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Program Details
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Program Details

Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.

Associate of Applied Science
Northern Virginia Community College

The program is designed to prepare students to serve in a dynamic and growing health profession as members of the dental health team. After successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and professional licensure examinations. Upon successful completion of the licensing process, the title 'Registered Dental Hygienist' (R.D.H.) is awarded.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

Applicants must do the following:

  • Comply with all general admission requirements for Allied Health Programs.
  • Be eligible to sit for the licensure exam, which will require the student to present documentation of legal status in the U.S.
  • Pass BIO 141, BIO 142, and BIO 150with a grade of 'B' or higher prior to being admitted to the program.
  • Pass ENG 111and SDV 101Orientation to Healthcare with a 'C' or higher prior to being admitted to the program.
  • Be willing to repeat courses or to complete evaluative testing for credits earned more than ten years ago.
  • Review the competitive admission and deadlines for applications on the dental hygiene website at www.nvcc.edu/medical/divisions/allied/dental-hygiene.html.

Special Program Requirements: The Virginia Board of Dentistry reserves the right to deny licensure to any candidate who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or the use of drugs or alcohol to the extent that such use renders him/her unsafe to practice dental hygiene. Any applicant who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony must consult with the Dental Hygiene program director prior to admission.

Special Accreditation Status: The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission's web address is www.ada.org/100.aspx.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases Statement: By nature of the profession, students accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program may be exposed to blood and body fluids while practicing dental hygiene skills or providing services during clinical, preclinical, and laboratory sessions. Policies and procedures have been established to ensure the working environment is safe in order to minimize disease transmission. Prospective students may request a copy of the policy on bloodborne infectious diseases by calling 703-822-6627.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Northern Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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The table below provides the requirements to complete this program. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You should consult an advisor or counselor to find courses you can take at your current institution that will transfer to this degree.

Please note that some courses may count towards more than one requirement such as meeting a general education requirement and a major specific requirement. The course will be listed under the first matching requirement. Please contact the institution with questions.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.
72
Dental Hygiene, AAS
72
1180 Plan GPA/Cum GPA 202425
72
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 54 credits may be applied to this program.
SDV Requirement (Prerequisite)
1
SDV 100
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
BIO Requirements (Prerequisite)
12
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
All Prerequisites must be completed with a B or higher
BIO 141
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
BIO 142
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
BIO 150
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG Requirement (Prerequisite)
3
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY Requirement
3
PSY 200
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Requirement
3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Category list:
CST Requirement
3
CST 229
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH Requirements
47
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
All DNH core courses must be completed with a C or Higher
DNH 111
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 115
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 130
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 141
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 120
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 142
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 145
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 146
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 216
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 143
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 214
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 150
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNG 226
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 235
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH244
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 227
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 230
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNH 245
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript.
Credit for Prior Learning NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/prior-learning/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Northern Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
43891
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays VCCS degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to most efficiently transfer your current course work. So, you can use this list to find a degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

If you are interested in transferring to a four-year degree view this degree on the Transfer Virginia site to explore degrees aligned with this program at Virginia's 4-year institutions.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Dental HygieneAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Dental HygieneAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in ScienceAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in ScienceAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Paul D. Camp Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences in Science AssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Science Specialization in Computer ScienceAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
31-9091.00Dental AssistantsPerform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.Healthcare Support Occupations
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 72 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Dental Hygiene, A.A.S. at Northern Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 5 semesters or 2.5 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $219 Per Credit $15,768 $0 $15,768
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.
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