Students in the Dental Hygiene program learn in a modern dental clinic that serves as the program's main clinical education facility. There, students treat a variety of patients from the community.
Through clinical experience and coursework, Dental Hygiene students learn about topics such as:
Dental sciences
Clinical dental hygiene
Public health dental hygiene
Supportive dental hygiene
Patient assessment, oral tissues and overall health
Patient education
Pain management
Clinical therapeutic services
Career Options
Students of the Ivy Tech Dental Hygiene program are eligible to take all licensing exams prior to graduation and then apply for dental hygiene licensure upon graduation. Upon passing all national, state, and regional exams, graduates begin their career as a Licensed Dental Hygienist.
Day-to-day dental hygienists will work with patients to provide periodontal treatment and assess their overall dental health. They may also provide additional support to dentists on more complex procedures.
Within the profession, dental hygienists can work in private dental offices, corporate dental offices, or public health facilities.
HOW TO APPLY
Future Students
Students interested in the Dental Hygiene program must apply to Ivy Tech first using the Ivy Tech general application. In this application, apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Dental Hygiene. Apply to Ivy Tech Now
The job growth outlook for dental hygienists between 2021 and 2031 is faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree program is designed to prepare students for all licensing exams required to start a career as a Dental Hygienist.
Featuring small class sizes and a clinic with the latest technology for providing hygiene care, the curriculum focuses on subjects such as:
Dental sciences
Clinical dental hygiene
Public health dental hygiene
Supportive dental hygiene procedures
Students also learn how to conduct assessments of oral tissues and overall health and provide patient education, pain management, and clinical therapeutic services.
The Dental Hygiene program is a good fit for people seeking a high-wage, in-demand career that allows them to help people achieve improved health outcomes. Not only will patients be thankful for a pretty smile, but also for all of the health benefits associated with having positive dental health.
Typical skills and interests of Dental Hygienists include:
Working with people
Organization
Detail-oriented
Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
Communication skills
Strong work/life balance
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, dental hygiene may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
The Ivy Tech Dental Hygiene program can be a challenging, yet rewarding, program. Before you apply, review the following requirements and expectations for students in the program.
Time Commitment
The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program requires a major commitment of time and energy. Courses are typically scheduled over 4-5 days per week. Students may also need to schedule additional general education courses as needed each semester. It is essential that you plan for the same amount of study time as class time per week. Dental Hygiene course schedules and assignment due dates will not be adjusted to accommodate individual work schedules.
You can expect to spend the following hours each week in active contact for your courses (based on 8-week courses):
Lecture classes: 1 classroom contact hours per credit hour (so if a class is worth 3 credit hours, expect 6 contact hours)
Lab classes: 2 lab contact hours per credit hour
Clinical courses: 3 clinical contact hours per credit hour
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all class meetings, or other activities assigned as a part of a course of instruction. Attendance is necessary to maximize student-learning opportunities. Students who are absent are responsible for missed material. Clinical courses require that the student be present to effectively evaluate successful achievement of clinical course objectives and concepts, as clinical course objectives cannot be accomplished or evaluated outside the clinical setting. There are no make-up sessions for missed clinical hours; therefore, regular clinical attendance is mandatory for successful clinical course and program completion.
Eligibility for Licensure
During their time as a student in the Dental Hygiene program, students will take the four exams required to apply for licensure. There are fees associated with each of these exams that students must plan for. See all costs associated with the program below.
While completing the Dental Hygiene program prepares students for a career in this valued profession, they must apply for licensure before beginning their career. In order to apply, your degree must be conferred, which can take up to one month after graduation.
Dental Hygiene Program Student Requirements
The following are required for participation in clinical activities:
Annual criminal background and sex offender registry screening
Annual drug screening
Physical examination and verification of essential functions
Annual flu vaccination
Up-to-date immunizations including Hepatitis B series, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Diphtheria, Pertussis, and COVID-19
Annual TB skin testing or other documentation for positive tests per CDC guidelines
Documentation of current CPR Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers from AHA or American Red Cross
Students interested in applying for admission to the Dental Hygiene program should begin locating childhood immunization records early to ensure complete vaccination and physicals are submitted by established deadlines.
