Are you a dental hygienist seeking adventure, flexibility, and higher earning potential? The world of travel dental hygiene might be your perfect career path. Imagine exploring new cities, experiencing diverse dental practices, and expanding your professional network, all while doing what you love – providing excellent patient care. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about becoming a Travel Dental Hygienist, from essential requirements to the exciting benefits and how to get started.
Essential Requirements to Become a Travel RDH
Before you pack your bags and set off on your travel hygiene journey, there are a few key prerequisites you’ll need to meet. These are crucial for ensuring you’re ready to provide safe and effective care in various locations.
1) Valid Dental Hygiene License
The cornerstone of your travel career is holding an active dental hygiene license in the specific state where you intend to work. Licensure requirements vary from state to state, and it’s essential to understand these differences. While this might seem daunting, travel dental hygienist agencies are experts in navigating this process. They can provide invaluable assistance in streamlining the licensing process, helping you gather necessary documentation and expedite your application. Don’t let licensing hurdles deter you; agencies are there to make this step as smooth as possible.
2) Adaptability and Flexibility
The nature of travel dental hygiene demands a high degree of flexibility. Are you comfortable with short-term assignments in different locations? Can you adapt quickly to new office environments, procedures, and patient populations? This career is ideal for those who embrace change and enjoy new experiences. Consider your lifestyle and commitments. While some travel RDHs are empty nesters or have remote-working partners, others might find the transient nature of the work challenging. However, for those seeking freedom and variety, the flexible lifestyle of a travel dental hygienist is a major draw.
3) Up-to-Date Credentials
Maintaining current professional credentials is non-negotiable. This includes certifications like CPR, up-to-date immunizations, and specialized certifications such as nitrous oxide and local anesthesia administration if required by the state or desired for specific assignments. Furthermore, a clean professional record is vital. Any disciplinary actions or issues with your dental hygiene license could hinder your ability to secure travel assignments. Ensure all your certifications are current and readily accessible to demonstrate your readiness to practice.
4) Partnering with a Travel Dental Temp Agency
Navigating the world of travel dental hygiene is significantly easier with the support of a reputable travel RDH temp agency or a reliable temping app. These agencies act as your career partners, connecting you with short-term assignments that match your skills and preferences. They often provide crucial support services, such as finding suitable housing – sometimes even offering corporate housing options – and ensuring consistent work opportunities in your chosen locations. Agencies simplify the logistics of travel work, allowing you to focus on your clinical skills and enjoy the adventure. The more flexible you are with location and assignment type, the more opportunities will be available to you through these agencies.
Alt text: Cheerful dental hygienist explaining oral hygiene instructions to a smiling female patient during a routine checkup, emphasizing patient communication and care.
Necessary Certifications for Travel RDHs
To excel as a travel dental hygienist, you must hold the licenses and certifications mandated by the state where you intend to practice. Unlike some professions with national licensure reciprocity, dental hygiene licenses are typically state-specific. This often necessitates a separate application process for each new state you wish to work in. This process might involve submitting detailed paperwork to the state dental board and potentially passing examinations, such as jurisprudence exams that assess your understanding of state-specific dental laws and regulations. In some cases, you might need to obtain additional certifications, like nitrous oxide certification, as a supplement to your core RDH license, depending on the state’s requirements.
For those wondering how to become a traveling dental hygienist and feeling overwhelmed by these licensing complexities, partnering with a placement agency is highly recommended. These agencies specialize in assisting dental professionals with multi-state licensing. They are experienced in collecting the necessary documentation, guiding you through each state’s specific requirements, and expediting the licensing process as much as possible. Depending on your experience level, the states you are targeting, and your current location, you might even need to take a further board exam. While this may sound daunting, agencies are adept at preparing you and making the process manageable.
It’s also important to remember that you can begin your travel dental hygienist career within your current state without navigating interstate licensing. With your existing license, you can explore temp or travel RDH positions anywhere within your state, offering a taste of the travel lifestyle with less initial administrative burden. You’ll simply need to ensure your licensing details are on file with the temping app or agency facilitating your placements.
