Online Dental Hygienist Training Programs

Dental hygienists and future dental hygienists have a bright career outlook.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the career outlook for dental hygienists during the next several years is with a “faster than average” job growth rate.

Many dental hygienists obtain a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree to enhance their skills and their career opportunities.

Completing an online dental hygienist program is a great option that allows students the flexibility that they need to continue working and taking care of other responsibilities.

1. University of Bridgeport

The Dental Hygiene Bachelor of Science Online program at the University of Bridgeport is offered to students who hold an associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene school or program.

Students who enroll in the program can earn their bachelor’s degree in as little as two years from the world’s first dental hygiene school.

Students may transfer up to 90 credits to the program.

Learn to apply critical thinking skills, evidence-based decision-making skills, and reflective reasoning.

Develop disease prevention and competent client care.

Gain leadership and management skills.

Develop the knowledge and skills to respond to the diverse values, traditions, and needs of the served communities.

Customize your program so that you engage in learning more about your interests.

The online bachelor’s degree program prepares students to further their studies to earn a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene at the school.

Many students start working after completing the bachelor’s program in settings as clinicians, educators, administrators, or managers, or as public health dental hygienists.

Tuition for the fall semester of 2023 is $19,560 per semester, assuming that the student takes 12 to 18 credits.

The cost per credit for dental hygiene students in the bachelor’s degree program is $1,300.

The school is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association accredits dental hygiene programs.

2. Community College of Denver

Community College of Denver understands that students who enroll in the Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program need flexibility and convenience in their studies.

The school offers comprehensive support to students as they progress through the minimum 120-credit hour program.

The school allows admission to the program throughout the year.

Students need to apply during the semester prior to when they want to start the fully online program.

Once students plan to enroll, they must be a member of the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA).

Apply for student membership.

Students may complete the program in as little as one year of full-time study.

Standard tuition in 2023 is $280.20 per credit hour for Colorado students.

It is $673.90 for non-resident students.

The Community College of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Dental Hygiene programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

3. Minnesota State University Mankato

The Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene Online Degree Completion Program at Minnesota State University Mankato is a 100 percent online program.

Tuition for the online program is $367.90 per credit hour.

The program is geared towards current students who are enrolled in a two-year dental hygiene program, students who have completed their two-year program, or students who are licensed dental hygienists.

Students complete 11 dental hygiene courses.

Some courses include Technology in Oral Health, Decision Making in Periodontology, and Current Issues in Dental Hygiene.

Start your path to professional and personal growth by enrolling in this program.

Gain new skills and prepare for new or expanded career opportunities.

The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The dental hygiene programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

4. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Choose from several dental hygiene programs when you enroll at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

One unique program offered at the school is the Online Dental Hygiene Bridge Program – AS to MS.

It is the only AS to MS dental hygiene bridge program offered in the U.S. Students choose the Education Concentration or the Public Health Concentration.

Skip the long wait to earn a bachelor’s degree first and then enter a master’s degree program.

Enroll in a program that allows working dental hygienists with an associate degree to earn a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene.

Students who complete the program have the qualifications to become educators, researchers, administrators, or public health professionals.

Tuition for the 100 percent online program is $1,380 per credit hour.

The school offers other online dental hygiene programs, including the part-time Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Completion program and the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program.

5. Old Dominion University Global

Old Dominion University Global offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene for registered dental hygienists.

The program consists of 120 credit hours of study.

Students may transfer credits from other schools but must complete a minimum of 30 online credits at Old Dominion University Global.

The curriculum includes courses such as Basic Bacteriology, Perspectives on Dental Hygiene Practice, and Telehealthcare Technology.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Tuition for in-state students is $393 per credit hour.

Tuition for students living outside Virginia is $426 per credit hour.

6. Pennsylvania College of Technology

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Bachelor of Science Completion program is offered in a 100 percent online format.

Complete the on-campus associate degree program if you do not yet have an Associate in Dental Hygiene degree.

Students in the bachelor’s degree program build upon their associate degree, expanding their skills, salary potential, and career options.

The program requires that students must have obtained a passing score on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.

Students must have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.

They must be working as a dental hygienist in any state.

The in-state tuition at the school is $515 per credit hour.

The 2023-2024 tuition for out-of-state students is $773 per credit hour.

The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredits dental hygiene programs.

7. Ohio State University Online

The Ohio State University RDH to Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program is for students who have an associate degree or a certificate in dental hygiene that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The online program is offered in an asynchronous format, which means that students complete the four-semester program in their own time.

