Dental hygienists are healthcare practitioners who help prevent dental disease and promote oral health. Studying dental hygiene at AACC is a good choice if you have a passion for oral health and patient care.
Dental hygienists play a crucial role in patient care. They conduct cleanings, take X-rays and educate patients on proper oral hygiene practices. This work provides the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients and make a difference in their lives. As the population ages and prioritizes dental health, the need for dental hygienists remains high. This career offers job stability, opportunities for advancement and competitive salaries.
The School of Health Sciences offers the following Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Maryland refers to the A.A.S. as a career degree because it's intended to provide you with skills to enter the workforce.
The Dental Hygiene program is a two-year selective admission program in which applicants must apply for acceptance. As an additional transfer option, students can elect to further their education by continuing with a bachelor’s or master’s degree at four-year institutions. Upon graduating, students are qualified to sit for the ADEX national examination offered by The Commission on Dental Competency and Assessment and supported by the Maryland State Dental Board of Examiners.
Once you earn your A.A.S. degree in dental hygiene, you can transfer to complete your four-year degree. We have partnerships and transfer agreements in place with many colleges and universities so you can easily transfer when you're ready. Transfer agreements (or articulation agreements, as they’re officially called) are formal arrangements between institutions that allow certain credits to transfer seamlessly from one school to the other. You can work with a transfer advisor to set up a specific plan to transfer to the four-year school of your choice.
Paying for college should be simple! Scholarships are available for the dental hygienists of tomorrow:
We're here to help.
Learn more about:
