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“By educating patients on not only oral health concerns but also the link between systemic diseases and oral health, we have the opportunity to improve the quality of life and overall health for people in our community.”

Annette Arevalos, Registered Dental Hygienist, Dee for Dentist

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 providing dental hygiene and education to patients and, in most states, pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Upon receiving their license, hygienists become Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) and qualify for this high-growth occupation.

Dental hygienists are in high demand, and there are many opportunities for future career growth. 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.

Meet the Expert: Annette Arevalos, Registered Dental Hygienist

Annette Arevalos

Annette Arevalos is a registered dental hygienist at Dee for Dentist, where she brings nearly two decades of industry experience.

Originally from Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico, Arevalos has lived in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years and earned her associate of science in dental hygiene degree from the College of Southern Nevada in 2021. She began her career as a dental assistant in 2006 and is passionate about creating a comfortable environment for her patients and educating them on the value of caring for their oral health. Arevalos provides catered treatment to each patient she treats, ranging from a traditional hygiene appointment to full periodontal therapy.

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What do you wish the public understood about dental hygienists?

Arevalos: I wish the public understood the value a hygienist brings to a patient’s overall health. By educating patients on not only oral health concerns but also the link between systemic diseases and oral health, we have the opportunity to improve the quality of life and overall health for people in our community.

MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring dental hygiene students?

Arevalos: One piece of advice that is always given is that your educational road will be one of the hardest things you go through to get your license. Often I hear, ‘Do we really want someone in the healthcare profession whose schooling was a walk in the park?’ I do agree with this statement, yet the advice that I share with students is to remember why you started the path in the first place, which likely had something to do with the quality of care you want to provide to the public. Always put that first!

 

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. Before enrolling, students should verify that the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredits their program. Most entry-level positions require an associate’s degree, but bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are also 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 who aspire to pursue careers in research and teaching or management roles in clinics or public health programs.

Admission requirements for dental hygienist schools typically include completing high school chemistry, biology, health, psychology, speech, and mathematics courses. 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.

Students may be eligible for licensure after completing a dental hygienist program at an accredited school. Initially, students must take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), a test comprising 350 multiple-choice questions gauging both concrete knowledge and 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 a dentist(s) in the 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

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.

Offering a variety of learning experiences through hands-on learning in the Dental Education Center and community dental clinics, this eight-quarter, full–time BAS degree will prepare students for an exciting career in oral health as practicing dental hygienists.

The program, which is made up of 195 credits, includes courses in fundamentals of dental hygiene, restorative practice and materials, pharmacology, dental radiology, research methods in allied health, pain control anesthesia, periodontology, and community dental health, among others.

The program opens up opportunities for graduates in private dental offices, hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, managed care organizations, correctional institutions, and more.

  • Location: Seattle, WA
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
  • Expected Time to Completion: Eight quarters

Salt Lake Community College

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 program, which comprises 88 credits, includes courses such as Dental Radiology, Dental Materials, general and oral pathology, community dental health, local anesthesia, practice management, head and neck anatomy, pharmacology, dental anatomy, and periodontology.

  • Location: West Jordan, UT
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Four semesters

University of Minnesota – School of Dentistry

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, which prepares them for dental hygienist careers or a graduate degree.

UM also offers 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 offering flexible online coursework options.

Students in the bachelor’s degree program take courses such as dental anatomy and histology, head and neck anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, periodontology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, general and oral pathology, local anesthesia and pain management, pediatric dentistry, cardiology and applied nutrition in dental hygiene care, and principles of restorative techniques.

  • Location: Minneapolis, MN
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 36 months

College of Southern Nevada

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 as a public health specialist. This school features state-of-the-art radiology, sterilization, and ultrasonic equipment at its Charleston Campus Health Sciences Center (HSC) in Las Vegas.

As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as dental hygiene theory, pharmacology for dental hygienists, legal and ethical concepts in dentistry, pain control methods, clinical dental hygiene, dental public health concepts, advanced education concepts, periodontic principles, oral epidemiology and biostatistics, oral biology, human anatomy and physiology, and future directions in dental hygiene.

The curriculum of these programs is designed to prepare students for the enhanced responsibilities and roles of dental hygienists in education, public health, research, administration, management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

  • Location: Las Vegas, NV; Henderson, NV; North Las Vegas, NV
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Expected Time to Completion: BS (48 months); AS (24 months)

Valencia College

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 program comprises 88 credits, including coursework in dental anatomy, introduction to dental hygiene, introduction to clinical procedures, fundamentals of dental hygiene, dental hygiene instrumentation, dental radiography, dental materials, periodontology, dental office emergencies, pharmacology, community dental health, and general and oral pathology.

