Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene

Associate of Applied Science
Virginia Western Community College

The Dental Hygiene Program prepares students for a career in preventive oral health. Graduates will be eligible to take board exams leading to licensure as registered dental hygienists.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Did you know that Dental Hygiene at Virginia Western Community College prepares you to work in a number of settings such as private practice, hospitals, universities, and community clinics? Other career opportunities include public health, research, and teaching. Begin your journey today to a career that offers a good income, flexibility, and fulfillment.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

There are many program specific requirements for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program at Virginia Western Community College. Students interested in applying to this program should consult their academic advisor for specific guidance on courses to take for this program.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Western Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses In addition to the traditional classroom setting, this program requires hours in a clinical setting. Students accepted into the Dental Hygiene program will be required to have a clear criminal background check, drug screening and other requirements established by the clinical agencies. Please be aware that any felony conviction or positive drug screen for illegal drug use will prevent the student from attending the hospital clinical sites and completing the program. Students will be required to travel to clinical sites and are responsible for their own transportation. There are additional costs for this program such as uniforms, student instrument kits, license requirements, physical examinations and certification exams that are the responsibility of the individual student.
Doing More With Your Degree This curriculum is designed to prepare selected students to perform the responsibilities of an entry-level dental hygienist. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and regional clinical examination leading to certification as a registered Dental Hygienist (RDH). While not designed for transfer, students interested in transferring should verify program requirements with specific four-year institutions.
Program Successes & Highlights To be eligible for licensure as a dental hygienist requires graduation from an accredited program, successful completion of the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and successful completion of a regional clinical examination. The six-year average pass rate for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination for the VWCC program on the first attempt is 96.06%. The six-year average pass rate for the Dental Hygiene Regional Clinical Examination on the first attempt is 98.31%.
Related Programs & Certifications
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Credential That Prepares You For This Program
Credential
Career Studies Certificate in Health Professions: Introduction to Dental Hygiene
Link
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene
72
Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Degree
72
DENTAL HYGIENE
72
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
Up to 54 credits may be transferred in to this program. A GPA of 2.0 or greater is required for graduation.
BIO 141 - 142 (8cr)
8
BIO141/142 grade C or above RQ
8
Earn 8 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
BIO231/232 grade C or above RQ
8
Earn 8 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
NAS161/162 grade C or above RQ
8
Earn 8 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
DNH 111
2
DNH111 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 141 and 142
10
DNH 141/142
10
Earn 10 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
DNH 150
2
DNH 150
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 226 - 227
3
DNH226/227 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
ENG 111
3
ENG111_C RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 230
3
PSY230 C+
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 130
3
DNH130 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 214
2
DNH214 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PHI 220 or PHI 226
3
PHI 220 or PHI 226
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
DNH 115
3
DNH115 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 120
2
DNH120 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 145
2
DNH145 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 146
2
DNH 146
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 216
2
DNH216 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 230
1
DNH230 RQ
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 244 - 245
10
DNH244/245 RQ
10
Earn 10 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
DNH 235
2
DNH235 RQ
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 143
3
DNH143 RQ
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
SDV 101 - Orientation to Health Professions
2
SDV 101 - Health C+
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
BIO 150 or BIO 205
4
BIO 150 or BIO 205
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
GPA Req Dental Hygiene 118
72
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.

BIO 141, BIO 142 and BIO 150 must be completed with a "C" or better and within five years of beginning the program. The required CPR certification is American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR which includes hands-on training with infant, child, adult and AED.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School To discuss how your previous degree can be incorporated into your new long term goals, please meet with an advisor.
Credit for Prior Learning Yes
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Virginia Western Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
519
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Virginia Western Community College's service region includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, along with Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. Virginia Western was the first college established in the Virginia Community College System, in 1966, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of more than 8,500 students in credit courses and more than 1,200 enrollments in accelerated career training and continuing education courses.
Transfer Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
First Year Student Catalog Year A student's catalog year is determined by their first semester of attendance in the major.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.virginiawestern.edu/transfer/transfer-agreements/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Northern Virginia Community CollegeDental Hygiene, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Dental HygieneAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
31-9091.00Dental AssistantsPerform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.Healthcare Support Occupations
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 72 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene at Virginia Western Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 5 semesters or 2.5 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $161 Per Credit $11,592 $0 $11,592 Includes Dual Enrollment
Fees
Fees $15 Per Credit $1,080 0 $1,080
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.