Which Schools Offer Dental Hygienist Programs in Illinois?

Find out which Illinois schools offer dental hygiene degree programs. See requirements, prerequisites and school information, and learn about job prospects for a career in dental hygiene in Illinois. Schools offering Dental Hygiene degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Dental Hygienist Associate's Degree Programs in Illinois

Carl Sandburg College

  • Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years (full-time)
  • Tuition: $138 per unit for in-district residents and online students; $191 per unit for out-of-district residents; $231 per unit for out-of-state residents (cost for fall 2012)
  • Prerequisites: Be at least 16 years of age holding a high school diploma or GED, or be 18 or over for non-graduates; COMPASS placement tests in English and math; biology, chemistry and medical terminology courses
  • Requirements: Health occupation basic entrance tests (HOBET); CPR certification; faculty interview
  • School Type: 2-year, public; 2,500 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 2400 Tom L. Wilson Boulevard, Galesburg, IL 61401
  • Phone: 309-344-2518

Accredited by CODA and the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), the program offered at Carl Sandburg College consists of 82.5 credits, including a specified number of general education courses. Core courses include didactic, lab and practical sessions and cover such topics as head, neck and oral anatomy; anatomy and physiology; preventative dentistry; microbiology; and community dental health. Completion of the program makes you eligible to sit for the national, state and regional board licensure examinations.

Lake Land College

  • Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years (full-time)
  • Tuition: $96.80 per unit for in-district residents; $187.25 per unit for out-of-district residents; $355.94 per unit for out-of-state residents (cost for summer 2011)
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; college-level chemistry course with a grade of C or better
  • Requirements: Entrance exams, background check and drug screening
  • School Type: 2-year, public; 8,200 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 5001 Lake Land Boulevard, Mattoon, IL 61938
  • Phone: 217-234-5253

Located in the remote town of Mattoon, Lake Land College offers a dental hygiene associate's degree program that is approved by the ADHA and CODA. There is a minimal number of general education courses required. Core courses consist of didactic instruction, seminars, labs and clinical sessions. The focus of the program is on the removal of stains, deposits and calculus from teeth; oral disease prevention; and patient education. The final course in the program is a review to help prepare you to sit for the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination.

Rock Valley College

  • Program Name: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Two years (full-time)
  • Tuition: $83 per unit for in-district residents; $264 per unit for out-of-district residents; $456 per unit for out-of-state residents (cost for summer 2011)
  • Prerequisites: Must complete college-level courses in chemistry, biology and English with a minimum grade of C
  • Requirements: Mandatory information session, placement tests, four hours of observation of a dental hygienist, four continuous hours of observation at the Rock Valley Dental Hygiene Clinic
  • School Type: 2-year, public; 9,000 students (all undergraduate)
  • Address: 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114
  • Phone: 815-921-7821

Rock Valley College is part of the 48-institution Illinois Community College System. Its ADHA and CODA-accredited dental hygienist program consist of 81 credits and general education courses make up almost one-third of the credits. This may enable you to transfer a number of course credits toward a 4-year degree. Included among the dental hygiene-related courses are dental anatomy, histology and embryology, nutrition and biochemistry, preventative dental hygiene, dental radiology, periodontics and community dental health. Instruction is delivered by way of classroom, lab and clinical sessions.

Dental Hygienist Bachelor's Degree Programs in Illinois

Southern Illinois University

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
  • Program Length: Four years (full-time)
  • Tuition: $7,794 for in-state residents; $19,485 for out-of-state residents (for academic year 2011-2012)
  • Requirements: 35 credits of college-level prerequisites prior to admission to the professional sequence in sophomore year, including anatomy and physiology, chemistry, English, speech, sociology, psychology, math and microbiology; 2 hours of observation of a dental hygienist
  • School Type: 4-year, public; 15,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students
  • Address: Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901
  • Phone: 618-536-6682

Presented through its School of Allied Health, Southern Illinois University offers the only ADHA and CODA-accredited dental hygiene bachelor's degree program in the state. The professional program begins after the freshman year. Those who are already licensed dental hygienists may enroll in a degree-completion program to earn their bachelor's degrees.

Each year's class consists of only 36 students, so competition for placement is intense. Among topics covered are ethics and law for dental hygienists, research methods, instrumentation techniques, medical emergencies, infection control and patient assessment. In addition, you're given the opportunity to develop an individualized course of study, with faculty assistance, and you have expanded clinical time and serve a mandatory internship at a school-partnered facility. Upon graduation, you are eligible to sit for national and regional licensure examinations, which are administered at the school.

Illinois Dental Hygienist Requirements

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that every state requires dental hygienists to be licensed. The requirements for licensure in Illinois include completing at least a 2-year dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association. Additional licensure requirements include passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam and a regional board exam. Current CPR certification is also necessary.

Salary and Job Outlook for Dental Hygienists in Illinois

In May 2011, the BLS reported that the mean annual salary of the 8,690 dental hygienists in Illinois was $61,000. The highest mean annual wage was earned in the non-metropolitan, northwestern section of the state. That figure came in at over $70,000, which was almost $1,000 more than the national average for dental hygienists.

The BLS projected that nationwide employment opportunities for dental hygienists are expected to increase 38% from 2010-2020. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The rapid increase may be due to the growing evidence of the link between dental health and general health. The maintenance of good dental health is a main career objective of a dental hygienist.

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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