Dental Hygienist Schools
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Dental hygienists provide preventive therapy to promote oral health, examine patients for signs of disease, and teach them to manage their oral hygiene. In addition to completing a dental hygiene program at an ADA-accredited school, aspiring dental hygienists must pass state exams on how to provide dental hygiene and education to patients and, in most states, must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Upon receiving their license, hygienists become Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) and qualify to enter this high-growth occupation.
Dental hygienists are in high demand, and there are many opportunities for future career growth. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that dental hygienist careers are projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, a rate that’s faster than the national average for all occupations at 4 percent (BLS 2020).
With an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, dental hygienists can meet critical needs in metropolitan and rural communities by examining patients’ overall oral health, cleaning teeth, and providing preventative care through dentistry and public health advocacy.
While a dentist supervises most dental hygienists, many dental hygienists are pivoting into dental therapist roles by providing preventative and restorative dental procedures in underserved areas. Also known as “direct access care,” this work aims to increase healthcare access to rural and low-income areas that may not have enough dentists to serve the needs of specific populations. The dental therapist movement has full support from the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA) to expand professional autonomy and provide basic healthcare needs for vulnerable communities.
Read on to learn more about on-campus and online dental hygienist schools, standard courses, accreditation, licensing, and certification for this growing career.
Dental Hygienist Degree & Certification Programs
Qualifications & Requirements – Becoming a Dental Hygienist
To become a dental hygienist, students must complete an accredited program through a community college, technical school, dental school, or university. Students should verify that the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredits their program before enrolling. Most entry-level positions require an associate’s degree, and bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are available.
Earning an associate’s degree in dental hygiene school typically takes three years to complete. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association reports that an associate degree in dental hygiene requires an average of 84 credits. For a bachelor’s degree, it’s an average of 118 credits.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree programs may take an additional two to four years to complete and are ideal for dental hygienists aspiring to pursue a career in research and teaching or management roles in clinics or public health programs.
Admission requirements for dental hygienist schools typically include completing high school courses in chemistry, biology, health, psychology, speech, and mathematics. The ADHA reports that some programs also ask candidates for interviews, dexterity tests, or essays. It’s important to check specific admission standards before applying to ensure eligibility.
Dental hygiene programs generally have two components. First, they offer science-intensive coursework. Core classes cover the fields of fundamental science (e.g., pharmacology, anatomy, physiology), dental science (e.g., oral pathology, radiology, pain control), and dental hygiene science (e.g., oral health education, preventative counseling, clinical dental hygiene). Second, these programs offer supervised patient care experiences.
The ADHA estimates that dental hygienist students will complete an average of 659 hours of supervised clinical instruction before receiving their degrees or certifications. This practical work helps students flesh out their theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience in patient care.
After completing a dental hygienist program at an accredited school, students may be eligible for licensure. Initially, students must take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), a test comprising 350 multiple choice questions gauging both concrete knowledge, theoretical knowledge, and students’ ability to tackle case studies. After passing this exam, students must complete their state clinical board examinations. The ADHA provides a comprehensive guide to these varying regional requirements.
Students are also required to have the following before obtaining licensure:
- Completion of a jurisprudence exam
- Proof of CPR certification
- Letter(s) of recommendation from dentist(s) in state of the desired licensure
- Official transcripts from high school(s) and college(s) attended
- Official letters from state boards of dentistry
Upon receiving licensure, dental hygienists can use the credentials “RDH” after their names to indicate their status as “Registered Dental Hygienists.”
On-Campus Dental Hygienist Schools
Here is a sampling of the CODA-accredited dental hygienist schools in the United States:
- Seattle Central College offers a bachelor of applied science in allied health in dental hygiene. With an on-campus state-of-the-art dental education clinic in Beacon Hill, this program provides hands-on practical experience and courses in anatomy, chemistry, and pharmacology. The school includes instruction and supervision from faculty who are licensed and experienced dental professionals.
- Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City offers a two-year associate of applied science (AAS) program in dental hygiene, accredited by ADA’s CODA and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional accreditation body. This school boasts small class sizes and offers students interested in pursuing bachelor’s degrees the opportunity to transfer credits to four-year institutions within the Utah System of Higher Education.
- The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis offers an accelerated, three-year bachelor of science program for aspiring dental hygienists. Students in this program spend four weeks in a dental outreach clinic treating patients with dental students to gain hands-on experience to prepare them for dental hygienist careers or a graduate degree. UM also has a master of science in dental hygiene (MSDH) to prepare students for careers in research or academia. For those interested in pursuing the education track of the MSDH program, UM has begun to offer flexible online coursework options as well.
