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North Central Coast Decision Brief · 29-1292

Dental Hygienists

Dental Hygiene combines a strong wage signal with a local pathway that is not accepting new applications. Before a new program or expansion is considered, the region needs better demand, nearby-supply, and clinical-capacity evidence.

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At a glance

The decision context.

CA projected growth+15.2%

EDD, 2022–2032

CA projected openings21,230

Total openings, 2022–2032

CA median wage$61.74/hr

2026 Q1

Local pathwayApplications paused

Cabrillo stopped accepting new applications Aug. 15, 2025

Current finding: The known local pathway is constrained, but comparable North Central Coast demand and nearby supply are not yet complete enough to turn that constraint into a new-program conclusion.
Evidence by dimension

Strong evidence stays separate from weak evidence.

C

Regional market opportunity

California EDD shows strong growth and wages, and Santa Cruz supplemental evidence shows high wages, but directly comparable North Central Coast demand is not loaded.

A

Training supply

Cabrillo is the known local Dental Hygiene pathway and its current admissions status is documented.

A

Capacity + access

Cabrillo states that it stopped accepting new applications as of August 15, 2025. That is a clear local access constraint, though the underlying reason and reopening feasibility are not yet fully documented.

U

Outcomes

Completion, licensure, employment, earnings, and graduate-retention outcomes are not loaded.

U

Workforce-system status

Program-level CalJOBS ETPL status and exact DataVista outcomes remain pending.

Confidence rule: grades apply to the evidence block, not to the occupation, provider, or community. No composite score is calculated.
Known training supply

What is already available.

Cabrillo College Dental HygieneKnown local A.S. pathway with clinical training; new applications have been paused since August 15, 2025.
Decision logic

What this response means now.

What to do with the current evidence

  • Determine why applications are paused and what would be required to restore or expand the pathway.
  • Map nearby Dental Hygiene programs and the extent to which North Central Coast residents can reasonably access them.
  • Validate employer demand, clinical-placement capacity, faculty availability, and expected enrollment before considering new supply.

What would change this finding?

  • Strong regional employer demand plus feasible clinical/faculty capacity could support reopening or scaling local supply.
  • Evidence of adequate nearby capacity and reasonable learner access could support monitoring rather than local expansion.
  • Weak regional demand would reduce the case for additional supply despite strong statewide wages.
Not supported yet: Declaring a regional Dental Hygiene supply gap or launching a new program based only on statewide wages and a paused local program.
Targeted evidence queue

Only collect evidence that could change the decision.

  • Load directly comparable North Central Coast demand and employer validation.
  • Map nearby Dental Hygiene programs, seats, and travel/access conditions.
  • Verify Cabrillo ETPL status and DataVista outcomes.
  • Document the reason for the application pause, clinical capacity, faculty capacity, and reopening feasibility.
Source ledger

Evidence used in this brief.

California EDD Dental Hygienists Profile ↗
Cabrillo Dental Hygiene Admission ↗
Cabrillo Dental Hygiene Clinic ↗