Educational Programs

The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited 266 dental hygienist programs. The majority of community college-based dental hygiene programs (at a focused dental hygienist college) offer a 2-year associates dental hygienist degree. University-based dental hygiene programs lead toward a dental hygienist certificate, a bachelor's or master's degree (usually obtained after a further 2 years of dental hygienist courses or dental hygienist classes at hygienist schools).

To become a registered dental hygienist that can practice in a private dental office, a minimum of an associate degree or dental hygienist certificate is obligatory. A bachelor's or master's degree, through advanced dental hygienist schooling/dental hygienist education, is generally required for research, teaching or clinical practice in public or school health programs.

Dental hygienist scholarships are awarded to the finest dental hygienist students to aid them financially in rising up through their dental hygienist training. The American Dental Hygienist Association tailors dental hygienist programs and dental hygienist requirements such that the best and most skilled dental hygienists reach the level of clinical practice.