Students with disabilities are required to contact the college Disabilities Support Staff at the campus of interest for assistance in requesting accommodations (if applicable).
Program-Specific Costs
In addition to tuition, there are several equipment and exam costs that Dental Hygiene students will incur during the program. Per year, these fees are:
First Year: $9,229.34***
Year Two: $6,814.59***
Degree Total: $16,043.93***
A complete breakdown of the costs associated with the Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program are as follows:
June – August Prior to Beginning the Program
Background check & drug testing
$94.96
Immunization Tracker
$20.00
Physical exam and immunizations/titers
Variable, based on provider
CPR Certification
$45.00
Summer Before Program Sub-Total
$159.96
First Year – Fall Semester
Tuition (12 or more credit hours)*
$2,577.11
Technology Fee
$75.00
Dental Hygiene Program Fee
$125.00
Student ADHA Membership Fee
$65.00
Dental Hygiene Instrument Kit
$2,455.58
Uniforms
$200.00
Shoes, safety glasses, and related supplies
$80.00
Printing
$25.00
First Year Fall Semester Sub-Total
$5,268.83
First Year – Spring Semester
Tuition (12 or more credit hours)*
$2,577.11
Technology Fee
$75.00
Dental Hygiene Program Fee
$125.00
Consumable Fee
$30.00
Printing
$25.00
First Year Spring Semester Sub-Total
$2,498.25
Summer Term
Tuition (In-state $178.38 per credit hours)*
$897.30
Technology Fee
$75.00
Dental Hygiene Program Fee
$125.00
Consumable Fee
$60.00
CDCA Local Anesthesia Exam**
$140.00
Printing
$25.00
First Year Summer Term Sub-Total
$1,302.30
Year Two – Fall Semester
Tuition (12 or more credit hours)*
$2,577.11
Technology Fee
$75.00
Background check & drug testing
$68.09
TB test
$30.00
Dental Hygiene Program Fee
$125.00
Student ADHA Membership Fee
$65.00
Consumable Fee
$60.00
Printing
$25.00
Year Two Fall Semester Sub-Total
$2,691.34
Year Two – Spring Semester
Tuition (12 or more credit hours)*
$2,577.11
Technology Fee
$60.00
Dental Hygiene Program Fee
$125.00
Consumable Fee
$30.00
National Board Exam**
$440.00
CDCA Regional Board Exam**
$1,075.00
Indiana State Board of Dentistry Fee
$100.00
Indiana Local Anesthesia Permit
$25.00
Printing
$25.00
Year Two Spring Semester Sub-Total
$4,123.25
This an estimate of the cost of the dental hygiene program by semester. Tuition is based upon in-state tuition rates. Tuition for out of state students is higher. The cost is subject to change without notice. +Varies depending upon provider and individual needs *Includes tuition and textbook fees for Psychology or Sociology **Licensing Fees based upon licensure requirements in the state of Indiana ***Total Fees do not include physical exam nor immunization/titers fees due to individual variability
Financial Aid
Connect with the Financial Aid team at your home campus to find out if you can receive financial aid for the program of your choice. Make sure that you have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by the established deadlines to be considered for financial aid assistance.
Completion of the following required prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or higher is required for admission to the Dental Hygiene program:
APHY 101 Anatomy and Physiology I
APHY 102 Anatomy and Physiology II
ENGL 111 English Composition
MATH 123 Quantitative Reasoning
COMM 101 Fundamentals of Public Speaking or COMM 102 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
BIOL 201 General Microbiology or 211 BIOL Microbiology I
CHEM 101 Introductory Chemistry I, CHEM 111 Chemistry I, or CHEM 115 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Descriptions of Dental Hygiene courses can be found in our online course catalog:
Prospective students must participate in a Dental Hygiene Information Session in the current year prior to applying. These sessions are hosted in-person or virtually based depending on your campus of interest.
