New York is often referred to as ‘the State of New York’ or ‘New York State’ to distinguish the state from the internationally recognized New York City, the most populous city in the country and the economic hub of the state.
While the majority of the state’s population resides in the New York City Metropolis area and Long Island, there is much to experience outside of the superstar city. New York is much more than Times Square, and upstate New York is home to over 8 million residents.
If you’re looking for a fast paced lifestyle, New York has the best option in the country, with the international hub of New York City. However, if you’re looking for a more relaxed pace of living with an emphasis on family and community, don’t count New York out, because there are several options available in the northern part of the state.
New York Dental Hygiene Programs
New York has some of the best dental hygiene programs available in the nation. As you know, graduation from a dental hygiene program is a requirement for licensure in the state of New York. Below are a few options for further education opportunities, which offer dental hygiene programs.
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Community College | 6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 | www.ecc.edu | AAS |
| Eugenio Maria De Hostos Community College | 500 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451 | www.hostos.cuny.edu | AAS |
| Farmingdale State College of New York | 2350 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, NY 11735 | www.farmingdale.edu | AS |
| Hudson Valley Community College | 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 | www.hvcc.edu | AAS |
| New York City College of Technology | Pearl-201, 300 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 | www.citytech.cuny.edu | AAS |
| New York University | 345 East 24th Street, 6th Fl. Schwartz Bldg. New York, NY 10010 | www.nyu.edu | AAS BS-DH |
| Orange County Community College | 115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940 | www.sunyorange.edu | AAS |
| Plaza College | 118-33 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills, NY 11375 | www.plazacollege.edu | AAS |
| SUNY Broome Community College | 907 Front Street, P.O. Box 1017 Binghamton, NY 13902 | www.sunybroome.edu | AAS |
License Requirements
To be considered for a dental hygienist license in New York, you must submit an application and meet the following requirements:
- Must be at least 17 years of age for dental hygiene licensure by examination; be at least 21 years of age for licensure by endorsement of another state’s license.
- For licensure by endorsement you must have satisfactorily practiced for at least two years.
- Earned a high school diploma, or the equivalent.
- Completed a New York State registered licensure qualifying or graduation from a dental hygiene college or school accredited by the American Dental Associated or its successor agency.
- Must complete coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse in accordance with Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law.
- Complete approved coursework or training appropriate to the professional’s practice in infection control and barrier precautions, including engineering and work practice controls, to prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis b virus (HBV) in the course of professional practice.
- Obtain a passing score on both written and clinical examinations.
- The Department may endorse a dental hygiene license by another state if the Department determines you have met New York’s educational requirements, passed a comparable licensing examination, have the required professional experience and meet all dental hygiene application requirements, have been licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States and practiced lawfully for at least two years (full time) and not failed a licensing examination used by the State of New York either prior to or after making application for licensure by endorsement.
Dental Hygienist Salary in New York
Recent links between oral health care and overall well being have led scientific researchers to encourage an emphasis on dental care. As dental hygienists are responsible for dental care, this has led to a surge in demand within the career field. Within the next seven years, the profession is projected to experience an estimated 20% growth rate, which is much higher than other professions.
With just under 11,300 dental hygienists in New York, there may be great opportunity for career development in this career field. The average annual salary in 2018 for dental hygienists in New York was $76,280, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This salary ranges, depending on the location within the state, with the salary rising alongside the cost of living. You will find higher salaries depending on the proximity to New York City; with the salary dropping the further away you are from the international hub.
Because more than half of dental hygienists work as part time professionals, it is important to note that salaries are often calculated into hourly rates. The average hourly rate for a dental hygienist was $36.68, in the state of New York in 2018. In addition to the salary packages, most dental hygienist professionals also receive benefit packages that include healthcare, retirement plan, pension, disability and time off options.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, Schenectady, Troy | 750 | $30.77 | $63,990 |
| Binghamton | 240 | $27.06 | $56,290 |
| Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls | 1050 | $26.68 | $55,490 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 230 | $34.91 | $72,610 |
| Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | 190 | $34.24 | $71,220 |
| Elmira | 70 | $29.70 | $61,770 |
| Glens Falls | 80 | $33.94 | $70,600 |
| Ithaca | 40 | $35.80 | $74,460 |
| Kingston | - | $38.94 | $81,000 |
| New York, Newark, Jersey City | 11,300 | $41.72 | $86,790 |
| Rochester | 1000 | $30.33 | $63,080 |
| Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 260 | $31.20 | $64,900 |
| Syracuse | 700 | $33.60 | $69,890 |
| Utica, Rome | 190 | $35.64 | $74,130 |
| Watertown, Fort Drum | 110 | $30.73 | $63,910 |
Schools in Neighboring States
New York has a diverse offering on dental hygiene schools. However, especially in New York City the cost of living is quite high. You can seek alternatives in neighboring states. New York is bordered Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Atlantic Ocean in the south; Lake Erie in the west; and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont in the east