Dental Hygiene

Hi, I'm an RDH in California and am nervous about the job prospect for RDH's in Spokane WA. I am currently in the process of getting my limited license which is all I qualify for since I am out of state. Do DDS's typically hire RDH's with just a limited license since you can't preform local anesthesia with a limited?
I understand prospective RDH's have to take the WREB and pass to become licensed. Doesn't WA just have a WA state boards exam or do you HAVE to take the WREB (expensive exam!!) After passing the WREB can you practice in states other than WA? What is the job outlook like? Can you live in Spokane but work in Idaho with a WA license since it's so close? I have contacted the Dental Hygiene Program in Olympia numerous times and no one there has answers to these questions. Thanks!

You definitely will need to take the WREB; I don't think there is a washington board. Seriously I took that WREB at Spokane and it was FINE. The biggest thing is find a patient with heavy calculus. The WREB examiners actually want you to pass and are so so friendly! You will be able to work in a bunch of states,check the WREB website. Make sure to prepare for the restorative part because dentists want their hygienists to do restorative. There's some separate class that is offered and you need a different patient for that. I actually took the WREB to be able to work in California. Question: do you have a job here in california, are job prospects better in San Diego; I just started a thread about being unemployed in SoCal any advice would be appreciated!

The job outlook here is okay. The thing in SD is that knowing someone is everything. That is how I've gotten most of my jobs. Filling in for ppl I know that go on maternity leave which turned out to be a permanent position. I haven't gotten any responses from jobs on Craigslist. So getting with a temp agency is number one. They are somewhat helpful but assignments are few and far between.
Is the restorative difficult? How do you practice for that exam? I did restorative once in my training so it wasn't a well covered topic. Will I have a problem finding work with just my limited license since I won't be able to preform restorative or anesthesia duties until I have my full license? Thanks!

Ok thanks for the advice; might try a temp agency (most have phased out their dental staffing out here) I will ask my friend your questions and let you know. My girlfriends are all getting together this coming weekend for a bachelorette party (I will let you know what she says in about 1 week)

Oh really, very little staffing agencies? Or do Dr.'s typically avoid them? Thanks for your response. So about the WREB, you have to have 3 separate patients? One for the exam, one for local anesthesia and one for restorative? Geez this sounds like an expensive exam..Thanks again and good luck in California! I'm moving to WA because its so much more affordable, do you know if RDH get paid about the same in WA? I hear its btwn 35-45. In SD its 360/day or 45/hr

PS....how did you prepare for the Drug, Law and Ethics exam for WA state? Was it very difficult? I will be taking mine this Sat (26th Feb)..any tips? Thanks again...

I will be taking the WREB anesthesia board in a couple of weeks and am very nervous about the written portion. I have been practicing for 11 years and am studying but have no idea what to expect. They recommend 3 text books and studying them is definitely overwhelming. Can anyone who has taken this board offer any advice? It would be so greatly appreciated.

How was the LA wreb? I just moved to Idaho from Texas and will be taking the LA WREB in May? I have also been a Hygienist for about 10 years, but am finding it difficult to find a job here without local anesthesia cert, even though Idaho gives you a provisional license.

Since your from Texas.I wanted to see if you knew if you can complete most of the WREB exams except the LA portion and get a job in Texas. I took the written LA portion twice and got a 74 both times!! I just took the written again and waiting for results for the third time. I am very nervous and have anxiety over the results to come. Do you know if I could work in Texas without completing the LA portion? I need to work! I can't wait to take the LA course if I fail again and would rather work and take the class in Texas. Thanks for your help.

toothfairi in Lincoln, California said: I will be taking the WREB anesthesia board in a couple of weeks and am very nervous about the written portion. I have been practicing for 11 years and am studying but have no idea what to expect. They recommend 3 text books and studying them is definitely overwhelming. Can anyone who has taken this board offer any advice? It would be so greatly appreciated.

I used Malhamed. Everything from the book was on the test. I would say use one book so its not so overwhelming.

Worried in Lynnwood, Washington said: Since your from Texas.I wanted to see if you knew if you can complete most of the WREB exams except the LA portion and get a job in Texas. I took the written LA portion twice and got a 74 both times!! I just took the written again and waiting for results for the third time. I am very nervous and have anxiety over the results to come. Do you know if I could work in Texas without completing the LA portion? I need to work! I can't wait to take the LA course if I fail again and would rather work and take the class in Texas. Thanks for your help.

I just graduated, Worried, so I'm not an expert, but I believe that you should be okay to work in Texas if you passed the PoC & Clinical portions of WREB. RDHs are not permitted to deliver LA in Texas - so even if you passed that portion of the exam, you wouldn't be able to administer it to patients. Hope that helps!