Dental Hygiene Schools In Tennessee

How to become a Dental Hygienist in Tennessee

If you are interested in training to become a dental hygienist in Tennessee (TN) you will need to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.

Requirements for entry into accredited programs include a high school diploma or equivalent 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.

Below we provide details of the top accredited dental hygienist programs in Tennessee and near you, as well as licensing requirements and salary and employment data for the state.

Top 8 Accredited Dental Hygienist Schools Tennessee

Schools offering dental hygiene programs which have been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) are recognized to maintain a high standard of education by the American Dental Association (ADA).

There are currently 8 CODA-accredited programs in Tennessee.

Once you have graduated from an accredited program you will be required to sit some additional state and/or national certification exams before you are eligible to apply for your dental hygienist license.

Tennessee Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Once you have successfully graduated from an accredited program and have passed all additional certification exams it is a requirement of Tennessee law that you obtain a license to work as a dental hygienist there.

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry governs the licensing of dental hygienists in Tennessee. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:

State Board: Tennessee Board of Dentistry
Phone: (800) 778-4123
Website: http://tn.gov/health/topic/Dentistry-board

Dental Hygienist Salary in Tennessee

The average dental hygienist salary in Tennessee is $66,120  –  11% less than the national average of $74,680.

This represents an hourly wage of $31.79.

There are currently 3,860 persons employed as dental hygienists in the state.

Tennessee Dental Hygienist Employment and Salaries by Metro Area

It is a great time to train to become a dental hygienist in Tennessee given the strong salary levels and job growth for the career.

Dental hygiene salaries are among some of the highest in the healthcare industry and it is projected that an additional 30,000 positions will be created in the sector between 2016 and 2024 representing an almost 15% increase in employment.

The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of dental hygienists across the main towns, cities, and non-metro areas in Tennessee;

Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in Tennessee

The table below provides a comparison between the income and employment of dental hygienists and related healthcare careers in Tennessee;