Dental Hygiene courses include Periodontal Therapy, Current Concepts in Dental Hygiene, and Research Methods and Interpretation.

Students have up to five years to complete the 55-credit hour program.

Tuition for the accredited program is $382 per credit hour.

There may be other fees associated with enrolling in the program.

8. University College of the Pacific

The Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) program at the University of the Pacific is a unique online program.

The program, offered by the school’s Division of Continuing Dental Education, is designed for students who want to expand their knowledge and their ability to treat patients who have complex physical needs, complex medical needs, or who have complex psychological needs.

The program also focuses on training students to treat people in underserved communities.

Learn to treat children, geriatric patients, medically complex patients, and people with developmental disabilities.

The school offers two options to enroll in the program each year.

Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $1,881 per credit hour.

The school is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

9. Idaho State University

Idaho State University offers the Online Master of Science in Dental Hygiene degree for students who want to maximize their career opportunities.

The program focuses on developing instructional and administrative knowledge, values, and practices.

Students acquire advanced knowledge and skills that help them to engage in management and leadership roles.

They learn to become advocates to develop and implement programs to serve rural and underserved communities.

The school offers the program on a full-time or part-time basis.

All students in the 37-credit program pay the in-state tuition rate of $540.48 per credit hour.

Idaho State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Dental Hygiene programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

What Courses are in an Online Dental Hygiene Program?

The courses that are offered in an online dental hygiene program depend on the requirements for the profession, the type of program, and the school.

Students who enroll in an associate degree program or a bachelor’s degree dental hygiene program often start their program by completing dental hygiene introductory courses.

They then take advanced courses, similar to those offered in some master’s degree programs.

Some courses in a bachelor’s degree program often include courses such as Dental Hygiene Care Planning, Current Issues in Dental Hygiene, and Research Methods in Dental Hygiene.

Some other courses, such as those offered at the Community College of Denver, include Advanced Concepts in Oral Health Promotion and Community Planning, and Advanced Careers in Dental Hygiene.

Master’s degree programs offer courses such as Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene Practice, Oral Health in Special Populations, and Program Development and Evaluation.

Programs that offer concentration options require students to take courses related to that concentration.

Most online dental hygiene programs require that students complete an internship at a location in their area, a practicum, or a capstone project.

Can You Earn a Dental Hygiene Certification Completely Online?

Online dental hygiene programs have the same Commission on Dental Accreditation as the school’s dental hygiene programs that are offered in the traditional on-campus setting.

Students have the same opportunity to sit for exams, to earn certifications and other credentials as on-campus students.

Online programs allow students the same access to obtaining memberships in professional organizations as students who complete their program in a face-to-face school setting.

How Long Does It Take to Earn a Dental Hygiene Certification Online?

The time that it takes for students to earn a certification online depends on the type of program and the program guidelines at individual colleges and universities.

Some schools have a strict curriculum that students follow in a sequence.

Bachelor’s degree programs take longer to complete, compared to master’s degree programs.

Students who have transfer credits have a shorter program completion time.

Many online dental hygiene programs allow flexibility in the time that it takes to complete the program.

Some schools may offer from five to eight years, while others allow students only three years to complete their dental hygiene program.

Certifications require that students complete their dental hygiene program.

A student may become a registered dental hygienist after completing their associate degree program, but may not be permitted to earn advanced credentials until after completing other programs that are required by a particular state or professional organization.

How Much Does an Online Dental Hygienist Program Cost?

Prospective students need to research the total cost of an online dental hygiene program before enrolling at the school.

There are many factors that contribute to the cost of an online program.

One important factor that students need to research is the tuition cost for out-of-state students.

Some schools offer the same tuition for all students across the country.

Many schools have a higher tuition rate for out-of-state students.

The difference may be several hundred dollars per credit hour.

Check the school’s other costs that are not included in tuition.

Most schools have additional fees.

The number of additional fees and how much the fees are vary by the school.

Colleges and universities often charge different tuition amounts for the same program.

Students who enroll in an online bachelor’s in dental hygiene program at one school may pay several hundred dollars more or less in tuition and other costs than the tuition and fees charged at another school for the same or similar program.

Summary

Dental hygienists who want to enhance their career opportunities can earn a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in dental hygiene in an online format.

Students complete program requirements in their own time.

The program curriculum prepares graduates to assume leadership or administrative roles.

Some students engage in research or work in public health settings.

Students may complete a dental hygiene program that prepares them to serve patients in underserved communities or those who have complex needs.

Tuition costs vary by school, program, and the type of degree offered by the online program.