How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia

Find the right steps of how to become a dental hygienist in Georgia are here in detail which includes your basic education till acquiring a dental hygienist license.

However getting a dental hygienist required a lot of your time effort and practical training and of course the cost, so better you prepare for everything.

In addition to that let’s make it clear that in Georgia dental hygienists are unable to diagnose or prescribe medicines. Though their scope of practice is broad, allowing them to perform procedures such as prophylaxis, topical anesthetic and fluoride application, and the replacement and removal of oral sutures, dental hygienists can only practice under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist in the majority of cases.

Now Let’s Come of How to Become a Dental Hygienist in Georgia

There are three pathways to becoming a dental hygienist in Georgia.

An Associate Degree in Dental Hygienist

The Associate degree is generally considered enough for those who just want to practice under the supervisor of a dental hygienist, and the course to complete this degree normally takes 20 to 30 months of your time.

Bachelors and Master degree in Hygienist

Bachelors and Master’s degree often pursue careers in administration, public health, research, or education, and the course to complete Bachelors is 4 years follow by 1 or 2 years in Masters.

Here are the Steps of How to get an Associate Degree in Dental hygienist

Step-1

Entry Eligibility and Time Duration with Practical Knowledge   

To apply for entry into the accredited Associate program you must have a High school Diploma or equivalent Certification and, depending on the school, you may need to pass entrance exams and complete an entry interview. Medical and legal clearances may also be required.

Standards of accreditation include the following:

• Include two (2) academic years of full-time instruction (or its equivalent)
• Include courses in General Education, Biomedical Sciences, Dental Sciences, and Dental Hygiene Sciences, AND required clinical practice hours.

Graduates of a dental hygiene program should be able to perform the following duties as a dental hygienist:

• Analyze and collect patient physical and oral health data
• Analyze findings to address patient’s dental hygiene treatment needs
• Establish a dental hygiene care plan
• Provide patient-centered treatment
• Measure the achievement of treatment goals
• Complete accurate data recording of all patient care needs
• Assess, plan, and implement community-based oral health programs
• Provide appropriate life support measures for medical emergencies

Step-2

Pass All These Exam

• National Board Exam
• Jurisprudence Exam
• Clinical Examination

National Board Exam

You must register with the American Dental Association (ADA) Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, which administers National Board tests, scores, and certificates, in order to pass a National Board Exam.

As an applicant for dental hygienist licensure, you will take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). To be eligible for this exam, you must either:

• Be a graduate of a CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene program and have the program director certify that you are prepared,

OR

• Be a graduate from a non-accredited program, and supply the following requirements to verify educational credentials:
• A Letter of Recommendation from the dean of an accredited dental school or the director of an accredited dental hygiene program, AND the secretary of a Board of Dentistry in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction
• Official Dental School transcripts that have ben verified by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

To apply to take the NBDHE exam, you must complete the following steps:

• Read and Agree to the NBDHE Guide 
• Register for a Dental Personal Identifier Number (A DENTPIN) 
• Apply to take the NBDHE 

Jurisprudence Exam

The Georgia Board of Dentistry’s Jurisprudence test is available online and can be taken as an open-book exam. You must pass the test with a score of 75 or above, and your score is valid for one year after you pass it.

Clinical Examination

The clinical examination, which is conducted by the Georgia Board of Dentistry or a Board-approved testing organization, is the last exam to pass. You must also obtain a score of 75 or better on this exam.

Georgia recognizes the Central Regional Dental Testing Services, Inc. (CRDTS), as the unified testing center for clinical exams.

To apply to take the CRDTS test, you must be a graduate of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program, OR a graduate of a non-accredited institution outside the United States and/or Canada, and produce a letter from the state showing eligibility, and then follow the procedures below:

• Submit Online Application
• Submit $950 Exam Fee
• Confirm Local Anesthesia Training

Step-3

Submit an application to the Georgia Board of Dentistry for licensure

When applying for licensure with the Georgia Board of Dentistry, you have the option of qualifying by examination or credentials.

Examination	Credentials
Fill out an application and pay a $75.00 fee.	Fill out an application and pay a $75.00 fee.
Verify any dental licenses you may have in other states.	Same in this case
Submit an authentic transcript of your academic record.	Same in this case
Have the ADA submit your National Board scores	Same in this case
Submit Clinical Licensure Examination Scores	Same in this case
Submit Jurisprudence Exam Scores	Same in this case
Submit a copy of current CPR certification	Same in this case
Submit a report to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). (Applicants who are within six (6) months of graduating from dental school and have never been awarded a dental license are excluded from this stage.)	Same in this case
Please provide information about your criminal past.	Same in this case
Submit a copy of current CPR certification	Same in this case
Copy of court documents if there are any legal discrepancies (name changes, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.)	Same in this case
	Verify registration with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), even if you are not currently registered with the DEA
–	Employment Affidavit – you must submit an affidavit stating the following information from the previous two (2) years preceding application:
–	All dates and locations where you have practiced dental hygiene
–	That you have been in full-time clinical practice, meeting a minimum of 1,000 hours per year in the hands-on treatment of patience.
–	Submit malpractice questionnaire

After Submitting an application, the license will be issued within 35 To 40 Business days

Step- 4

CCD(Complete Continuing Education to Maintain Licensure)

• Submit a report to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). (Applicants who are within six (6) months of graduating from dental school and have never been awarded a dental license are excluded from this stage.)
• You may submit documentation of coursework in place of the continuing education requirements of your initial renewal term if you were licensed within two (2) years after graduating from an ADA recognized dental hygiene program.

Cost of Associate Program

$3,540 – $39,370