The Rewarding Benefits of Travel Dental Hygiene
The growing demand for dental hygienists across the country, particularly in certain regions experiencing shortages, makes travel dental hygiene a promising and rewarding career choice. Similar to travel nurses who have long enjoyed the perks of their mobile profession, travel RDHs are now experiencing comparable advantages. Here are some compelling benefits of embracing a travel-oriented career path in dental hygiene:
1) Embrace the Adventure of Travel
For those with wanderlust, the travel aspect is a major perk. As a travel RDH, you have the unique opportunity to live and work in diverse locations for weeks or months at a time, places you might only visit briefly on vacation. Imagine experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes while maintaining your professional career. It’s like an extended, immersive tourism experience, offering weekends and evenings to explore your temporary home beyond the typical tourist trail.
2) Enhanced Earning Potential
Financially, travel dental hygiene can be significantly rewarding. Even within the realm of temporary dental hygiene work, travel positions often command higher hourly rates compared to standard temp assignments or permanent RDH roles. Depending on the states involved – your home state and your assignment location – your hourly pay could increase substantially, sometimes by as much as $25 per hour. Factors influencing pay rates include geographical location, your availability and flexibility, and the agency you partner with. This increased earning potential can accelerate your financial goals and provide greater financial freedom.
3) Professional Growth and Diverse Experiences
Stepping outside your comfort zone and experiencing new environments fosters personal and professional growth. As a travel RDH, you’ll encounter a variety of dental practices, from general dentistry to specialized clinics and even research or clinical facilities, opportunities rarely available in traditional roles. This exposure broadens your skillset, deepens your knowledge base, and promotes continuous learning on the job. If you’re considering specializing within dental hygiene, travel temping allows you to “test the waters” in different specialties before committing to a long-term career shift.
4) Unparalleled Flexibility and Control
Mirroring the flexibility of standard dental hygiene temping, travel RDH positions empower you to control your career trajectory. You dictate where you go, when you work, how often you work, and the types of assignments you accept. Want to combine work with leisure? You can structure your schedule to accommodate extended weekends for exploring, hiking, or pursuing hobbies. Whether you prefer consistent full-time work for a few months in one state followed by a move to another, or a more part-time, location-hopping lifestyle, travel dental hygiene offers unparalleled flexibility.
5) Expanded Professional Network
Traditional dental hygiene jobs often confine you to the same team and professional circle. While stable, this can limit networking opportunities. For RDHs aspiring to roles in research, education, peer review, or product development, networking is crucial. Travel dental hygiene expands your professional circle exponentially. You’ll connect with industry leaders, attend local dental meetings or conferences in different regions, and build relationships that can open doors to future career advancements.
6) Leadership and Independence
The very nature of travel dental hygiene cultivates independence and an entrepreneurial spirit. You are actively managing your career, making strategic decisions about your work locations and assignments. Travel RDHs are often perceived as highly professional and proactive by employers and peers, admired for their willingness to step outside conventional career paths and embrace unique opportunities.
Alt text: Focused dental hygienist and male patient reviewing dental x-rays together on a monitor in a modern dental office, illustrating patient education and diagnostic skills.
Getting Started on Your Travel RDH Path
Embarking on a travel dental hygienist career is more accessible than you might think. If you’re eager to start exploring opportunities within your current state, begin by utilizing dental temping apps like onDiem or connecting with local dental staffing agencies. Create a professional profile highlighting your skills, desired salary range, and preferred geographical areas within your state.
For those ready to venture across state lines, partnering with a national travel dental staffing agency is the optimal first step. Seek out agencies that offer comprehensive support, including assistance with finding short-term housing or even providing corporate housing options in your assignment locations.
Ensure your professional documentation is readily available and organized. This includes copies of your dental hygiene license, records of your continuing education hours, and any specialty certifications you hold. Having these documents easily accessible will streamline the application and onboarding processes for travel assignments.
Finally, prepare for your first adventure! Pack efficiently, focusing on professional essentials like scrubs and personal items for your temporary stays. Whether you opt for agency-provided corporate housing or explore Airbnb options, the exciting journey of a travel dental hygienist awaits!
Your Mobile Dental Hygiene Career Awaits
Understanding how to become a traveling dental hygienist is the first step toward a dynamic and fulfilling career. Especially if you collaborate with a dental staffing agency and possess the adaptability to thrive in new environments, the path is surprisingly straightforward. With an active RDH license, you can immediately begin exploring travel opportunities within your state or partner with an agency to navigate multi-state licensing and broaden your horizons. As travel RDH roles become increasingly common and sought-after, agencies are well-equipped to simplify the process and help you launch your mobile dental hygiene career.
