• Dental Hygiene Schools in Oregon with Certification Program Info
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Dental Hygiene Schools in Oregon with Certification Program Info

Research dental hygiene degrees in Oregon, which currently has 7 dental hygiene programs. Read an overview of degree programs, tuition info and program options for these schools and decide which program is right for you.

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Dental Hygiene Schools in Oregon

Oregon dental hygienists need a state license to practice, and aspiring hygienists can get licensed through the Oregon Board of Dentistry. Licensing requirements include the completion of a dental hygiene program through a school accredited by the American Dental Association and successfully passing the National Board exam, clinical regional/state exam and state jurisprudence exam.

Currently in Oregon, there are 6 accredited schools offering dental hygiene training programs that prepare students for licensure. There is also a school that offers pre-dental hygiene education. This article features brief overviews of the school programs, followed by a school comparison table with specific program features and tuition info.

Lane Community College

Lane Community College is located in Eugene and offers a 2-year dental hygiene program at the associate level. Students need to complete admission requirements that include prerequisite courses in order to be considered for this program. In the accredited program, students complete lectures, labs and clinical training. Dental hygiene students practice clinical skills by providing dental services to the public through the college's dental clinic.

Mt. Hood Community College

Gresham's Mt. Hood Community College offers a dental hygiene program that prepares students for state licensing and confers an associate degree upon completion. This 6-quarter program is composed of traditional lectures, along with labs and clinical instruction, and trains students to perform patient evaluations and treatments using professional and ethical methods. Some credits earned in the dental hygiene program can be transferred to a 4-year institution.

Oregon Institute of Technology

The Oregon Institute of Technology has several accredited degree programs in dental hygiene that are offered on various campuses, including the original bachelor's program that takes place on the Klamath Falls campus. This program includes clinical instruction that takes place in the campus dental clinic and field training at various locations, such as the Veterans Administration. This school also offers a bachelor's program in partnership with Chemeketa Community College, which is located in Salem. Students in this hybrid program complete courses at Chemeketa Community College and online.

The 18-month associate dental hygiene program takes place in Le Grande and offers campus and distance education. Students have the opportunity to study abroad in each year of this program, along with completing field training at community clinics, correctional facilities and long-term care facilities. The Oregon Institute of Technology also offers an online bachelor's degree completion program open to licensed hygienists or individuals eligible for licensing who have completed the National Board exam.

Pacific University

Located in Hillsboro, Pacific University offers a 2+2 program in dental hygiene that awards a Bachelor of Science upon completion. This type of program admits students who have completed prerequisite coursework and wish to complete their core dental hygiene curriculum at Pacific University. The dental hygiene curriculum is 2 years in length and includes lectures, seminars and clinics. This program has admission requirements like dental office observation hours and letters of recommendation.

Portland Community College

Located in Portland, this college offers an associate dental hygiene program that trains students for state licensure. Credits earned in this program can be transferred to 4-year colleges for students who want to go on and earn a bachelor's degree. Admission to the dental hygiene program at this college is selective, and applicants are chosen based on criteria that include grade point averages, prerequisite coursework completion, work experience and a proctored essay.

Treasure Valley Community College

Ontario's Treasure Valley Community College offers a 2-year program in pre-dental hygiene that prepares students for transfer to a dental hygiene program at a 4-year institution. This program awards an Associate of Arts degree and requires the completion of foundation skills courses in writing, speech and math, along with pre-dental hygiene science courses that include biology, anatomy and physiology. Since colleges have varying pre-dental hygiene course requirements, the school recommends working with an advisor to create a curriculum that best fits each student's needs.

School Comparison Table

School Name School Type & Setting Dental Hygiene Degree Program Offered Undergraduate Program Tuition (2012-2013)
Lane Community College 2-year; public; fringe rural Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene $3,682 per academic year (in-state); $8,362 per academic year (out-of-state)*
Mt. Hood Community College 2-year; public; large suburb Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene $4,579 per academic year (in-state); $9,979 per academic year (out-of-state)*
Oregon Institute of Technology 4-year; public; remote town Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene,
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene 		$7,852 per academic year (in-state); $22,188 per academic year (out-of-state)*
Pacific University 4-year; private, not-for-profit; large suburb Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene $35,260 per academic year*
Portland Community College 2-year; public; large city Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene $3,232 per academic year (in-state); $7,696 per academic year (out-of-state)*
Treasure Valley Community College 2-year; public; distant town Associate of Arts in Pre-Dental Hygiene $4,680 per academic year (in-state); $5,130 per academic year (out-of-state)*

Source: *NCES College Navigator.

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