The Dental Hygiene program at Ivy Tech has more specific admission criteria than Ivy Tech as a whole. Prospective students must:
Complete the Knowledge Assessment if they do not have previous college credit, ACT, SAT, or PSAT scores on file in the Registrar’s Office
Complete all required remedial courses (OXX) and any required co-requisites to those courses, prior to admission to the program.
Score at the PROFICIENT level or higher on the ATI TEAS Test.
Prerequisite Transfer Credit
Students seeking transfer credit for prerequisite courses completed at other colleges desiring must submit transcripts from other colleges to the Registrar Hub for evaluation. Submit external college transcripts at least one month prior to the application deadline to allow for adequate time for evaluation and processing so that prerequisite course grades can be counted for points toward admission.
The email address students should relay to their colleges/universities for official transcripts to Ivy Tech is: transcripts@ivytech.edu
The mailing address students should relay to their colleges/universities for hard (paper) copies of official transcripts to Ivy Tech is: Transcript Processing 9301 E 59th Street Indianapolis, IN 46216
The Assessment Technologies Institute’s (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is used as part of the admissions process by the Ivy Tech School of Health Sciences programs.
The ATI TEAS test measures your ability in four categories: Reading, English, Math, and Science. Your TEAS test must include all four test components to be considered valid; partial tests will not be accepted. Applicants must score at the PROFICIENT level or higher to be considered for admission. ATI TEAS adjusted individual total score will be used in the selection point system.
Preparing for the TEAS Test
A good time for a high school student to take the ATI TEAS test is during the last semester of high school or upon graduation. If an interested student graduated from high school a year or more ago, the test should be taken after review of high school content and after you’ve completed at least a portion of the prerequisite courses for dental hygiene. All candidates must attend an Ivy Tech Dental Hygiene information session prior to taking the TEAS exam.
Test Deadlines & Timing
Semester PROGRAM STARTS
Test Deadline Date
Application Date
Fall
April 30
March 15 – May 15
TEAS testing must be completed within the published application deadline (see table above) in order to be considered for the corresponding application period. Due to processing time for the ATI TEAS to appear in the student’s application, it is recommended that testing times be scheduled 2 to 4 weeks prior to the posted TEAS test deadline date. ATI TEAS scores not available by the deadlines will not be considered.
Applicants who take the ATI TEAS at schools other than Ivy Tech must contact Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) to have an official copy electronically submitted directly to Ivy Tech.
ATI TEAS Test scores will be valid for two (2) years from the date of the initial ATI TEAS test for all nursing program tracks and must be valid through the application deadline date.
ATI TEAS tests that expire prior to the application deadline will be ineligible for consideration towards program admission, even if the student applies prior to the application deadline.
Repeat Testing
The ATI TEAS test may be taken up to 2 times in a 2-year period regardless of the testing location. After your first attempt, you must wait at least 30 days prior to retaking your exam. Applicants must pay the approved testing fee with each attempt.
Taking the Test & Costs
The test takes approximately 3 1/2 hours to complete. Currently, only remote tests are being conducted. You will need your valid (non-expired) government-issued photo ID. All TEAS exam appointments must be made and paid for online through our self-serve site. The Remote TEAS exam fee for Ivy Tech students is $81 ($141 for non-students, but this is not available currently).
Create an ATI account at atitesting.com (if you already have an account at atitesting.com you can skip this step). Use something you will remember as a username and password. If admitted, ATI testing will be used throughout your program and you will need the same username and password for access to the ATI tests. In order for your TEAS test scores to migrate to the Ivy Tech record system, be sure to add your Ivy Tech Community College C# (this is your Ivy Tech student ID number) and birth date when creating your profile for your ATI account. Do not use dashes in the C number. After your account is created on the ATI site, DO NOT schedule an appointment or PAY any funds at the ATI website, as additional charges will be applied. View guide: How to create a new ATI account.
