Judging by the number of dental hygienist schools online today it’s plain to see that this method of acquiring the necessary credentials to become a dental hygienist is here to stay. In fact there are actually hundreds of schools offering dental hygienist training programs online.

Factors such as reduced costs for tuition, books, accommodation and transportation as well as a more relaxed study schedule have always been a very attractive part of this type of education and now through the medium of the Internet distance learning, online dental hygienist schools have become even more popular.

If you’re considering enrolling in one of the many dental hygienist online programs it’s important to remember that not all schools and programs are created equal. Before enrolling in any training program it’s always a good idea to thoroughly check out the school first, especially one that operates online. You will want to make sure that the online school you are considering offers everything you will need to learn in order to become a professional dental hygienist.

The American Dental Association | ADA.Org in their Education And Careers pdf, provides a comprehensive answer to the question:

What education does a Dental Hygienist need?

Dental hygienists receive their education through academic programs at community colleges, technical colleges, dental schools or universities. The majority of community college programs take at least two years to complete, with graduates receiving associate degrees. Receipt of this degree allows a hygienist to take licensure examinations (national and state or regional), become licensed and to work in a dental office.

University-based dental hygiene programs may offer baccalaureate and master’s degrees, which generally require at least two years of further schooling. These additional degrees may be required to embark on a career in teaching and /or research, as well as for clinical practice in school or public health programs.

Dental hygiene program admission requirements vary, depending upon the specific school. High school-level courses such as health, biology, psychology, chemistry, mathematics and speech will be beneficial in a dental hygiene career. Most programs show a preference for individuals who have completed at least one year of college.
Some baccalaureate degree programs require that applicants complete two years of college prior to enrollment in the dental hygiene program. Counselors, advisors and prospective students should contact the particular dental hygiene program of interest for specific program requirements.

Dental hygiene education programs provide students with clinical education in the form of supervised patient care experiences. Additionally, these programs include courses in liberal arts (e.g., English, speech, sociology and psychology); basic sciences (e.g., anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology, chemistry, microbiology and pathology); and clinical sciences (e.g., dental hygiene, radiology and dental materials). After completion of a dental hygiene program, dental hygienists can choose to pursue additional training in such areas as education, business administration, basic sciences, marketing and public health.

Dental Hygienist Schools must provide programs accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and that applies to online schools as well.

A successful dental hygienist graduate will still be required to obtain a license prior to practicing legally as a professional dental hygienist.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on their website (www.bls.gov), offers the following, regarding licensure of dental hygienists:

Dental hygienists must be licensed by the State in which they practice. Nearly all States require candidates to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene school and pass both a written and clinical examination. The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations administers the written examination, which is accepted by all States and the District of Columbia. State or regional testing agencies administer the clinical examination. In addition, most States require an examination on the legal aspects of dental hygiene practice. Alabama is the only State that does not require candidates to take the ADA written exam. Instead, they require that candidates meet the requirements of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program, which mandates taking courses, completing on-the-job training at a dentist’s office, and passing a separate State administered licensing examination.

A number of dental hygienist schools online are accredited and equipped to provide the necessary training nowadays so the only question that remains is;

When would you like to get started?