- The College of Southern Nevada offers a full slate of dental hygienist degrees: an 88-credit associate of science degree; a 123-credit bachelor of science degree; a 120-credit bachelor of science degree as an education specialist; and a 120-credit bachelor of science degree in public health. This school features state-of-the-art radiology, sterilization, and ultrasonic equipment at its Charleston Campus Health Sciences Center (HSC) in Las Vegas.
- Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, offers a two-year associate’s degree in dental hygiene. In this program, students learn skills such as administering anesthetics, operating radiological equipment, assisting root canals, applying fluoride and sealants, and instructing patients in acceptable oral hygiene practices.
- The University of Tennessee (UT) in Memphis offers a four-year bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. It comprises a “2+2” format, combining two years of built-in prerequisite completion with two years of program coursework and a one-week clinical instruction. This program aims to teach its students the fundamental skills of dental hygiene and character-building with its emphasis on community service initiatives for diverse populations.
List of Dental Hygienist Schools
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport | Connecticut | www.bridgeport.edu | 99 |
University of Southern California | Los Angeles | California | www.usc.edu | 87 |
MCPHS University | Boston | Massachusetts | www.mcphs.edu | 81 |
New York University | New York | New York | www.nyu.edu | 77 |
West Coast University-Orange County | Anaheim | California | westcoastuniversity.edu | 74 |
Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | www.sinclair.edu | 73 |
St Petersburg College | Clearwater | Florida | www.spcollege.edu | 71 |
West Liberty University | West Liberty | West Virginia | westliberty.edu | 66 |
CUNY New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn | New York | www.citytech.cuny.edu | 66 |
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | California | www.sjvc.edu | 64 |
Oregon Institute of Technology | Klamath Falls | Oregon | www.oit.edu | 58 |
Careers Unlimited | Orem | Utah | www.ucdh.edu | 57 |
Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento | California | carrington.edu | 56 |
University of New Haven | West Haven | Connecticut | www.newhaven.edu | 56 |
Texas Woman's University | Denton | Texas | www.twu.edu | 54 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.pitt.edu | 53 |
Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | www.starkstate.edu | 49 |
Concorde Career College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri | 48 |
Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-diego-california | 48 |
Community College of Denver | Denver | Colorado | www.ccd.edu | 47 |
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-bernardino-california | 47 |
Fox College | Bedford Park | Illinois | www.foxcollege.edu | 47 |
Carrington College-Boise | Boise | Idaho | carrington.edu | 46 |
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | ouhsc.edu | 46 |
Erie Community College | Buffalo | New York | www.ecc.edu | 45 |
Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale | New York | www.farmingdale.edu | 45 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus | Ohio | www.osu.edu | 44 |
Weber State University | Ogden | Utah | www.weber.edu | 43 |
Miami Dade College | Miami | Florida | www.mdc.edu | 42 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | New Jersey | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu | 42 |
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | home.llu.edu | 41 |
Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | www.tjc.edu | 41 |
Bergen Community College | Paramus | New Jersey | www.bergen.edu | 40 |
Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Missouri | www.mssu.edu | 39 |
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Houston | Texas | www.uth.edu | 38 |
University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.umkc.edu | 38 |
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.lsuhsc.edu | 37 |
University of South Dakota | Vermillion | South Dakota | www.usd.edu | 37 |
Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore | Maryland | www.ccbcmd.edu | 36 |
Grand Rapids Community College | Grand Rapids | Michigan | www.grcc.edu | 36 |
Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Wisconsin | madisoncollege.edu | 36 |
Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | New York | www.hvcc.edu | 35 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | www.isu.edu | 35 |
Parkland College | Champaign | Illinois | www.parkland.edu | 35 |
CUNY Hostos Community College | Bronx | New York | www.hostos.cuny.edu | 34 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | www.unc.edu | 34 |
SUNY Broome Community College | Binghamton | New York | www.sunybroome.edu | 33 |
Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Virginia | virginiawestern.edu | 33 |
Remington College-Nashville Campus | Nashville | Tennessee | www.remingtoncollege.edu | 32 |
Eastern International College-Jersey City | Jersey City | New Jersey | www.eicollege.edu | 32 |
Pacific University | Forest Grove | Oregon | www.pacificu.edu | 32 |
Tennessee State University | Nashville | Tennessee | www.tnstate.edu | 32 |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Arkansas | www.uams.edu | 32 |
