists working throughout the country. Dental hygienists in Nevada make considerably more, earning on average around $81,270 per year. This reflects the fact that the cost of living in Nevada is higher than the national average. So while you will be earning more, you will probably be spending more as well.
Actually, some areas of Nevada are considerably cheaper than others, but these are typically outlying rural zones. Odds are that you will have an easier time finding employment in the big city, so you will have those higher expenses to contend with. So on the whole, your earnings in Nevada will probably be roughly equivalent to what they would be on average anywhere in the country.
Right now, around 2540 dental hygienists call the state of Nevada home. With a rate of growth of 20%, this is a fast-expanding field with plenty of job openings appearing. So this is the right time to get started as a Nevada dental hygienist!
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | - | $43.51 | $90,500 |
| Las Vegas, Henderson, Paradise | 1750 | $37.47 | $77,940 |
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 220 | $42.70 | $88,820 |
| Reno | 520 | $42.48 | $88,360 |
Schools in the Neighborhood
If Nevada is your home, you may not want to leave the state for studies or to pursue a career. However, the surrounding states have much to offer in terms of dental hygiene schools. You may want to check them out. Nevada is bordered by Oregon and Idaho in the north, Utah and Arizona in the east, and California in the west, and California and Arizona in the south.