  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Six semesters

University of Tennessee

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, two years of program coursework, and one week of clinical instruction. This program aims to teach its students the fundamental skills of dental hygiene and character-building, emphasizing community service initiatives for diverse populations.

This 122-credit program includes courses such as clinic theory, head and neck anatomy, dental embryology, histology, and anatomy, general and oral pathology, periodontology, anxiety and pain control, dental pharmacology, community dental health theory, and ethics, jurisprudence, and practice management.

  • Location: Memphis, TN
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

List of Dental Hygienist Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website GRADS ('21)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Kentucky https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu 130
University of Bridgeport Bridgeport Connecticut https://www.bridgeport.edu 103
Plaza College Forest Hills New York https://www.plazacollege.edu 87
Fox College Tinley Park Illinois https://www.foxcollege.edu 85
New York University New York New York https://www.nyu.edu 80
West Coast University-Orange County Anaheim California https://westcoastuniversity.edu 79
Eastern International College-Jersey City Jersey City New Jersey https://eicollege.edu 77
Foothill College Los Altos Hills California https://foothill.edu 72
Sinclair Community College Dayton Ohio https://www.sinclair.edu 71
Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho https://www.isu.edu 67
Parkland College Champaign Illinois https://www.parkland.edu 66
CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn New York https://www.citytech.cuny.edu 65
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.pitt.edu 64
West Liberty University West Liberty West Virginia https://westliberty.edu 63
Loma Linda University Loma Linda California https://llu.edu 60
Careers Unlimited Orem Utah https://www.ucdh.edu 59
Regis College Weston Massachusetts https://www.regiscollege.edu 59
Southwestern College Chula Vista California https://www.swccd.edu 59
Carrington College-Mesa Mesa Arizona https://carrington.edu 58
University of New Haven West Haven Connecticut https://www.newhaven.edu 58
Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland Washington https://www.lwtech.edu 57
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan https://www.ferris.edu 55
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle Seattle Washington https://pmi.edu 55
Fresno City College Fresno California https://www.fresnocitycollege.edu 53
University of New England Biddeford Maine https://www.une.edu 53
Middlesex College Edison New Jersey https://middlesexcollege.edu 51
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg Illinois https://www.sandburg.edu 50
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Illinois https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x 50
Eastern Washington University Cheney Washington https://www.ewu.edu 50
Pueblo Community College Pueblo Colorado https://pueblocc.edu 49
San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario Ontario California https://www.sjvc.edu 49
Fortis College-Smyrna Smyrna Georgia https://www.fortis.edu 48
Northern Wyoming Community College District Sheridan Wyoming https://www.sheridan.edu 48
Stark State College North Canton Ohio https://www.starkstate.edu 48
Clark College Vancouver Washington https://www.clark.edu 47
Greenville Technical College Greenville South Carolina https://www.gvltec.edu 47
Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Florida https://www.palmbeachstate.edu 47
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Visalia California https://www.sjvc.edu 47
Concorde Career College-Aurora Aurora Colorado https://www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado 46
Concorde Career College-Dallas Dallas Texas https://www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas 45
Pierce College District Lakewood Washington https://www.pierce.ctc.edu 45
Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa California https://www.santarosa.edu 45
CUNY Hostos Community College Bronx New York https://www.hostos.cuny.edu 44
Farmingdale State College Farmingdale New York https://www.farmingdale.edu 44
Shoreline Community College Shoreline Washington https://www.shoreline.edu 44
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City Oklahoma https://ouhsc.edu 44
Carrington College-Boise Boise Idaho https://carrington.edu 42
Concorde Career College-San Antonio San Antonio Texas https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-antonio-texas 42
Del Mar College Corpus Christi Texas https://www.delmar.edu 42
Hudson Valley Community College Troy New York https://www.hvcc.edu 42
Cape Cod Community College West Barnstable Massachusetts https://www.capecod.edu 41
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana https://www.iupui.edu 41
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston Texas https://www.uth.edu 41
Tyler Junior College Tyler Texas https://www.tjc.edu 41
Lane Community College Eugene Oregon https://www.lanecc.edu 40
Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville Florida https://www.fscj.edu 39
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans New Orleans Louisiana https://www.lsuhsc.edu 39
Tennessee State University Nashville Tennessee https://www.tnstate.edu 39
Baker College Owosso Michigan https://www.baker.edu 38
Bergen Community College Paramus New Jersey https://bergen.edu 38
Weber State University Ogden Utah https://www.weber.edu 38
Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee Wisconsin https://www.matc.edu 37
Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel New Jersey https://www.rcbc.edu 37
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College Blue Ash Ohio https://www.ucblueash.edu 37
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Minnesota https://twin-cities.umn.edu 37
Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland Maryland https://www.allegany.edu 36
Monroe Community College Rochester New York https://www.monroecc.edu 36
Northcentral Technical College Wausau Wisconsin https://www.ntc.edu 36
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina https://www.unc.edu 36
Camden County College Blackwood New Jersey https://www.camdencc.edu 35
Concorde Career College-Memphis Memphis Tennessee https://www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee 35
Georgia Highlands College Rome Georgia https://www.highlands.edu 35
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock Arkansas https://www.uams.edu 35
Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Michigan https://www.grcc.edu 34
West Los Angeles College Culver City California https://www.wlac.edu 34
Bristol Community College Fall River Massachusetts https://www.bristolcc.edu 33
Great Falls College Montana State University Great Falls Montana https://www.gfcmsu.edu 33
Madison Area Technical College Madison Wisconsin https://madisoncollege.edu 33
Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley California https://www.mvc.edu 33
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Virginia https://www.nvcc.edu 33
Pima Medical Institute-Houston Houston Texas https://pmi.edu 33
Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga Tennessee https://www.chattanoogastate.edu 32
Fortis Institute-Scranton Scranton Pennsylvania https://www.fortis.edu 32
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Kentucky https://www.wku.edu 32
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins Georgia https://www.centralgatech.edu 31
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana https://www.ivytech.edu 31
Pacific University Forest Grove Oregon https://www.pacificu.edu 31
Quinsigamond Community College Worcester Massachusetts https://www.qcc.edu 31
Howard College Big Spring Texas https://howardcollege.edu 30
Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Minnesota https://www.metrostate.edu 30
Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Pennsylvania https://www.northampton.edu 30
SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton New York https://www.sunybroome.edu 30
University of Louisville Louisville Kentucky https://louisville.edu 30
University of Southern California Los Angeles California https://www.usc.edu 30
Carrington College-Sacramento Sacramento California https://carrington.edu 29
Carrington College-San Jose San Jose California https://carrington.edu 29
College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas Nevada https://www.csn.edu 29
Fortis College-Landover Landover Maryland https://www.fortis.edu 29
Pasadena City College Pasadena California https://pasadena.edu 29
Pima Community College Tucson Arizona https://www.pima.edu 29
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station Texas https://www.tamu.edu 29
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Illinois https://www.cod.edu 28
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.ccp.edu 28
Fortis College-Salt Lake City Salt Lake City Utah https://www.fortiscollege.edu 28
Pensacola State College Pensacola Florida https://www.pensacolastate.edu 28
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Tennessee https://www.uthsc.edu 28
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Virginia https://www.virginiawestern.edu 28
Coastal Bend College Beeville Texas https://www.coastalbend.edu 27
Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton Missouri https://stlcc.edu 27
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Pennsylvania https://www.mc3.edu 26
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Michigan https://www.udmercy.edu 26
Concorde Career College-Kansas City Kansas City Missouri https://www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri 25
Harcum College Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania https://www.harcum.edu 25
Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills Michigan https://www.oaklandcc.edu 25
Dixie State University Saint George Utah https://utahtech.edu 24
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville Alabama https://www.wallacestate.edu 24
Mott Community College Flint Michigan https://www.mcc.edu 24
Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City Utah https://www.slcc.edu 24
University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska https://www.unmc.edu 24
Colorado Northwestern Community College Rangely Colorado https://www.cncc.edu 23
Community College of Denver Denver Colorado https://www.ccd.edu 23
Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Rhode Island https://www.ccri.edu 23
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove Garden Grove California https://www.concorde.edu/campus/garden-grove-california 23
Concorde Career College-San Diego San Diego California https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-diego-california 23
Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Massachusetts https://mwcc.edu 23
Rock Valley College Rockford Illinois https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu 23
Tunxis Community College Farmington Connecticut https://tunxis.edu 23
Wayne Community College Goldsboro North Carolina https://www.waynecc.edu 23
West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia https://www.wvu.edu 23
Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg Kentucky https://bigsandy.kctcs.edu 22
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino San Bernardino California https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-bernardino-california 22
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg Pennsylvania https://www.hacc.edu 22
Indiana University-Northwest Gary Indiana https://northwest.iu.edu 22
Indiana University-South Bend South Bend Indiana https://southbend.iu.edu 22
Missouri Southern State University Joplin Missouri https://www.mssu.edu 22
Sacramento City College Sacramento California https://scc.losrios.edu 22
University of Maine at Augusta Augusta Maine https://www.uma.edu 22
University of Southern Indiana Evansville Indiana https://www.usi.edu 22
Youngstown State University Youngstown Ohio https://ysu.edu 22
Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Iowa https://www.dmacc.edu 21
Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville North Carolina https://www.faytechcc.edu 21
Johnson County Community College Overland Park Kansas https://www.jccc.edu 21
Midlands Technical College West Columbia South Carolina https://www.midlandstech.edu 21
Phoenix College Phoenix Arizona https://www.phoenixcollege.edu 21
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque Albuquerque New Mexico https://pmi.edu 21
Southern University at Shreveport Shreveport Louisiana https://www.susla.edu 21
Tarrant County College District Fort Worth Texas https://www.tccd.edu 21
William Rainey Harper College Palatine Illinois https://www.harpercollege.edu 21
Yakima Valley College Yakima Washington https://www.yvcc.edu 21
Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville North Carolina https://www.coastalcarolina.edu 20
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover Delaware https://www.dtcc.edu 20
Illinois Central College East Peoria Illinois https://icc.edu 20
Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Iowa https://www.indianhills.edu 20
Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Illinois https://www.lc.edu 20
Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan Kansas https://manhattantech.edu 20
Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Minnesota https://www.minnesota.edu 20
Northeast Mississippi Community College Booneville Mississippi https://www.nemcc.edu 20
Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Missouri https://www.otc.edu 20
Savannah Technical College Savannah Georgia https://www.savannahtech.edu 20
Trident Technical College Charleston South Carolina https://www.tridenttech.edu 20
Broward College Fort Lauderdale Florida https://www.broward.edu 19
Dallas College Dallas Texas https://www.dallascollege.edu 19
Lake Superior College Duluth Minnesota https://www.lsc.edu 19
Middlesex Community College Bedford Massachusetts https://www.middlesex.mass.edu 19
Portland Community College Portland Oregon https://www.pcc.edu 19
Remington College-Nashville Campus Nashville Tennessee https://www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/nashville 19
Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Massachusetts https://www.stcc.edu 19
Taft College Taft California https://www.taftcollege.edu 19
University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming https://www.uwyo.edu 19
BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston West Virginia https://www.bridgevalley.edu 18
Chabot College Hayward California https://www.chabotcollege.edu 18
Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill California https://www.dvc.edu 18
Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Iowa https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu 18
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway South Carolina https://www.hgtc.edu 18
Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Iowa https://www.kirkwood.edu 18
Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke Pennsylvania https://www.luzerne.edu 18
Normandale Community College Bloomington Minnesota https://www.normandale.edu 18
Shawnee State University Portsmouth Ohio https://www.shawnee.edu 18
Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Pennsylvania https://westmoreland.edu 18
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville North Carolina https://abtech.edu 17
Austin Community College District Austin Texas https://www.austincc.edu 17
Catawba Valley Community College Hickory North Carolina https://www.cvcc.edu 17
Central Carolina Community College Sanford North Carolina https://www.cccc.edu 17
Columbia Basin College Pasco Washington https://www.columbiabasin.edu 17
Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Ohio https://www.tri-c.edu 17
Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers Florida https://www.fsw.edu 17
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo Michigan https://www.kvcc.edu 17
Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Michigan https://kellogg.edu 17
Midwestern State University Wichita Falls Texas https://www.msutexas.edu 17
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.nwtc.edu 17
Owens Community College Perrysburg Ohio https://www.owens.edu 17
Oxnard College Oxnard California https://www.oxnardcollege.edu 17
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Alaska https://www.uaa.alaska.edu 17
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Arkansas https://uafs.edu 17
University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii https://manoa.hawaii.edu 17
Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Virginia https://tncc.edu 17
Wytheville Community College Wytheville Virginia https://www.wcc.vccs.edu 17
Columbus Technical College Columbus Georgia https://www.columbustech.edu 16
Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Maryland https://www.hagerstowncc.edu 16
Halifax Community College Weldon North Carolina https://www.halifaxcc.edu 16
Hocking College Nelsonville Ohio https://www.hocking.edu 16
Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester Minnesota https://www.rctc.edu 16
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Virginia https://www.vcu.edu 16
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh North Carolina https://www.waketech.edu 16
Atlanta Technical College Atlanta Georgia https://atlantatech.edu 15
Cabrillo College Aptos California https://www.cabrillo.edu 15
Collin County Community College District McKinney Texas https://www.collin.edu 15
Cypress College Cypress California https://www.cypresscollege.edu 15
Delta College University Center Michigan https://www.delta.edu 15
Flint Hills Technical College Emporia Kansas https://www.fhtc.edu 15
Lakeland Community College Kirtland Ohio https://www.lakelandcc.edu 15
Laramie County Community College Cheyenne Wyoming https://www.lccc.wy.edu 15
University of Hawaii Maui College Kahului Hawaii https://maui.hawaii.edu 15
Athens Technical College Athens Georgia https://www.athenstech.edu 14
Blinn College Brenham Texas https://www.blinn.edu 14
Goodwin University East Hartford Connecticut https://www.goodwin.edu 14
Indian River State College Fort Pierce Florida https://irsc.edu 14
Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Iowa https://www.iowacentral.edu 14
Lone Star College System The Woodlands Texas https://www.lonestar.edu 14
North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton North Dakota https://www.ndscs.edu 14
Pearl River Community College Poplarville Mississippi https://prcc.edu 14
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Bradenton Florida https://www.scf.edu 14
University of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore Maryland https://www.umaryland.edu 14
Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee Wisconsin https://www.wctc.edu 14
Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Wisconsin https://www.cvtc.edu 13
Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland https://www.ccbcmd.edu 13
Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence South Carolina https://www.fdtc.edu 13
Fortis Institute-Birmingham Birmingham Alabama https://www.fortis.edu 13
Fox Valley Technical College Appleton Wisconsin https://www.fvtc.edu 13
Gulf Coast State College Panama City Florida https://www.gulfcoast.edu 13
Hillsborough Community College Tampa Florida https://www.hccfl.edu 13
Lanier Technical College Gainesville Georgia https://www.laniertech.edu 13
Lorain County Community College Elyria Ohio https://www.lorainccc.edu 13
Manor College Jenkintown Pennsylvania https://manor.edu 13
State Fair Community College Sedalia Missouri https://www.sfccmo.edu 13
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens Tennessee https://www.tnwesleyan.edu 13
Century College White Bear Lake Minnesota https://www.century.edu 12
Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem North Carolina https://www.forsythtech.edu 12
Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Iowa https://www.iwcc.edu 12
Mohave Community College Kingman Arizona https://www.mohave.edu 12
Rose State College Midwest City Oklahoma https://www.rose.edu 12
San Juan College Farmington New Mexico https://www.sanjuancollege.edu 12
Shasta College Redding California https://www.shastacollege.edu 12
St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud Minnesota https://sctcc.edu 12
Wayne County Community College District Detroit Michigan https://www.wcccd.edu 12
South College Knoxville Tennessee https://www.south.edu 11
Temple College Temple Texas https://www.templejc.edu 11
Truckee Meadows Community College Reno Nevada https://www.tmcc.edu 11
Meridian Community College Meridian Mississippi https://www.meridiancc.edu 10
West Georgia Technical College Waco Georgia https://www.westgatech.edu 10
Bellingham Technical College Bellingham Washington https://www.btc.edu 9
College of Southern Idaho Twin Falls Idaho https://www.csi.edu 9
Howard Community College Columbia Maryland https://www.howardcc.edu 9
Lewis University Romeoville Illinois https://www.lewisu.edu 9
Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead Mississippi https://www.msdelta.edu 9
South Florida State College Avon Park Florida https://www.southflorida.edu 9
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Kentucky https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu 9
Howard University Washington District of Columbia https://howard.edu 8
Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey Florida https://www.phsc.edu 8
Wharton County Junior College Wharton Texas https://www.wcjc.edu 8
Miami Dade College Miami Florida https://www.mdc.edu 6
University of the Pacific Stockton California https://www.pacific.edu 5
Baltimore City Community College Baltimore Maryland https://www.bccc.edu 4
Southeastern Technical College Vidalia Georgia https://www.southeasterntech.edu 4
Rhode Island College Providence Rhode Island https://www.ric.edu 2
Texas State Technical College Waco Texas https://www.tstc.edu 2
Valencia College Orlando Florida https://valenciacollege.edu 2
Dodge City Community College Dodge City Kansas https://dc3.edu 1
Eastern Florida State College Cocoa Florida https://www.easternflorida.edu 1
Prairie State College Chicago Heights Illinois https://prairiestate.edu 1
Southern Adventist University Collegedale Tennessee https://www.southern.edu 1
Western Nebraska Community College Scottsbluff Nebraska https://www.wncc.edu 1
'20-'21 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Hybrid & Online Dental Hygienist Programs

