How to become a Dental Hygienist in Florida
If you are interested in training to become a dental hygienist in Florida 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 Florida, as well as licensing requirements and salary and employment data for the state.
Get started and receive information on program structure, admissions requirements, tuition and financial assistance from the top dental hygiene schools and related dental programs in your area
Related Areas of Study: Dental Assistant Schools in Florida
Top 21 Accredited Dental Hygienist Schools Florida
| School | Area | Program Page |
|---|---|---|
| South Florida State College | Avon Park | Visit |
| State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Visit |
| Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Visit |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Visit |
| Hodges University | Fort Myers | Visit |
| Broward College | Ft. Lauderdale | Visit |
| Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Visit |
| Indian River State College | Ft. Pierce | Visit |
| Santa Fe College, Gainesville | Gainesville | Visit |
| Florida State College | Jacksonville | Visit |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Visit |
| Miami Dade College | Miami | Visit |
| Pasco - Hernando Community College | New Port Richey | Visit |
| Valencia College | Orlando | Visit |
| Concorde Career College | Orlando | Visit |
| Concorde Career Institute | Tampa | Visit |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Visit |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Visit |
| St Petersburg College | Pinellas Park | Visit |
| Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Visit |
| Hillsborough Community College | Tampa | Visit |
Schools offering dental hygiene programs 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 21 CODA accredited programs in Florida in 2023
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.
Florida 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 Florida law that you obtain a license to work as a dental hygienist there.
The Department of Health Board of Dentistry governs the licensing of dental hygienists in Florida. For further information on license requirements and becoming a dental hygienist in Florida, you can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:
State Board: Department of Health Board of Dentistry
Phone: (850) 245-4474
Website: http://www.floridasdentistry.gov
Dental Hygienist Salary in Florida
| Salary | $63,040 |
| Hourly Wage | $30.31 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $42,040 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $80,780 |
| # Employed | 10,320 |
The average dental hygienist salary in Florida is $63,040 – 16% below the national average of $74,680.
This represents an hourly wage of $30.31.
There are currently 10,320 persons employed as dental hygienists in the state.
Florida Dental Hygienist Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
It is a great time to train to become a dental hygienist in Florida given the strong salary levels and jobs growth for the career.
Dental hygiene salaries are among some of the highest in the healthcare industry. 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 Florida;
Area Number Employed Salary
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 340 $66,110.00
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 160 $63,130.00
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 300 $62,590.00
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 1280 $63,150.00
Gainesville, FL 210 $57,950.00
Homosassa Springs, FL 40 $55,910.00
Jacksonville, FL 850 $61,780.00
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 180 $65,340.00
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3040 $59,900.00
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 1090 $56,880.00
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 250 $79,050.00
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 450 $64,520.00
Ocala, FL 160 $60,480.00
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 1290 $66,960.00
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 330 $69,120.00
Panama City, FL 130 $60,730.00
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 320 $56,630.00
Port St. Lucie, FL 200 $69,230.00
Punta Gorda, FL Not Avalable $67,920.00
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 130 $61,850.00
Sebring, FL 60 $66,800.00
Tallahassee, FL 160 $54,380.00
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 1570 $66,750.00
The Villages, FL 70 $62,630.00
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 670 $58,570.00
Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area 40 $55,910.00
Northeast Florida nonmetropolitan area 110 $57,910.00
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 70 $65,290.00
Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in Florida
The table below provides a comparison between the income and employment of dental hygienists and related healthcare careers in Florida;
| Career | Number Employed | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | 5160 | $62,860.00 |
| Physician Assistants | 3170 | $96,530.00 |
| Respiratory Therapists | 3840 | $53,500.00 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1580 | $60,910.00 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 9130 | $33,050.00 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 11460 | $28,470.00 |
| Surgical Technologists | 3250 | $39,350.00 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 2540 | $29,850.00 |
| Home Health Aides | 9300 | $20,960.00 |
| Nursing Assistants | 34750 | $22,650.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 620 | $57,500.00 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1670 | $54,610.00 |
| Massage Therapists | 1840 | $30,440.00 |
| Dental Assistants | 9770 | $36,010.00 |
| Medical Assistants | 20740 | $30,020.00 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | 1830 | $33,120.00 |
| Phlebotomists | 3690 | $30,240.00 |