Click on Student/Applicant Login and use your Ivy Tech email address and password to log in.
Click on “This exam is not related to an Ivy Tech course”
Type in TEAS for the test name.
Select the correct Remote TEAS Attempt 1 or 2 exam based on the attempt number.
Select Virtual Proctoring for the campus and click next.
Click on the red calendar and select the date for your exam appointment and click next.
Use the dropdown box and select the time for your appointment and click next.
Review your appointment details and click next.
Select “Pay now via credit card online”. The cost of the exam is $81.00 for students.
Click on “Credit Card Payment Form” and complete credit card payment transaction.
Click on “Submit My Appointment Request.”
Check your email. After scheduling your exam, you will receive emails containing information on downloading necessary software and a code for launching the exam.
Students interested in attending the School of Health Sciences must first submit the Ivy Tech general application and complete the requirements for admission to the college. Admission to the college does not ensure acceptance to a nursing program, but students can be working on prerequisite courses for nursing after admission to the college and before applying to the nursing program of choice.
Once your prerequisite courses are complete and you have met the other requirements for admissions (such as completing the Knowledge Assessment and required remedial courses, scoring at the PROFICIENT level or higher on the ATI TEAS Test, you may apply for admission to the Dental Hygiene program in the School of Health Sciences.
Students may apply to the Dental Hygiene program during the following application window each year:
March 15 - May 15 for Fall Program Start
Once the application site closes, late applications will not be accepted. You are encouraged to apply for the next cohort.
If you are not a current Ivy Tech Community College student, please Apply Now. You will need a C# (Ivy Tech student ID number) and Ivy Tech single sign-on login credentials in order to apply.
Gather all required or optional documentation that you will need to upload into the system. View more about requirements here. You will have the ability to save your application in progress until you are able to secure documentation.
Make sure your scores for the ATI TEAS Test have been sent to Ivy Tech.
If you are transferring from another institution, please make sure that your transcripts are evaluated at least 4 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Check to make sure your personal information is accurate.
Select the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Dental Hygiene and campuses you would like to be considered as an applicant. You can select up to different programs and 3 different campuses.
You must meet all of the prerequisites for a program in order to submit your application. If you receive a message indicating that you do not meet the prerequisites, then please remove that program selection in order to proceed with the application.
Upload any necessary documents.
Make sure grades and pre-admission exam scores in the system are accurate. If not, please contact your home campus registrar or advisor.
You will be able to submit your application if you are currently enrolled in a course identified as a prerequisite into the program.
Once complete, submit your application.
You will receive an email confirmation in your Ivy Tech email account that your application has been submitted and is pending review.
Once you have submitted your application, you have the option to reopen it to make changes.
Note: DO NOT USE THE “BACK” function on your computer. Use the navigation pane at the side of the page to navigate.
Students can select up to 3 credential types and 3 campuses each on the application. Offers of acceptance are for a specific credential and a specific campus. The offers are determined through 8 rounds of autoselection and 6 rounds of manual selection.
If you are accepted, you will receive an email from the online application system to your Ivy Tech email account offering you a seat in the program you selected. Offers are emailed beginning within 1 week of the application close date and continue until program capacity is met or one week before the start of semester classes. Each round of offers begins at 6:00 am and applicants have until 11:59 pm the following day to either accept or reject an offer.
Depending on their rank and offers, a student could potentially receive multiple offers. Once you accept one offer, you are immediately withdrawn from all other offers and you will be contacted by the chair or dean of the program with information about the program orientation date, time, and location.
If a student fails to respond, then the offer expires. If a student rejects an offer three (3) times, the application is removed from the auto-selection application pool but will then be available for manual selection rounds that occur later in the process.
You do have the ability to withdraw your application at any point during the admission cycle. However, once you withdraw your application, you will not be able to apply again until the next application cycle.
