Dental Hygienists

High School

The minimum requirement for admission to a dental hygiene school is a high school diploma or GED. While in high school, you should follow a college preparatory program, which will include courses such as science (biology, chemistry), mathematics, history, English, and foreign language. It will also be beneficial for you to take health courses.

Postsecondary Training

Two levels of postsecondary training are available in this field. One is a four-year college program offering a bachelor's degree. More common is a two-year program leading to an associate's degree. The bachelor's degree is often preferred by employers, and more schools are likely to require completion of such a degree program in the future.

The American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (http://www.ada.org/en/coda/find-a-program) has accredited about 340 programs that offer one or both of these academic paths. Classroom work emphasizes general and dental sciences and liberal arts. Lectures are usually combined with laboratory work and clinical experience.

Additionally, the American Dental Hygienists' Association offers a list of dental hygiene degree programs—from entry-level to master's-level—on its Web site, https://www.adha.org/education-resources/become-a-dental-hygienist/dental-hygiene-programs.

Other Education or Training

Dental hygienists are required by their state and encouraged by professional organizations to continue learning about trends in dental care, procedures, and regulations by taking continuing education courses. These may be held at large dental society meetings, colleges and universities, or in more intimate settings, such as a nearby dental office. The American Dental Hygienists' Association, American Dental Association, and dental organizations at the state and local levels also provide professional development opportunities.