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 with 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 educational methodology in dental hygiene, population health management in dental hygiene, research and evidence-based practice in dental hygiene, and issues in dental hygiene.

However, due to the hands-on nature of the profession, most entry-level dental hygienist programs require a classroom or clinical component. 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.

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

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 management, education, and public health courses. All classes are offered online under the guidance of Northern Arizona University’s faculty and students’ convenience. This university also provides exciting summer externship opportunities to serve diverse populations in Peru, Ghana, Camp Pendleton, Phoenix, Yuma, North Country, and more.

Applicants for this program must complete a minimum of 55 credit hours of prerequisite coursework. The curriculum includes coursework in neck and head, oral and dental anatomy, oral histology and embryology, oral radiology, ethics and law in healthcare, oral health and disease prevention, oral medicine and pharmacology, oral pain management, and restorative and dental materials.

  • Location: Flagstaff, AZ
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University offers an online baccalaureate degree completion program in dental hygiene for licensed dental hygienists holding an associate degree or a certificate in dental hygiene from a CODA-accredited program. Students in this online program will have the opportunity to participate in an educational and stimulating environment that combines advanced education in dental hygiene with the general education aspects of a bachelor’s degree.

The program’s curriculum includes courses such as periodontal therapy, research methods and interpretation, practice management, current concepts in dental hygiene, oral health behavior management, and a dental hygiene practicum.

Applicants to the program must be graduates of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 and be licensed or eligible for an Ohio license to practice dental hygiene. The Ohio State University is authorized to offer this degree completion program in all 50 states.

  • Location: Columbus, OH
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months

Minnesota State University

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 full-time or part-time students 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.

This program is designed for licensed dental hygienists who have successfully completed training at a program accredited by the ADA Commission dental hygiene. With no campus visits required, this program includes dental hygiene courses such as advanced dental hygiene practice, current issues in dental hygiene, technology in oral health, dental hygiene care planning, decision making in periodontology, research methods in dental hygiene, and oral medicine and treatment planning, among others.

  • Location: Mankato, MN
  • Accreditation: Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
School City State Website GRADS ('21)
MCPHS University Boston Massachusetts https://www.mcphs.edu 94
Plaza College Forest Hills New York https://www.plazacollege.edu 87
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Pennsylvania https://www.pct.edu 72
Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho https://www.isu.edu 67
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon https://www.oit.edu 65
University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque New Mexico https://www.unm.edu 61
Texas Woman's University Denton Texas https://twu.edu 61
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato Minnesota https://www.mnsu.edu 60
Wichita State University Wichita Kansas https://www.wichita.edu 59
St Petersburg College St. Petersburg Florida https://www.spcollege.edu 59
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona https://nau.edu 57
Augusta University Augusta Georgia https://www.augusta.edu 55
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan https://www.ferris.edu 55
Clayton State University Morrow Georgia https://www.clayton.edu 55
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Michigan https://umich.edu 53
Old Dominion University Norfolk Virginia https://www.odu.edu 52
Eastern Washington University Cheney Washington https://www.ewu.edu 50
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus Ohio https://www.osu.edu 48
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Visalia California https://www.sjvc.edu 47
Farmingdale State College Farmingdale New York https://www.farmingdale.edu 44
Tyler Junior College Tyler Texas https://www.tjc.edu 41
University of South Dakota Vermillion South Dakota https://www.usd.edu 37
Mt Hood Community College Gresham Oregon https://www.mhcc.edu 36
Santa Fe College Gainesville Florida https://www.sfcollege.edu 36
Georgia Highlands College Rome Georgia https://www.highlands.edu 35
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale Illinois https://siu.edu 35
University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Missouri https://www.umkc.edu 33
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Kentucky https://www.wku.edu 32
East Tennessee State University Johnson City Tennessee https://www.etsu.edu/ehome 32
Herzing University-Minneapolis St. Louis Park Minnesota https://www.herzing.edu 31
Utah Valley University Orem Utah https://www.uvu.edu 30
Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont Texas https://www.lit.edu 28
University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe Louisiana https://www.ulm.edu 28
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas https://uthscsa.edu 26
Concorde Career College-Kansas City Kansas City Missouri https://www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri 25
University of Mississippi University Mississippi https://olemiss.edu 20
Rio Salado College Tempe Arizona https://www.riosalado.edu 17
Vermont Technical College Randolph Vermont https://www.vtc.edu 17
Mesa Community College Mesa Arizona https://www.mesacc.edu 15
Central Community College Grand Island Nebraska https://www.cccneb.edu 13
James A. Rhodes State College Lima Ohio https://www.rhodesstate.edu 12
Roane State Community College Harriman Tennessee https://www.roanestate.edu 12
East Mississippi Community College Scooba Mississippi https://www.eastms.edu 12
Jackson College Jackson Michigan https://www.jccmi.edu 11
South College Knoxville Tennessee https://www.south.edu 11
Siena Heights University Adrian Michigan https://www.sienaheights.edu 6
Cerritos College Norwalk California https://www.cerritos.edu 1
'20-'21 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

