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Before you can work as a dental hygienist in Wisconsin, you will first need to train in a school.
Below you can read some info on the licensing process and how to start your new career.
Article Table of Contents
Education Requirements
This state manages dental hygiene licenses through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services’ Dentistry Examining Board.
First of all, you will need to attend a course that is approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
To get licensed, you need to complete a 2-year program that will give you an Associate’s of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene.
During the program, you will study topics such as:
- English, psychology, sociology
- Nutrition
- Biology and chemistry
- Mathematics
- Microbiology and biochemistry
If you are looking for extra credentials, you can also apply for a local anesthesia permit.
To do this, you should take an anesthesia class during your program.
If you choose to not, you can attend a course on the subject later on.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Fox Valley Technical College | 1825 N Bluemound Dr, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912-2277 |
| Madison Area Technical College | 1701 Wright St, Madison, Wisconsin 53704-2599 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | 700 W State St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233-1443 |
| Northcentral Technical College | 1000 Campus Dr, Wausau, Wisconsin 54401-1899 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | 2740 W Mason St, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307-9042 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, Wisconsin 53072-4601 |
Pass the Licensing Exams
There is a series of exams you need to pass before becoming a dental hygienist.
The National Board Exam
The first of these is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), provided by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE).
The test has 350 questions covering the practices of dental hygiene.
The Clinical Exam
This exam comes after you passed the first, and will assess your clinical skills.
You can take any of the exams listed below:
- Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS)
- Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA)
- Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA)
- Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
- Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)
- American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX)
- COMBINED Regional Examination (CORE)
Applying for a Dental Hygiene License
Your dental hygiene license application should contain an up to date CPR certification, and the Jurisprudence exam results.
The Jurisprudence exam covers the laws and regulations for dental hygienists in Wisconsin.
To get your practicing license, you should submit:
- Application Form
- National Board exam scores
- Your original score report from the NBDHE
- Copy of diploma from your program
- Completed Jurisprudence Exam
- CPR certification
- Recommendations from the Board of another state where you practiced, if it applies
- Background check
- Social security information
To apply for a local anesthesia permit, you also need to send in:
- Application for a Certificate to Administer Local Anesthesia
- Local Anesthesia Certificate of Completion
License by credentials
If you worked as a dental hygienist in another state, you don’t need to take the exams.
However, you need to provide proof of having worked 350 hours in the previous year.
Salary
The more experience you accumulate, the higher your salary will be.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $74,128 |
| Madison | $73,702 |
| Green Bay | $71,852 |
| Kenosha | $73,432 |
| Racine | $73,432 |
| Appleton | $71,867 |
| Waukesha | $73,848 |
| Eau Claire | $69,324 |
| Oshkosh | $71,402 |
| Janesville | $73,443 |
Regional Salary in Wisconsin
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 260 | $79,770 | $38.35 | $90,770 | $75,080 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 170 | $79,070 | $38.01 | $85,930 | $74,270 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 70 | $78,490 | $37.74 | $84,060 | $70,320 |
| Green Bay, WI | 310 | $79,420 | $38.19 | $85,130 | $74,580 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 100 | $77,980 | $37.49 | $90,500 | $73,700 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 140 | $80,640 | $38.77 | $91,500 | $75,320 |
| Madison, WI | 550 | $81,600 | $39.23 | $86,110 | $76,660 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 1,480 | $81,620 | $39.24 | $90,830 | $76,460 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 150 | $78,450 | $37.72 | $90,170 | $73,220 |
| Racine, WI | 130 | $83,310 | $40.06 | $96,140 | $76,400 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 110 | $82,320 | $39.58 | $100,020 | $72,980 |
| Wausau, WI | 210 | $75,450 | $36.28 | $81,940 | $66,440 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Maintain your license
In Wisconsin, your dental hygiene license should be renewed every 24 months.
Before you renew it, the Board requires 12 extra hours of class on dental hygiene topics.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygiene by State