Looking for an exciting state in the South Atlantic where you can earn a great living as a dental hygienist? You may want to consider working in Virginia! Virginia has deep historical roots and is known as the “Old Dominion” and the “Mother of Presidents.” It features a diverse landscape, numerous historical landmarks, and a wealthy economy.
There is so much to see and do in Virginia. Nature lovers will want to visit Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive as well as the nearby Luray Caverns. History buffs won’t want to miss Monticello, Manassas Battlefield, or the American Civil War Museum. Speaking of museums, Virginia also is home to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a huge extension to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. If you live in Northern Virginia, you are right outside of Washington D.C., and can visit the other Smithsonian museums as well as the Capitol and the White House.
Looking for thrills? Virginia has two outstanding amusement parks, King’s Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. While you are there, you will want to check out Williamsburg itself as well as historical Jamestown and Yorktown.
Are you a sports fan? Virginia actually lacks a single major professional sports team, but you are close to D.C. That means you can enjoy watching teams like the Washington Redskins and the Washington Nationals.
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Dental Hygienist Salary in Virginia
Virginia is one of the higher-paying states for dental hygienists. This is in large part because the cost of living is high, but if you make smart choices, you can pull in some extra income. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income in Virginia in 2018 was $81,240, and the median hourly pay rate was $39,06.
For comparison, the BLS reported that the median annual income for dental hygienists nationwide was $70,210, or $33.75 per hour. That means you can earn significantly more working in Virginia than you can in many other states. This profession is growing at a rate of 20%, which should translate to excellent demand over the years to come.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | 250 | 44.44 | 92430 |
| Bremerton, Silverdale | 180 | 46.56 | 96850 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 37.95 | 78930 |
| Kennewick, Richland | 290 | 38.79 | 80690 |
| Longview | 60 | 42.06 | 87490 |
| Mount Vernon, Anacortes | 80 | 40.13 | 83460 |
| Olympia, Tumwater | 260 | 47.15 | 98080 |
| Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue | 3260 | 44.64 | 92860 |
| Spokane, Spokane Valley | 410 | 38.87 | 80850 |
| Walla Walla | 60 | 43.90 | 91320 |
| Wenatchee | 50 | 48.72 | 101330 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | 280 | 48.96 | 101830 |
| Yakima | 170 | 43.48 | 90440 |
License Requirements
To become a dental hygienist in the state of Virginia, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You will have to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program in the state.
- You will need to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene written examination.
- Virginia also requires that you take a number of regional exams. These include the CITA, CRDTS, CDCA, SRTA, and WREB.
- You are not required by the state to obtain a CPR license, but you may find it lends you a competitive edge.
- Virginia does offer a temporary license if you are employed in the public health system.
- Teacher’s licenses and retired/inactive licenses are also available.
- Two practice years out of the last five are required as well.
- You will have to submit official high school and college transcripts as well as letters of recommendation when you apply for your license.
- All of your documentation will be reviewed by a licensure specialist and then by the endorsement committee.
- You may also need to submit to a background check. If you have been convicted in the past of a felony or misdemeanor, licensing may be denied.
Virginia Dental Hygiene Programs
Ready to get to work in the Old Dominion state? Below you will find a comprehensive list of schools in Virginia which offer accredited programs in dental hygiene. Check out their websites, call them up, ask questions, and when you are ready, enroll in a program of your choice and look forward to a bright new future!
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Technical College | 3028 Lindbergh Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225 | www.btc.edu | AAS-T |
| Clark College | 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, MS-HSC #128 Vancouver, WA 98663 | www.clark.edu | BAS-DH |
| Columbia Basin College | 2600 North 20th Avenue Pasco, WA 99301 | www.columbiabasin.edu | AAS |
| Eastern Washington University | 310 North Riverpoint Blvd. - Box E, Room 160 Spokane, WA 99202 | www.ewu.edu | BS-DH |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 11605 132nd Ave. NE Kirkland, WA 98034 | www.lwtech.edu | AAS-T |
| Pierce College Fort Steilacoom | 9401 Farwest Drive S.W. Lakewood, WA 98498 | www.pierce.ctc.edu | BAS-DH |
| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | 9709 3rd Ave. NE, Suite 400 Seattle, WA 98115 | www.pmi.edu | AAS |
| Seattle Central College | 1701 Broadway, BE 3210 Seattle, WA 98122 | www.seattlecentral.edu | BAS-AH |
| Shoreline Community College | 16101 Greenwood Ave. North Shoreline, WA 98133 | www.shoreline.edu | AAS |
| Yakima Valley College | P.O. Box 22520 Yakima, WA 98907 | www.yvcc.edu | AAS |