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | Blue Ash | Ohio | www.ucblueash.edu | 32 |
Baker College | Flint | Michigan | www.baker.edu | 31 |
Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Georgia | www.centralgatech.edu | 31 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.ivytech.edu | 31 |
Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Virginia | www.nvcc.edu | 31 |
Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana | www.pfw.edu | 31 |
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Tennessee | www.uthsc.edu | 31 |
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | Kentucky | www.wku.edu | 31 |
Fortis College-Phoenix | Phoenix | Arizona | fortiscollege.edu | 30 |
Georgia State University-Perimeter College | Atlanta | Georgia | www.gsu.edu | 30 |
Lincoln College of New England-Southington | Southington | Connecticut | www.lincolncollegene.edu | 30 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 30 |
Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Wisconsin | www.ntc.edu | 30 |
Southwestern College | Chula Vista | California | www.swccd.edu | 30 |
Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station | Texas | www.tamu.edu | 30 |
University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Michigan | www.udmercy.edu | 30 |
Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg | Kentucky | bigsandy.kctcs.edu | 29 |
Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Washington | www.lwtech.edu | 29 |
Middlesex County College | Edison | New Jersey | www.middlesexcc.edu | 29 |
Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Illinois | www.prairiestate.edu | 29 |
Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 29 |
University of Louisville | Louisville | Kentucky | www.louisville.edu | 29 |
West Los Angeles College | Culver City | California | www.wlac.edu | 29 |
Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | www.actx.edu | 28 |
Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | www.ccp.edu | 28 |
Fresno City College | Fresno | California | www.fresnocitycollege.edu | 28 |
Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Florida | www.pensacolastate.edu | 28 |
Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Washington | www.yvcc.edu | 28 |
Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | California | carrington.edu | 27 |
Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | North Carolina | www.gtcc.edu | 27 |
Herzing University-Minneapolis | St. Louis Park | Minnesota | www.herzing.edu | 27 |
Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | Texas | www.lit.edu | 27 |
SUNY College of Technology at Canton | Canton | New York | www.canton.edu | 27 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis | Minnesota | twin-cities.umn.edu | 27 |
William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Illinois | www.harpercollege.edu | 27 |
Coastal Bend College | Beeville | Texas | www.coastalbend.edu | 26 |
College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 26 |
Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 26 |
Fortis College-Smyrna | Smyrna | Georgia | fortis.edu | 26 |
Middlesex Community College | Bedford | Massachusetts | www.middlesex.mass.edu | 26 |
Monroe Community College | Rochester | New York | www.monroecc.edu | 26 |
Mott Community College | Flint | Michigan | www.mcc.edu | 26 |
Carrington College-Mesa | Mesa | Arizona | carrington.edu | 25 |
Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely | Colorado | www.cncc.edu | 25 |
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/garden-grove-california | 25 |
Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | www.delmar.edu | 25 |
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Hanceville | Alabama | www.wallacestate.edu | 25 |
Georgia Highlands College | Rome | Georgia | www.highlands.edu | 25 |
Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | www.northampton.edu | 25 |
Pima Medical Institute-Houston | Houston | Texas | pmi.edu | 25 |
Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | California | www.santarosa.edu | 25 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 24 |
Cerritos College | Norwalk | California | www.cerritos.edu | 24 |
Clark College | Vancouver | Washington | www.clark.edu | 24 |
Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 24 |
Fortis College-Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.fortiscollege.edu | 24 |
Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | www.gvltec.edu | 24 |
Harcum College | Bryn Mawr | Pennsylvania | www.harcum.edu | 24 |
Johnson County Community College | Overland Park | Kansas | www.jccc.edu | 24 |
Lane Community College | Eugene | Oregon | www.lanecc.edu | 24 |
NHTI-Concord's Community College | Concord | New Hampshire | www.nhti.edu | 24 |
Oakland Community College | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | www.oaklandcc.edu | 24 |
Sheridan College | Sheridan | Wyoming | www.sheridan.edu | 24 |
Shoreline Community College | Shoreline | Washington | www.shoreline.edu | 24 |
Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | www.tstc.edu | 24 |
University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | Alaska | www.uaa.alaska.edu | 24 |
Utah Valley University | Orem | Utah | www.uvu.edu | 24 |
Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Illinois | icc.edu | 23 |
Indiana University-Northwest | Gary | Indiana | www.iun.edu | 23 |
Lansing Community College | Lansing | Michigan | www.lcc.edu | 23 |
Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | www.pima.edu | 23 |
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | Seattle | Washington | pmi.edu | 23 |
Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Ohio | www.shawnee.edu | 23 |
Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Florida | www.tcc.fl.edu | 23 |
University of Southern Indiana | Evansville | Indiana | www.usi.edu | 23 |
Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | www.wcccd.edu | 23 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Illinois | www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x | 23 |
Concorde Career College-Dallas | Dallas | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas | 23 |
Concorde Career College-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-antonio-texas | 23 |
Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | www.faytechcc.edu | 23 |
Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | California | foothill.edu | 23 |
Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Kentucky | bluegrass.kctcs.edu | 22 |
Cabrillo College | Aptos | California | www.cabrillo.edu | 22 |
Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | Massachusetts | www.capecod.edu | 22 |
Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | Colorado | www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado | 22 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 22 |
James A Rhodes State College | Lima | Ohio | www.rhodesstate.edu | 22 |
Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Illinois | www.lc.edu | 22 |
Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Minnesota | www.metrostate.edu | 22 |
Pasadena City College | Pasadena | California | pasadena.edu | 22 |
Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Laurel | New Jersey | www.rcbc.edu | 22 |
University of Maine at Augusta | Augusta | Maine | www.uma.edu | 22 |
University of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha | Nebraska | www.unmc.edu | 22 |
University of New England | Biddeford | Maine | www.une.edu | 22 |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Virginia | www.vcu.edu | 22 |
West Virginia University | Morgantown | West Virginia | www.wvu.edu | 22 |
Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Ohio | ysu.edu | 22 |
Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | www.tri-c.edu | 21 |
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Dover | Delaware | www.dtcc.edu | 21 |
Dixie State University | Saint George | Utah | dixie.edu | 21 |
Fortis Institute-Scranton | Scranton | Pennsylvania | www.fortis.edu | 21 |
Ilisagvik College | Barrow | Alaska | www.ilisagvik.edu | 21 |
Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | www.midlandstech.edu | 21 |
Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Florida | www.palmbeachstate.edu | 21 |
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | New Mexico | pmi.edu | 21 |
Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | www.pueblocc.edu | 21 |
Rio Salado College | Tempe | Arizona | www.rio.maricopa.edu | 21 |
Savannah Technical College | Savannah | Georgia | www.savannahtech.edu | 21 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 20 |
Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | www.cscc.edu | 20 |
Community College of Rhode Island | Warwick | Rhode Island | www.ccri.edu | 20 |
Lake Land College | Mattoon | Illinois | www.lakelandcollege.edu | 20 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | www.minnesota.edu | 20 |
North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | North Dakota | www.ndscs.edu | 20 |
Phoenix College | Phoenix | Arizona | www.phoenixcollege.edu | 20 |
Portland Community College | Portland | Oregon | www.pcc.edu | 20 |
Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | www.tccd.edu | 20 |
University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu | Hawaii | manoa.hawaii.edu | 20 |
Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | Illinois | www.sandburg.edu | 19 |
Chabot College | Hayward | California | www.chabotcollege.edu | 19 |
Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | North Carolina | www.coastalcarolina.edu | 19 |
College of Lake County | Grayslake | Illinois | www.clcillinois.edu | 19 |
Delta College | University Center | Michigan | www.delta.edu | 19 |
Fortis College-Landover | Landover | Maryland | www.fortiscollege.edu | 19 |
Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Iowa | www.hawkeyecollege.edu | 19 |
Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo | Michigan | www.kvcc.edu | 19 |
Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | www.kirkwood.edu | 19 |
Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne | Wyoming | www.lccc.wy.edu | 19 |
Sacramento City College | Sacramento | California | www.scc.losrios.edu | 19 |
Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.slcc.edu | 19 |
Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | www.stcc.edu | 19 |
Taft College | Taft | California | www.taftcollege.edu | 19 |
University of Maryland Baltimore | Baltimore | Maryland | www.umaryland.edu | 19 |
Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Pennsylvania | westmoreland.edu | 19 |
Wharton County Junior College | Wharton | Texas | www.wcjc.edu | 19 |
Indiana University-South Bend | South Bend | Indiana | www.iusb.edu | 18 |
Allegany College of Maryland | Cumberland | Maryland | www.allegany.edu | 18 |
Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | California | www.dvc.edu | 18 |
