School of Nursing and Health Professions

Dental Hygiene (BS)

Vermont State University logo

Vermont Technical College will join with Castleton University and Northern Vermont University to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.

Visit VermontState.edu to learn more about Dental Hygiene for fall 2023.

Learn More and Apply

Learn while you earn with the only collegiate Dental Hygiene program in Vermont. Our unique approach to learning will have you developing your clinical skills on real patients in your first year. We will provide you with the clinical skills and knowledge required to earn a dental hygiene license and enter clinical practice.

The dental hygiene profession is primarily educational and preventative in nature and offers opportunities to work in a variety of healthcare settings. Jobs for dental hygienists are growing much faster than the national average.

Launch 2021 Dental Clinic (Williston)

Our accelerated three-year Bachelor of Science programs starts with the first two years of coursework completed in our Dental Hygiene Clinic located on the Williston campus and students rotate to local schools and other organizations using our Molar Mobile van with mobile dental equipment. After the first two years, students earn an Associate of Science degree. The final year of the program is completed online. After successful completion of the three full years, students earn a Bachelor of Science degree.

Because students enrolled in the program may be exposed to blood-borne pathogens, we provide students with a thorough understanding of infectious diseases, the mechanism of disease transmission, the OSHA blood-borne pathogen standards, and CDC guidelines for infection control.

Graduates’ national board pass rates and ADEX Clinical Board examination are higher than the national average.

A student with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene will be able to:

  1. Competently perform the role of a dental hygienist in varied situations and settings
  2. Demonstrate the functional acuity and rationale for performing clinical techniques
  3. Continually promote the most current concepts of disease control and prevention
  4. Emphasize and promote ethical and responsible considerations in patient care
  5. Make an essential and unique contribution as an integral member of a healthcare team
  6. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of legal responsibilities and ethical considerations of patient care
  7. Demonstrate a commitment to continuous and lifelong learning

The Vermont Tech entry-level Dental Hygiene program consists of a two-year, five-semester CODA-approved associate degree followed by a final online year of two semesters which is accredited by NECHE, resulting in a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Upon successful completion of either the associate or bachelor’s degree, the student is eligible for application for dental hygiene licensure.

All dental hygiene professional courses must be taken in the prescribed five-term sequence. The curriculum is time-intensive and the required courses are rigorous. Complete dedication to coursework is required for successful completion of the program. All OHS and BIO courses must be completed with a grade of C or better to continue in the program.

Curriculum Details

year
1
year
2
year
3

Job Projections

NATIONAL AVG.
6%
Dental Hygienists
11%
That Translates Into

226,400

JOB OPENINGS BETWEEN 2019 - 2029

Projected Employment Growth for Dental Hygienists, 2019-2029 (source: BLS). National data: Job openings for all occupations (source: BLS)

Placement Rate

100%

VTC

vs

42%

NATIONAL

Vermont Tech data: 6 Month Outcome Survey, Class of 2019. National Data: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) First Destinations for the College Class of 2018 (October 2018)

Employers

  • Aspen Dental
  • Associates in Comprehensive Dental Care
  • Brigham Dental Care
  • Champlain Valley Oral Surgery
  • Colchester Family Dental
  • Community Health Centers of Burlington
  • Concord Pediatric Dentistry
  • Contemporary Dental Arts
  • Court Street Family Dental
  • DentaQuest Oral Health Center
  • Department of Public Health
  • Dr. Brian Huber
  • Dr. Perry and Associates
  • Dr. Robert Munson, DDS
  • Essex Family Dental
  • HealthWorks
  • Heaton & Fisch
  • Middlebury Dental Group
  • Milton Dental Associates
  • Richmond Family Medicine
  • Southwestern VT Medical Center
  • Spencer Family Dental
  • St. Johnsbury Dental Group
  • Timberlane Dental
  • Upper Valley Dental
  • Vermont Department of Oral Health

Job Titles

  • Dental Hygienist
  • Dental Assistant
  • Surgical Assistant
  • Program Coordinator
  • Medical Assistant

Amber Wescott

• Small, local, and high placement rates • Interest in education, health, science, and medicine • TRiO program participant
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news

  • 17
    May

    Vermont State University, the first statewide, hybrid higher education institution in the United States, launched its unified brand identity and logo during a live virtual broadcast today. The unveiling is a major milestone in a transformation process unifying three institutions – Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College. Sixteen months ago, the Vermont State Colleges System initiated a…

    Read more  
  • 11
    May

    Vermont Tech nursing students work in the life-like simulation laboratory on both the Randolph Center and Williston campuses. Learn more in the links below. WCAX: Vt. health care students put to the test with lifelike simulators WCAX: How an unusual patient helps health care workers train for emergencies WPTZ: Health care students work together in Vermont Tech’s simulation lab

    Read more  
  • 15
    Mar

    Vermont Tech’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) program was ranked #5 out of 500 in the nation for Best Online RN to BSN Programs by RegisteredNursing.org, an organization of registered nurses based in Carlsbad, CA. RegisteredNursing.org recognized that Vermont Tech’s program features online courses with local capstone experiences, a 100% job placement rate, and the opportunity for…

    Read more  

Madison Distel

  • I am a student-athlete
  • I work at the SHAPE facility in the summer
  • I originally went to another college but came back to Vermont Tech for hands-on learning
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Sadie Conroy

  • I enjoy activities on campus, such as bowling, go-carting, and apple picking.
  • I am so pleased I chose the Vermont Tech Dental Hygiene Program.
  • As a student, I’ve learned how to prioritize my time and learn new study habits.
Read full profile

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We would love to meet you and personally introduce you to the Vermont Tech community.