Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program

San Diego, CA

Learn to Help Others Smile More

Train for a career that gets smiles with Concorde in San Diego. Our CODA-accredited Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program offers you the foundation of science, professional knowledge and clinical skills you need to help others preserve their oral (and overall) health.

Help Others Keep Their Smiles Healthy

  • Complete your associate degree in as few as 22 months. 
  • Learn to provide cleanings, take x-rays, and promote oral health.
  • Program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Program Overview

The dental hygiene program is an Associate of Science degree program. The curriculum is designed to blend theory with hands-on application in both lab and clinical settings. You will learn to work within dental practices to provide cleanings, perform screenings and take x-rays. Your training will also prepare you to provide education on at-home care to patients, as well as act as an important source of information for the dentist, alerting them to problems or changes in a patients’ dental health.

Students pursuing the dental hygiene associate degree program may be able to earn their degree in as few as 22 months. 

Further Your Education

Graduates of the dental hygiene associate degree program may also, be eligible to further their education and pursue a Dental Hygiene bachelor's degree through Concorde's online degree completion program. The online bachelor's degree completion program requires that applicants have earned an associate degree in dental hygiene from an accredited institution and are a licensed dental hygienist. 

Take the Next Step Now

Think you’d love to become a dental hygienist? Contact Concorde San Diego today to learn if our dental hygiene degree program is right for you!

  1. **Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023-2033 projected job demand https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm Projections are national. Local job market demand may vary.

22

Months

9%

National Employment Demand (2023-2033)

105.5

Credit Hours

385

Lab Hours

640

Clinical Hours

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Curriculum

Dental Hygiene Program Focus

The dental hygiene associate degree program at Concorde's San Diego campus covers general education, dental science and practical skills. Thanks to our on-site dental clinic, you can also gain supervised clinical experience treating patients and serving the local community while you learn. You can complete this program in as few as 22-months of study,  including board certification exam review. 

Associate of Science Coursework Includes:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Dental Materials
  • Dental Office Management
  • Dental Radiography
  • Periodontology
  • Dental Public Health
  • Dental Law and Ethics

Dental Hygiene Licensure & Certification

When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. 

California State Licensure Requirements:

  • Graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited Dental Hygiene program.
  • Undergo a criminal history investigation.
  • Pass a written California Dental Law & Ethics Examination.
  • Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
  • Pass the California state clinical board or an authorized regional clinical board.

Included in Tuition - Certification Exam Fee and Pre-Certification Exam Prep Coursework

Tuition fee for the program of study includes the cost for an eligible graduate's first attempt to sit for professional certification.

Concorde expects all students to complete pre-certification exam prep training through the campus resources at no additional cost to the student. 

105.5

Semester Credit Hours 

Associate of Science Degree

Offered through blended learning by the San Diego Campus

120

Semester Credit Hours 

Bachelor's of Science Completion Degree

Online completion degree program for students with an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene. Program and degreed conferred fully online by Concorde's Kansas City Campus

  1. Prep does not guarantee certification, employment or subsequent salary.

  2. The Online  Dental Hygiene bachelor's degree completion program is only available to licensed dental hygienists with an associate degree from an accredited institution. The fully online post-licensure program can be completed in as few as 18-months however the average time to complete is approximately 24 months. Completion of the Concorde associate dental hygiene program does not guarantee admittance or graduation for the bachelor's completion degree program.

Career Outlook

Demand for Dental Hygienists

The job openings for dental professionals including hygienists is expected to grow as more people seek dental services including cleaning, cosmetic and preventative care treatments.

Where do Dental Hygienists Work

  • Private & Group Practices
  • Specialty Practices
  • Public Health
  • Hospital Dental Clinics 

9%

Projected national job demand for dental hygienists from 2023-2033 

 

Address and Hours

San Diego Campus

4393 Imperial Ave.
San Diego, California 92113

PH: (619) 908-1963
FX: (619) 220-4177

Campus Hours of Operation

  • Monday - Thursday 8 am - 7 pm
  • Friday 8 am - 5 pm
  • Saturday By Appointment
  • Sunday Closed
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Financial Aid

As part of our commitment to your success, Concorde ensures that you have access to comprehensive information and guidance in navigating the financial aid process. Concorde offers financial aid and scholarship programs to those who qualify.

Accreditation

Accreditation and licensure are an important part of an academic institution’s operation. Visit our Accreditations and Licensure page for more details about our accreditations and licensure.

CODA: Approval without Reporting Requirements

The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” CODA is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Commission on Dental Accreditation: 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; (312) 440-4653; https://coda.ada.org/.

CODA logo

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Dental Assistant

Medical Office Administration

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.