El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | www.epcc.edu | 18 |
Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Florida | www.fsw.edu | 18 |
Hagerstown Community College | Hagerstown | Maryland | www.hagerstowncc.edu | 18 |
Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | www.hacc.edu | 18 |
Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Iowa | www.iwcc.edu | 18 |
Mesa Community College | Mesa | Arizona | www.mesacc.edu | 18 |
Normandale Community College | Bloomington | Minnesota | www.normandale.edu | 18 |
Northeast Mississippi Community College | Booneville | Mississippi | www.nemcc.edu | 18 |
Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | www.otc.edu | 18 |
Rock Valley College | Rockford | Illinois | www.rockvalleycollege.edu | 18 |
University of Wyoming | Laramie | Wyoming | www.uwyo.edu | 18 |
Orange County Community College | Middletown | New York | sunyorange.edu | 17 |
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | North Carolina | www.abtech.edu | 17 |
Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Maryland | www.bccc.edu | 17 |
Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.broward.edu | 17 |
Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | www.camdencc.edu | 17 |
Fortis Institute-Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | www.fortis.edu | 17 |
Hiwassee College | Madisonville | Tennessee | www.hiwassee.edu | 17 |
Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | South Carolina | www.hgtc.edu | 17 |
Kellogg Community College | Battle Creek | Michigan | www.kellogg.edu | 17 |
Mohave Community College | Kingman | Arizona | www.mohave.edu | 17 |
Thomas Nelson Community College | Hampton | Virginia | tncc.edu | 17 |
Trident Technical College | Charleston | South Carolina | www.tridenttech.edu | 17 |
Tunxis Community College | Farmington | Connecticut | www.tunxis.edu | 17 |
Valencia College | Orlando | Florida | valenciacollege.edu | 17 |
Wayne Community College | Goldsboro | North Carolina | www.waynecc.edu | 17 |
Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Florida | www.gulfcoast.edu | 16 |
Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | www.austincc.edu | 16 |
BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | West Virginia | www.bridgevalley.edu | 16 |
Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | North Carolina | www.cvcc.edu | 16 |
Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Tennessee | www.chattanoogastate.edu | 16 |
Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia | Kansas | www.fhtc.edu | 16 |
Halifax Community College | Weldon | North Carolina | www.halifaxcc.edu | 16 |
Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls | Texas | www.mwsu.edu | 16 |
Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Pennsylvania | www.mc3.edu | 16 |
Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Ohio | www.owens.edu | 16 |
Oxnard College | Oxnard | California | www.oxnardcollege.edu | 16 |
Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | www.prcc.edu | 16 |
Blinn College | Brenham | Texas | www.blinn.edu | 15 |
Bristol Community College | Fall River | Massachusetts | www.bristolcc.edu | 15 |
Central Carolina Community College | Sanford | North Carolina | www.cccc.edu | 15 |
Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Texas | www.collin.edu | 15 |
Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Washington | www.columbiabasin.edu | 15 |
Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Georgia | www.columbustech.edu | 15 |
Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Florida | www.daytonastate.edu | 15 |
Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Wisconsin | www.fvtc.edu | 15 |
Great Falls College Montana State University | Great Falls | Montana | www.gfcmsu.edu | 15 |
Hillsborough Community College | Tampa | Florida | www.hccfl.edu | 15 |
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.iupui.edu | 15 |
Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Iowa | www.iowacentral.edu | 15 |
Lake Superior College | Duluth | Minnesota | www.lsc.edu | 15 |
Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | www.lonestar.edu | 15 |
Mt Hood Community College | Gresham | Oregon | www.mhcc.edu | 15 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 15 |
Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Minnesota | www.rctc.edu | 15 |
Central Community College | Grand Island | Nebraska | www.cccneb.edu | 14 |
Goodwin College | East Hartford | Connecticut | www.goodwin.edu | 14 |
Howard College | Big Spring | Texas | www.howardcollege.edu | 14 |
Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Ohio | www.lakelandcc.edu | 14 |
Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Georgia | www.laniertech.edu | 14 |
Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | www.qcc.edu | 14 |
Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Wisconsin | www.wctc.edu | 14 |
Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Virginia | www.wcc.vccs.edu | 14 |
Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | Georgia | atlantatech.edu | 13 |
Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley | California | www.mvc.edu | 13 |
El Centro College | Dallas | Texas | www.elcentrocollege.edu | 13 |
Howard Community College | Columbia | Maryland | www.howardcc.edu | 13 |
Lorain County Community College | Elyria | Ohio | www.lorainccc.edu | 13 |
