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If you want to pursue a career as a dental hygienist in Indiana, you first must meet some specific criteria.
Read on to learn the steps you need to take before you can work in your chosen field.
In this state, the licenses are managed by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry.
Article Table of Contents
Get a Degree in Dental Hygiene
To get a certification, you will need at least 2 years of education to receive an Associate’s degree.
The program you attend must be board approved and be a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
This state has several such courses, during which you will study subjects like:
- General Education Courses
- Medical Terminology
- Dental Hygiene Theory
- Principles of Chemistry
- Biostatistics
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Ethics and Healthcare
- Medical Microbiology
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Oral Radiology
- Applied Dental Materials
- Preventative Oral Health
- Pain Management in Dentistry
- Professional and Current Issues in Oral Healthcare
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Indiana University-Purdue University | 2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805-1499 |
| Indiana University-Purdue University | 425 University Blvd, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5143 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-5752 |
| University of Southern Indiana | 8600 University Blvd, Evansville, Indiana 47712 |
Take and Pass the Tests
You have to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, a clinical exam, and the jurisprudence exam before getting licensed.
You must also take a state law exam after your application was approved.
National Board Exam
This exam is managed by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and requires a 75% score.
To apply, you must:
- Finish your education
- Read and Agree to NBDHE Guide
- Register for DENTPIN
- Apply for Test
The exam is organized at the Pearson VUE testing centers.
Clinical exam
To be awarded the license, candidates need to have passed any exam offered by the following agencies, in the past 5 years:
- Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS)
- North East Regional Board (NERB)
- Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc. (SRTA)
- Western Region Examining Board (WREB)
Jurisprudence Exam
This exam comprises 50 questions on:
- General dental hygiene
- Universal precautions
- Infection control
- Indiana State Statues and Administrative rules
The test will be sent by email and you have 2 weeks to take it.
A passing score of 75% is required by the Board.
Send the Application to the Board
You can either get certified by exam or by credentials.
The exam requires the following paperwork:
- Transcript or Diploma from CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene School
- National Board Exam Scores
- Clinical Exam Scores
- Current CPR Certification
- Any Legal Name Change Documents
- Two recent photographs were taken within 8 weeks of filing application
- Criminal Offense Statement, if convicted, including offense, court, cause number, and penalty
- Official Application with $100 fee
If you already hold a license, you need to also provide:
- Your current license
- National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB),
- The Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB)
The credential certification requires:
- The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), The Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) data bank.
- 14 extra hours of schooling over the past 24 months
- A 2-year job experience over the past 3 years
- 3 references from practicing dentists
- CPR certification
Salary Information
The average salary in Indiana is similar to the national average for this position.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $73,039 |
| Fort Wayne | $69,752 |
| Evansville | $70,669 |
| South Bend | $69,894 |
| Carmel | $72,949 |
| Fishers | $69,086 |
| Bloomington | $68,872 |
| Hammond | $74,470 |
| Gary | $74,470 |
| Lafayette | $72,590 |
Regional Salary in Indiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | 100 | $80,850 | $38.87 | $97,980 | $74,640 |
| Columbus, IN | 80 | $79,760 | $38.35 | $96,900 | $63,050 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 140 | $88,720 | $42.65 | $99,290 | $78,410 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | 230 | $77,070 | $37.05 | $94,370 | $63,650 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 390 | $78,500 | $37.74 | $93,110 | $63,250 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 1,810 | $87,470 | $42.05 | $101,620 | $66,980 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 120 | $77,290 | $37.16 | $93,370 | $62,760 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 50 | $80,100 | $38.51 | $97,140 | $63,630 |
| Muncie, IN | 80 | $81,980 | $39.41 | $99,140 | $72,840 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 240 | $81,410 | $39.14 | $100,370 | $64,470 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 80 | $75,720 | $36.41 | $99,510 | $66,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Renewing the license
The license must be renewed every 24 months and requires:
- 14 extra schooling hours
- CPR certification
- A $70 fee
The 14 schooling credits must include:
- A maximum of 5 hours in practice management
- A maximum of 2 hours in CPR
- A minimum of 7 hours of practice
You can fulfill the education requirements as follows:
- 1 hour from college lectures
- A maximum of 4 hours through presentations by a dentist
- 1 hour through going to a workshop
- A maximum of 4 hours through going to a study club approved by the American Dental Hygienist Association
- 1 hour through a private study from an accredited organization
Read the full guide: How to Become a Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygiene by State