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 the 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 organizations such as the Accrediting Commission for Schools the 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 institution’s viability in its educational mission.

Career Outlook

The BLS shows that in May 2023, 211,630 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 7 percent from 2022 to 2032 (BLS 2024).

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.

How Much Do Dental Hygienists Make?

According to the BLS (May 2023), the 211,630 dental hygienists in the country made an average annual salary of $89,890. The percentiles for the wages were:

  • 10th percentile: $65,110
  • 25th percentile: $78,010
  • 50th percentile (median): $87,530
  • 75th percentile: $100,630
  • 90th percentile: $118,400

Top-Paying Industries for Dental Hygienists

Curiously enough, when it comes to paying dental hygienists the most money, dental offices fell third on the list. Here’s a list of the five top-paying industries for dental hygienists (BLS May 2023):

  • Average annual salary for dental hygienists: $89,890 per year
  • Employment Services: $95,650
  • Outpatient Care Centers: $90,310
  • Offices of Dentists: $90,160
  • Facilities Support Services: $88,180
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $87,730

Top Employers for Dental Hygienists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023), dental offices employ 94 percent of the dental hygienists’ workforce. Other industries with the highest levels of employment for dental hygienists are as follows:

  • The total number of employed dental hygienists: 211,630 employed
  • Offices of Dentists: 200,860
  • Employment Services: 2,260
  • Offices of Physicians: 2,140
  • Outpatient Care Centers: 2,090
  • Federal, State, and Local Government: 890

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 2023):

  • California: 24,880 employed ($118,330 per year)
  • Florida: 13,050 ($81,180)
  • New Yor: 12,100 ($87,290)
  • Texas: 11,510 ($87,270)
  • Pennsylvania: 8,470 ($79,260)
Career Facts Dental Hygienist
Related CareersDental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiation Therapist
Common Job TitlesDental Hygienist
Technology & EquipmentHand Scalers and Curettes, Ultrasonic Scalers, Polishers, X-Ray Machines
Sourced from BLS 2024

Dental Hygienist Licensure & Certification

State Licensure for Dental Hygienists

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 the required documentation and fees to become legally eligible for employment.

Certification for Dental Hygienists

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 can 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.

Kimmy Gustafson
Kimmy Gustafson Writer

With her passion for uncovering the latest innovations and trends, Kimmy Gustafson has provided valuable insights and has interviewed experts to provide readers with the latest information in the rapidly evolving field of medical technology since 2019. Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.

Jocelyn Blore
Jocelyn Blore Managing Editor

Jocelyn Blore has interviewed dozens of medical technology and healthcare professionals, and edited hundreds of articles related to this field since 2015. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as freelance writer and English teacher. After stints in Japan, Brazil, Nepal, and Argentina, she took an 11-month road trip across the US, finally settling into lovely Eugene, OR. When Jocelyn isn’t writing about college programs or interviewing professors, she satirizes global politics and other absurdities at Blore’s Razor (Instagram: @bloresrazor). Thank you for being so interested.

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