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom | Lakewood | Washington | www.pierce.ctc.edu | 13 |
Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.tulsacc.edu | 13 |
Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | North Carolina | www.waketech.edu | 13 |
West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | www.westgatech.edu | 13 |
Athens Technical College | Athens | Georgia | www.athenstech.edu | 12 |
Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Washington | www.btc.edu | 12 |
Century College | White Bear Lake | Minnesota | www.century.edu | 12 |
Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | www.forsythtech.edu | 12 |
Henderson Community College | Henderson | Kentucky | henderson.kctcs.edu | 12 |
Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | www.hccs.edu | 12 |
Manor College | Jenkintown | Pennsylvania | www.manor.edu | 12 |
Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Massachusetts | mwcc.edu | 12 |
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | Las Cruces | New Mexico | dacc.nmsu.edu | 12 |
Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Florida | www.phsc.edu | 12 |
Rose State College | Midwest City | Oklahoma | www.rose.edu | 12 |
Shasta College | Redding | California | www.shastacollege.edu | 12 |
South Florida State College | Avon Park | Florida | www.southflorida.edu | 12 |
Temple College | Temple | Texas | www.templejc.edu | 12 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | www.cvtc.edu | 11 |
Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | www.easternflorida.edu | 11 |
Essex County College | Newark | New Jersey | www.essex.edu | 11 |
Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | www.fdtc.edu | 11 |
Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | www.meridiancc.edu | 11 |
Mississippi Delta Community College | Moorhead | Mississippi | www.msdelta.edu | 11 |
Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | www.roanestate.edu | 11 |
San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | www.sanjuancollege.edu | 11 |
St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Minnesota | www.sctcc.edu | 11 |
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Arkansas | uafs.edu | 11 |
University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco | California | www.ucsf.edu | 11 |
Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | New Jersey | www.brookdalecc.edu | 10 |
College of Southern Idaho | Twin Falls | Idaho | www.csi.edu | 10 |
Cypress College | Cypress | California | www.cypresscollege.edu | 10 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | www.irsc.edu | 10 |
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Florida | www.scf.edu | 10 |
Truckee Meadows Community College | Reno | Nevada | www.tmcc.edu | 10 |
West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Kentucky | westkentucky.kctcs.edu | 10 |
John A Logan College | Carterville | Illinois | www.jalc.edu | 9 |
State Fair Community College | Sedalia | Missouri | www.sfccmo.edu | 9 |
Albany State University | Albany | Georgia | www.asurams.edu | 8 |
Hillyard Technical Center | Saint Joseph | Missouri | www.hillyardtech.com | 8 |
Manhattan Area Technical College | Manhattan | Kansas | manhattantech.edu | 8 |
North Central Missouri College | Trenton | Missouri | www.ncmissouri.edu | 8 |
York Technical College | Rock Hill | South Carolina | www.yorktech.edu | 8 |
Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | North Carolina | www.cfcc.edu | 7 |
Howard University | Washington | District of Columbia | www.howard.edu | 7 |
Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | New Jersey | www.raritanval.edu | 7 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 7 |
Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Iowa | www.indianhills.edu | 6 |
Ocean County College | Toms River | New Jersey | www.ocean.edu | 6 |
Union County College | Cranford | New Jersey | www.ucc.edu | 6 |
University of the Pacific | Stockton | California | www.pacific.edu | 5 |
Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Wisconsin | www.nicoletcollege.edu | 4 |
Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | Georgia | www.southeasterntech.edu | 3 |
Lewis University | Romeoville | Illinois | www.lewisu.edu | 2 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago | Illinois | www.ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy | 1 |
La Sierra University | Riverside | California | lasierra.edu | 1 |
Rhode Island College | Providence | Rhode Island | www.ric.edu | 1 |
Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Tennessee | www.southern.edu | 1 |
Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Nebraska | www.wncc.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Dental Hygienist Programs
Dental Hygienist Online Program Overview
According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, many CODA-accredited programs offer online and hybrid options for prospective dental hygienists seeking both quality and flexibility in course completion.
The ADHA reports that the fully online options are typically for students who already have associate degrees or certificates in dental hygiene and are interested in degree completion programs to earn a bachelor of science in dental hygiene (BSDH). These accredited degree-completion programs, such as one at Wichita State University, offer all classes online, including dental hygiene practice management, advanced clinical concepts, and statistical reasoning.
