How to become a DH

Hi,
Right now i am attending Sac state with a major in Health Science. I know that i can be in the dental hygiene field with that major however, i dont know how to come about getting licensed or how do i go about being a dental hygienist? Please help me clarify!

As4542 in Sacramento, California said: Hi,
Right now i am attending Sac state with a major in Health Science. I know that i can be in the dental hygiene field with that major however, i dont know how to come about getting licensed or how do i go about being a dental hygienist? Please help me clarify!

Please reconsider the DH field...have you been reading the numerous threads and reponses on here in regard to actually working...scarce, cut throat, very expensive endeavour , waste of money...yes, waste of money, because jobs, just are not there anymore. Many don't receive benefits, sick/holiday pay or even salary increases. Many practices also, want their RDH's to SELL....and do commission...in this economy and oversaturation, THIS is very hard to do when alot of people are out of work or their insurance doesn't cover the cost of extra cleaning and the cost of products is ridiculous...DA's tend to get the elusive ben's that RDH's don't. Also, they tend to receive raises, etc...in fact, IMHO, DA's and RDH's are starting to have a closer hourly wage which doesn't make sense as RDH's are LICENSED , take boards, etc...VET Online articles , bls/govt. not in our field = false info. SCHOOLS are a BUSINESS...don't care if you obtain work after you've graduated...you are on your own....

I agree with the above poster...do NOT become a dental hygienist right now! Right now there are very few hygiene jobs and most are 1-2 days a week with NO benefits (not even health insurance). I graduated in 2008 and am still barely working. I can't support myself with the little hygiene work I get.
Become a dental assistant or become a dentist but do not become a dental hygienist right now. Or go into nursing. The job market for nurses is tough too but people still need and go to doctors and nurses in a recession...not to a dental office though if they lose their job or dental insurance.