What If I Don’t Get Admitted?
The Dental Hygiene program does not maintain a waitlist. Non-admitted applicants can reapply in the next year’s application cycle. You may also want to meet with your advisor. Advisors can assist students in exploring other programs of interest in Ivy Tech’s School of Health Sciences if they have applied several times and have not been accepted into the program. Ivy Tech offers many programs similar to Dental Hygiene that lead to high-demand jobs that may be new to you, but fit your passion to help others.
Application Help Video: Step-by-step instructions for how to submit the online application for Ivy Tech's health science programs. (5:35)
Selective Admissions
Admission to the Dental Hygiene program at Ivy Tech is highly competitive. The program has a selective admissions process, which means not all students who apply to the program will be accepted. Selective admission processes are needed because there are more people interested in taking courses in our program than there are seats available.
Weighted Point System
A weighted point system is used to evaluate applicants for admission. Student applications are assigned points on the following criteria: Grades, Pre-admission testing, and Certifications as applicable to the program. Applicants with the highest scores are accepted across 8 rounds of auto-selection within each application period. Point totals for applicants receiving admission offers will vary between campuses and application periods. Point totals are not shared.
Total Points Possible: 200 + 2.5 bonus points
General Education Course Points: 180 points possible. Points are awarded based on prerequisite course grades.
ATI TEAS points: 20 points possible. Total of weighted sub-test point calculations.
CDA Certification points: 2.5 optional points possible with approved CDA documentation
Tie Breaker Points:
Overall Ivy Tech GPA
General Education Weighted Point System
When multiple course attempts are reported on applicant transcripts (including transcripts from other colleges and universities), the highest earned grade of the first three attempts will be used for the selection decision score through the application period. Points for courses transferred from other institutions will be awarded from the grade recorded on the transcript from the other institution provided transfer credit appears on the Ivy Tech transcript. Points for verified credit (V) or college credit awarded through High School Advanced Placement, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) International Baccalaureate (IB) and Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST), will be awarded as indicated below.
Course
A
B
C
D/F
Verified Credit
APHY 101
30
20
10
0
N/A
APHY 102
30
20
10
0
N/A
MATH 123
30
20
10
0
N/A
BIOL 201 or 211
30
20
10
0
N/A
CHEM 101, 111, or 115
30
20
10
0
N/A
ENGL 111
15
10
5
0
10
COMM 101 or 102
15
10
5
0
10
Total General Education Points Possible = 180
ATI TEAS Weighted Point System
ATI TEAS Component
Point Calculation
Maximum Points Possible
Adjusted Individual Total Score
Score % x 0.20
20
Total ATI TEAS Points Possible = 20
CDA Certification points
Two-and-a-half (2.5) bonus points may be added to the total admission decision score for applicants if you are a graduate of a CODA-Accredited dental assisting program and have your Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification.
“The Ivy Tech Anderson Dental Hygiene program set me on the path for professional success. My drive to succeed was met with dedicated and supportive staff members who want you to thrive. I am extremely proud of my education and am so thankful for this program.”
–Megan S., RDH | 2011 Grad, Associate of Dental Hygiene
“The professors with the Dental Hygiene program went above and beyond to help me reach my goals. I am forever grateful and honored to have learned from them and for the impact they made in my professional journey.”
–Nancy S., RDH | 2017 Grad, Associate of Dental Hygiene
“The Ivy Tech Dental Hygiene program in Anderson is the place to be if you are interested in making life-long friends, having professors who support you, and getting thorough knowledge and practice to become a dental hygienist.”
–Patricia Flores, RDH | 2018 Grad, Associate of Dental Hygiene
Questions About the Program?
Future Students
If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Dental Hygiene program and your certificate and degree options.
Find Local Advising Contact Info
Don't see a nearby Advising location?
Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2022). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2022-2023
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools 30 North LaSalle St. Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-1504
American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-2678 (312) 440-2915