However, most entry-level dental hygienist programs require a classroom or clinical component due to the hands-on nature of the profession. Students may be required to return to campus for laboratory or clinical practicums.
Here is a sampling of accredited, online programs at dental hygienist schools:
Online Dental Hygienist Programs
Please note that the following programs require prior completion of an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene. Students in these programs are generally practicing dental hygiene and looking to advance their qualifications.
- Northern Arizona University offers a bachelor of science (BS) in dental hygiene degree completion program (BSDHCP) geared toward students who want to further their professional development. The BSDHCP enhances students’ clinical knowledge with courses in management, education, and public health. All classes are offered online under the guidance of Northern Arizona University’s faculty and at the convenience of students. This university also provides exciting summer externship opportunities to serve diverse populations in Guatemala, Peru, and Hawaii.
- The University of Louisiana at Monroe has an online associate’s of science to bachelors of science program that helps push students’ core competencies to new heights. This 100 percent online program imparts the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for dental hygienists in positions of responsibility. This program may better prepare students to take on management roles in healthcare, research, and community settings. To be admitted, applicants must have completed the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam, earned licensure in at least one state, and graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program with a 2.5 GPA.
- Minnesota State University offers a two-year, accredited, online BSDH program provided by the department of dental hygiene in the college of allied health and nursing at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It’s ideal for students working full- or part-time who require flexibility in their course-completion schedules. The curriculum is tailored to students’ level of college experience but generally requires students to complete 11 dental hygiene courses (32 credits) and two to four general education courses.
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport | Connecticut | www.bridgeport.edu | 99 |
MCPHS University | Boston | Massachusetts | www.mcphs.edu | 81 |
St Petersburg College | Clearwater | Florida | www.spcollege.edu | 71 |
Eastern Washington University | Cheney | Washington | www.ewu.edu | 64 |
Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Michigan | www.ferris.edu | 58 |
Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff | Arizona | nau.edu | 58 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | www.pct.edu | 55 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato | Mankato | Minnesota | mankato.mnsu.edu | 53 |
Wichita State University | Wichita | Kansas | www.wichita.edu | 50 |
Community College of Denver | Denver | Colorado | www.ccd.edu | 47 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Michigan | www.umich.edu | 47 |
Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Virginia | www.odu.edu | 46 |
Farmingdale State College | Farmingdale | New York | www.farmingdale.edu | 45 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus | Ohio | www.osu.edu | 44 |
Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | home.llu.edu | 41 |
Augusta University | Augusta | Georgia | www.augusta.edu | 37 |
University of South Dakota | Vermillion | South Dakota | www.usd.edu | 37 |
Idaho State University | Pocatello | Idaho | www.isu.edu | 35 |
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | www.uthscsa.edu | 34 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.unm.edu | 34 |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | Illinois | www.siu.edu | 32 |
University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe | Louisiana | www.ulm.edu | 32 |
Clayton State University | Morrow | Georgia | www.clayton.edu | 31 |
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis | Tennessee | www.uthsc.edu | 31 |
East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Tennessee | www.etsu.edu | 29 |
SUNY College of Technology at Canton | Canton | New York | www.canton.edu | 27 |
Georgia Highlands College | Rome | Georgia | www.highlands.edu | 25 |
Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Pennsylvania | www.luzerne.edu | 24 |
Vermont Technical College | Randolph | Vermont | www.vtc.edu | 23 |
Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | www.pueblocc.edu | 21 |
Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | www.sfcollege.edu | 21 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 20 |
University of Mississippi | University | Mississippi | www.olemiss.edu | 18 |
Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | www.sienaheights.edu | 14 |
East Mississippi Community College | Scooba | Mississippi | www.eastms.edu | 9 |
Dental Hygienist Core & Elective Courses
Core Courses
To become a dental hygienist, students must complete a program at an accredited dental hygienist school. These programs combine standard coursework with a hands-on, clinical laboratory component. According to the American Dental Hygienists' Association, core classes typically include:
- Dental anatomy
- Head and neck anatomy
- Oral embryology and histology
- Oral pathology
- Radiography
- Periodontology
- Pain control (anesthetics)
- Dental materials
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- General education courses (e.g., psychology, English, speech)
Electives & Specializations
Dental hygiene students may have the opportunity to complete electives in various specializations. This flexibility allows students to tailor coursework to their interests. Additionally, this instruction may enhance an individual's candidacy for jobs that specialize in different dental procedures. Some of these course electives may include:
- Medical and dental emergencies
- Nutrition in dentistry
- Community dental health
- Patient management
- Legal responsibility in dentistry
- Oral biology
Accreditation of Dental Hygienist Schools & Programs
Accreditation aims to protect students of dental hygienist programs. Seeking an accredited school is essential to ensure quality in coursework, training, and exam preparation. Typically, only students enrolled in accredited programs are eligible for government funding. Furthermore, graduation from an accredited program is also a standard requirement for licensure and certification examinations in dental hygiene. Before applying to a school, students should verify a program’s accreditation status.
