California residents without any type of dental training who are thinking about pursuing dental hygiene as a career choice must first complete an ADA-approved Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) training program.
California dental schools are approved at the state level by several different agencies, depending upon the type of degree being offered. The Dental Hygiene Committee of California is the state organization responsible for granting licensure to qualified California Dental Hygienists.
This article explains how students can find the top CA Dental Hygienist programs and explains the state's licensing requirements.
California Dental Hygienist License Requirements
Prospective dentistry students who have never attended an accredited academic program are required to fulfill the following requirements before being allowed to work as a CA Dental Hygienist:
- graduate from an approved California dental school
- pass the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB) licensing exam
- pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
- undergo a criminal history review
Dentists who have been licensed in another state can apply for a "license by credential" through the Dental Hygiene Committee of California (DHCC). This process allows candidates to forgo the state's licensing examination requirement. Additionally, students in either their third or fourth year of dental school can apply to take the state's dental hygiene licensing exam. For more information on both of these processes, contact DHCC at 916-263-1978.
California Dental Schools' Curricula
CA Dental Hygienist programs offered by the top schools in the state are typically two-year associate-level degree programs. While individual educational providers are allowed to create their own class schedules and course offerings, all ADA-approved California Dental Hygienist programs must offer students:
- an academic, classroom-based instructional component
- a clinical training component that is supervised by a licensed dentist
Students attending one of several approved California dental schools are taught numerous academic and clinical subject areas in the classroom, including:
- Radiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
- English
- Sociology
- Microbiology
- Psychology
- Physiology
- Dental practice
- Dental hygiene
- Anatomy
- Pharmacology
- Chemistry
In addition to the academic component, students have the chance to work directly with patients in a clinical setting. This work prepares students for both the regional and national licensing examinations.
CA Dental Hygienist Programs
DHCC approves over twenty California dental schools offering approved RDH training, including those found at community colleges and four-year institutions.
To find the best programs in California, see the ADA's dental education page and use the search function to find those hygienist programs in CA.
Benefit of California Dental Hygienist Schools
Students who graduate from an approved dentistry program and pass both the regional and national licensing examinations are allowed to work in the state as a CA Dental Hygienist.
For information on more health care jobs available in California and beyond, see also:
The Best Online Nursing Programs
David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
Join the Conversation