Dental hygiene

Sandburg offers an associate in applied science in dental hygiene. Our hands-on program prepares you to become a dental hygienist in two years (including one summer). This limited-enrollment program successfully prepares you to take the national dental hygiene board examination, the clinical dental hygiene board examination and the examination for registration as a dental hygienist in your respective state. 

Sandburg also offers students the opportunity to participate in the Student American Dental Hygiene Association (SADHA) student organization. Learn more, and join today.
 

Admission requirements

This is a limited-enrollment program. You can apply online from October 1 to March 16. The application deadline date is March 16 for fall enrollment. The dental hygiene academic advisor reviews admissions requirements and application eligibility before you apply to the program.

Additional requirements

Although not required, you may wish to complete some of the required dental hygiene program general education courses before you start the program because of its rigorous quality. General education courses don’t have to be taken at Sandburg; just make sure you verify course equivalences before you enroll in courses elsewhere. All courses, including all program courses and pre-requisite courses, must be completed with a grade of C or better. Additionally, you must:

1. Have a minimum of 23 admission points as calculated on the admission points worksheet. 
2. Complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher.
   1. BIO 101 – General Biology or equivalent and CHM 100- Concepts of Chemistry or equivalent*

OR

1. 1. BIO 211 – Anatomy and Physiology 1* and BIO 212- Anatomy and Physiology 2*
      and BIO 200 – General Microbiology *
2. Complete the online application.
   
   

Background checks, vaccinations

• Criminal background check: A criminal background check is required before entering the program. Findings on the criminal background check may void conditional/full admission and prevent entrance to the program. If you’ve been convicted of a felony, consult the laws concerning licensure in the state or states you want to practice.
  
  
• CPR certification: This program requires CPR certification. Before entering dental hygiene classes. Details for this requirement are presented at the mandatory orientation meeting.
  
  
• Required vaccinations:  measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, 2-step TB, hepatitis B, and TDaP vaccines. Details for these required vaccinations are presented at the mandatory orientation meeting.
  
  
• COVID-19 vaccination: Although not an admission requirement, most healthcare clinical sites require vaccination against COVID-19. Check with your program coordinator for more details.
  
  

There are 30 seats in the program annually. Of the 30 seats available each year, spaces are reserved for Sandburg, Spoon River College, Black Hawk College, Southeastern Community College and Eastern Iowa Community College residents; any remaining spaces are available to include other districts. 

Sandburg reserves the right to postpone the start of a program or cancel the program based on enrollment numbers, clinical site availability and/or instructor availability.

APPLY TODAY

*All science courses must be less than seven years old at the time of application.

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Program goals

Dental hygiene students will:

1. Complete all college requirements to attain an associate in applied science degree.
2. Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be a competent entry-level dental hygienist.
3. Exhibit the values and skills necessary for lifelong learning and self-improvement.
4. Manage the ethical and professional responsibilities of the dental hygiene profession.

Dental hygiene jobs

Dental hygienists work in various capacities, including clinical practice, education, sales and marketing, research, public health, administration or entrepreneurs. Flexible hours are common.

• Employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2031.
• The median hourly salary of dental hygienists was $45.32 in May 2024. Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting and years of experience.
• Flexible scheduling is a a definite perk. Full-time, part-time, evening and weekend schedules are widely available. Hygienists frequently work only two or three days a week; so they can hold jobs in more than one dental office, if desired.
• Dental hygienists work in offices that are clean and well-lit, and they must follow important health safeguards, including wearing safety glasses, masks and gloves to protect themselves from bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Accreditation & licensure

Accreditation

The dental hygiene program has been approved by the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Contact the  Commission on Dental Accreditation at:
211 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312.440.4653

Accreditation Commission comment request form.

Licensure

Graduates from the dental hygiene program are eligible to take the national dental hygiene board examination, the respective clinical dental hygiene board examination and the examination for registration as a dental hygienist in the respective state.

Sandburg’s dental hygiene program meets the state education requirements for a registered dental hygienist license in the states of Illinois and Iowa, but may not meet the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory or the District of Columbia. Contact the state regulatory agency for dental hygiene in those states directly.
 

Sandburg dental hygiene board scores

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURES

Postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs are required to make certain disclosures to enrolled and prospective students, parents, employees and the public. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (34 §C.F.R. 668.43) requires disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification regardless of modality. The institution must make readily available to enrolled and prospective students information about whether programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements.

View licensure information by state for dental hygiene, medical imaging programs, medical assisting and mortuary science. If Sandburg hasn’t determined whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification outside the state of Illinois, contact the licensing entity to determine whether it meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state you live or work. 

Email the associate vice president of nursing and health professions with questions.

Sample course schedule

This is a sample class schedule, which is subject to change.

First year: Fall semester — 16 weeks

Labs TBD — can run as late as 9 p.m.

First year: Spring semester — 16 weeks

Labs TBD — can run as late as 9 p.m.

First year: Pre-summer session — three weeks

First year: Summer session — six weeks

Second year: Fall semester — 16 weeks

Labs TBD — can run as late as 9 p.m.

Second year: Spring semester — 16 weeks

Labs TBD — can run as late as 9 p.m.

Program total: 78.5 credit hours

Course information

Class formats

Sandburg offers courses in a variety of formats to best fit your needs. Regardless of the format, make sure you have access to a reliable computer with high-speed internet. All courses use online resources and require you to access course information through mySandburg. The Galesburg and Carthage campuses have open computer labs for your use as a student.

Estimated costs

The cost for this 78.5 credit-hour course is approximately $20,789.50.

View the breakdown.

Supplies cost by semester.

Financial aid, grants & scholarships

Learn how you can take advantage of financial aid, grants and scholarships available to Sandburg students.
 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) helps job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Learn more, and complete this form to determine your eligibility.

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