There are many options when it comes to dental hygiene schools in California.  There are nearly 30 accredited schools within the state, so chances are there is at least one nearby that will offer the proper training needed to gain certification in the field.  It is necessary to do a little research not only on the curriculum but also the requirements needed to enter these schools in order to be sure that the right one is chosen.

For instance, Carrington College in San Jose has a dental hygiene degree program.  This program teaches a variety of skills such as administering local anesthesia, applying preventative agents, dental radiography and providing oral hygiene to students.  Fresno City College also has a dental hygiene program for those looking into an associate’s degree.  Students learn to give dental health education to patients as well as stress preventative care, expose and process dental radiographs, perform oral cancer exams and remove stains and deposits from the teeth.

Looking at academic prerequisites from schools like Moreno Valley College can give a good idea of what it takes to get into dental hygiene schools in California.  Prospective students must have an RCCD application on file with RCC eligibility, high school verification, a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 or 3.0 if the student attends science courses and prerequisite courses in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, English, math, microbiology, physical education, psychology, sociology and speech.

With these types of programs, students typically gain an associate of science degree.  The requirements will vary for each program, but there will be common features.  For example, students have to spend a minimum amount of course hours in residence as well as demonstrate competency in various areas including reading, writing, oral communication, computer concepts and math.  It is important to check requirements for what is considered competent because some may define it as a “C” average or better but others may use other criteria.

There are many dental hygiene schools in California including Cabrillo College, Cerritos College, Diablo Valley College, Oxnard College, the University of Southern California and West Coast University among many others.  Each of these schools may have similar prerequisites and course requirements, but each school will still differ.  They will also differ in terms of costs and the length of the program, which can be up to 18 months.  You also need to know which schools are in demand and have waiting lists.

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