Programmatic Accreditation
The American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation has continually developed and administered high accreditation standards for dental hygiene educational programs. CODA also offers a list of approved programs organized by state to prospective students. In most states, students must graduate from a CODA-accredited program to be eligible for state licensure.
Institutional Accreditation
In addition to programmatic accreditation, an institution should hold accreditation as an institution. For instance, four-year universities may have earned regional accreditation from an organization such as the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). In contrast, a two-year program may have earned accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
As with programmatic accreditation, institutional accreditation considers faculty, facilities, and curricula to determine the viability of an institution as a whole in its educational mission.
Career Outlook
Occupational Growth & Demand
The BLS shows that in May 2019, 221,560 dental hygienists were employed in the United States. As with careers in healthcare, openings for dental hygienists are predicted to grow faster than average by 6 percent from 2019 to 2029 (BLS 2020).
Expanded access to medical and dental care through the Affordable Health Care Act, in tandem with ongoing research that links good general health to good oral health, will likely increase the demand for dental hygienists.
Top Employers for Dental Hygienists
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2019), dental offices employ 93 percent of the dental hygienists’ workforce. Other industries with the highest levels of employment for dental hygienists are as follows:
- Total number of employed dental hygienists: 221,560 employed
- Offices of dentists: 209,510 employed
- Employment services: 3,270
- Offices of physicians: 2,410
- Outpatient care centers: 1,600
- Federal executive branch (OES designation): 810
Top Paying Industries for Dental Hygienists
Curiously enough, when it comes to paying dental hygienists the most money, dental offices fell fourth on the list. Here’s a list of the five top-paying industries for dental hygienists (BLS May 2019):
- Average annual salary for dental hygienists: $77,230 per year
- Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance-related activities: $86,460
- Offices of other health practitioners: $81,400
- Management of companies and enterprises: $79,040
- Offices of dentists: $77,540
- Outpatient care centers: $77,300
Top Employing States for Dental Hygienists
Unsurprisingly, the states that hire the most dental hygienists are also some of the most populous. Here are the top five states with the highest levels of employment and the annual wages they earn (BLS May 2019):
- California: 23,320 employed ($106,240 per year)
- Texas: 14,310 ($76,490)
- New York: 11,620 ($76,960)
- Florida: 11.310 ($66,170)
- Ohio: 9,670 ($67,900)
Career Facts | Dental Hygienist |
---|---|
Related Careers | Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiation Therapist |
Common Job Titles | Dental Hygienist |
Technology & Equipment | Hand Scalers and Curettes, Ultrasonic Scalers, Polishers, X-Ray Machines |
Sourced from BLS, March 2021 |
Dental Hygienist Licensure & Certification
State Licensure
After graduating from an accredited dental hygienist program, individuals become eligible for professional licensure. State governments grant licenses, and therefore, requirements vary from state to state. Aspiring dental hygienists should investigate the requirements in the state where they want to practice.
However, according to the ADHA, there are a few steps that are common across virtually every state:
- Completion of an accredited dental hygiene program
- Passing the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
- Passing a regional or state clinical board exam
- Completion of continuing education credits (to maintain licensure)
Once these steps are complete, the applicant must contact the state’s licensing authority where he or she wishes to practice and submit their required documentation and fees to become legally eligible for employment.
Certification Organizations
Several certifying bodies for the dental hygienist profession may be relevant for those entering the field. The proper certifying body will depend on the geographic location of the individual becoming licensed.
- Council of Interstate Testing Agencies
- Central Regional Dental Testing Service
- Commission on Dental Competency Assessments
- Southern Regional Testing Agency
- Western Regional Examining Board
Each certification body administers exams in many states. For example, a hygienist who wants to become licensed in Kansas would be able to take the ADEX, CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, or WREB board exams. To determine what licensing exam to take, new hygienists should contact their state licensing board.