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Which Schools Offer Dental Hygienist Programs in Florida?

Learn about dental hygiene programs in Florida. Get information about degrees available and admissions and program requirements to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Dental Hygiene degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Associate's Degree Programs in Dental Hygiene in Florida

Florida State College

  • Program Name: Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time (88 credits)
  • Tuition: $102.88 per lower-division credit hour and $114.52 per upper-division credit hour for Florida residents, $399.27 per lower-division credit hour and $600.95 per upper-division credit hour for nonresidents (including fees, 2012-2013)
  • Prerequisites: College-level courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, algebra and microbiology with a minimum grade of C
  • Admission Requirements: Health Occupations Test, CPR certification for health care providers
  • School Type: 4-year, public; student population of approximately 31,000 (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 4501 Capper Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32218
  • Phone: (904) 766-6571

Florida State College's Associate of Science (A.S.) in Dental Hygiene program can prepare you for an entry-level career in a dental office. It prepares you for state licensure as a dental hygienist. This program includes courses directly related to dental hygiene, such as dental hygiene instrumentation, preventative dentistry, clinical dental hygiene, pharmacology and oral pathology. Other courses include oral anatomy, dental materials and oral nutrition. This curriculum also requires a practicum and clinical hours, and you must submit immunization proof before working with patients and their specimens.

Miami Dade College

  • Program Name: Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time (88 credits)
  • Tuition: $82.78 per credit hour for Florida residents, an additional $248.33 per credit hour for nonresidents (2012-2013)
  • Prerequisites: At least 18 years old, college-level courses in English and healthcare introduction with minimum 2.0 GPA
  • Admission Requirements: Computer Placement Test, Background check
  • School Type: 4-year, public; student population of approximately 64,000 (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 950 N.W. 20 St., Miami, FL 33127
  • Phone: (305) 237-4142

Miami Dade College's dental hygiene curriculum includes courses in dental physiology, histology and anatomy, as well as dental hygiene and oral pathology. Other topics of study include radiographic and clinical assessment techniques, professional issues and emergencies in dental offices. Part of the curriculum involves clinical work, which can help you gain hands-on experience working with patients at a clinical facility under the supervision of experienced professionals.

St. Petersburg College

  • Program Name: Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time (88 credit hours)
  • Tuition: $105.75 per lower-division credit hour and $116.70 per upper-division credit hour for Florida residents, $380.90 per lower-division credit hour and $419.79 per upper-division credit hour for nonresidents (as of Fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: Courses in anatomy, physiology and general education
  • Admission Requirements: College Placement Test, orientation
  • School Type: 4-year, public; student population of approximately 33,000 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: Caruth Health Education Center, 7200 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
  • Phone: (727) 341-3671

This program prepares students for licensure as dental hygienists. It also qualifies graduates for the bachelor's degree completion program offered at St. Petersburg. Some core topics cover applied nutrition, periodontics, dental pharmacology and preventative dentistry.

Valencia Community College

  • Program Name: Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years, full-time (88 credits)
  • Tuition: $99.06 per credit hour for Florida residents, $375.22 per credit hour for nonresidents (as of Fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: College-level courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology and composition with at least a C grade
  • Admission Requirements: Test of Essential Academic Skills, orientation program, CPR certification, immunizations, drug test, background check
  • School Type: 4-year, public; student population of approximately 43,000 (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 1800 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL 32811
  • Phone: (407) 582-1288

The Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene program at Valencia Community College can prepare you to take the necessary examinations to become licensed as a dental hygienist. Through this program, you'll learn to perform direct patient-care tasks, such as exposing and developing x-rays, cleaning patients' teeth and performing dental treatments under the supervision of a dentist. Coursework covers dental materials, pharmacology and community dental health, as well as nutrition essentials with diet therapy. You'll also complete four clinical training rotations at external dental facilities.

Bachelor's Degree Program in Dental Hygiene in FL

St. Petersburg College

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Five semester, full-time
  • Tuition: $105.75 per lower-division credit hour and $116.70 per upper-division credit hour for Florida residents, $380.90 per lower-division credit hour and $419.79 per upper-division credit hour for nonresidents (as of Fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: Graduate from an accredited program in dental hygiene, including general education courses
  • Admission Requirements: Dental hygiene license
  • School Type: 4-year, public; student population of approximately 33,000 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: Caruth Health Education Center, 7200 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
  • Phone: (727) 791-2693

St. Petersburg College offers the only bachelor's degree program in dental hygiene in Florida, though it's only available to those who have already completed an accredited program in the field. Course topics include advanced periodontics, advanced dental hygiene ethics and educational concepts, and elective options include health information systems, healthcare legal aspects and healthcare risk management. Graduates can go on to become a dental salesperson or dental hygiene instructor.

Licensing Information for Dental Hygienists in Florida

To work as a dental hygienist in Florida, you must be licensed. The Florida State Department of Health requires you to pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, which includes a clinical portion and an examination on state laws regarding dental hygiene (www.doh.state.fl.us). To be eligible for these exams, you must be at least 18 years old and have graduated from a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation.

Career and Salary Information

As of May 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported there were 9,800 dental hygienists employed in Florida; they earned a mean annual salary of about $58,000 (www.bls.gov). Additionally, the BLS reported that dental hygienist positions throughout the U.S. were expected to grow 38% from 2010-2020, which was much faster than the average for all industries. Probable causes for this anticipated growth included a growing emphasis on preventative care and a growing elderly population.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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