Dental hygienists help prevent, detect, and treat diseases of the mouth, playing a key role in the pursuit of optimal patient health via education and treatment planning. Hygienists work independently with patients.
Dental hygienists remove calculus deposits and stains from teeth, polish teeth, apply sealants and fluoride, take X-rays, record medical and dental histories, and educate patients on how proper brushing, flossing, and eating habits can help maintain a healthy mouth.
Kirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year, and there are many specifically for students enrolled in Dental Hygiene and other applied sciences/allied health programs. Students in this program may be eligible to have half their tuition paid for by the Kibbie Grant.
Graduates of the Dental Hygiene program will be able to:
A one-hour program conference is required prior to acceptance to the program. You'll learn more about the program, specific admissions requirements and have the opportunity to have questions answered by program faculty and staff.
School Year: 2024–2025
Program Entry Semester: Fall
| Pre-Reqs | Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring | Summer | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours per Semester | 12 | 16 | 17 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 17 | 0 | 86 |
| In-State Tuition | $2,604 | $3,472 | $3,689 | $2,061.50 | $3,146.50 | $3,689 | $0 | $18,662 |
| Technology Fee per Semester | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $0 | $300 |
| Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) | $0 | $600 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $600 |
| Conferences/Seminars | $0 | $50 | $50 | $0 | $50 | $50 | $0 | $200 |
| Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) | $950 | $850 | $600 | $450 | $520 | $350 | $0 | $3,720 |
| Course/Section Fees | $20 | $85 | $55 | $335 | $100 | $90 | $0 | $685 |
| Laptop (required devices) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Testing Fees | $70 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,750 | $0 | $1,820 |
| Third Party Credentials | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $150 | $0 | $150 |
| Tool Sets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Uniforms | $0 | $350 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $350 |
| Other | $0 | $86 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $86 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $3,694 | $5,543 | $4,444 | $2,896.50 | $3,866.50 | $6,129 | $26,573 |
Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $217 (In-State), $290 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).
Fees and costs are subject to change.
To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.
To get into the Dental Hygiene program, you must meet the following additional standards. These steps/requirements are in addition to Kirkwood's steps to become a student.
Kirkwood and Dental Hygiene admissions policies and procedures are subject to change at any time. After all admissions criteria are met, students are accepted or placed on the waitlist to the Dental Hygiene program.
Students are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of HOSA, a global student-led organization exclusively for students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions.
HOSA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.
To practice as a dental hygienist, a person must be licensed in the state of Iowa. Licensure can be obtained by graduating from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and successfully completing a national written examination and a Iowa Dental Board-approved clinical exam. Graduates of Kirkwood’s Dental Hygiene program sit for The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) administered by the American Dental Association (ADA). Graduates of Kirkwood's program take the ADEX Dental Hygiene Exam as administered by CCDA-WREB-CITA; this particular clinical exam permits successful candidates to be eligible for licensure in nearly all of the 50 United States. While Kirkwood’s Dental Hygiene program can accept up to 24 students each fall semester, the number of each graduating class will vary. Successful completion of the exam requirements are a minimum score of 75% on both the national and clinical exams. Upon completion of these exams, students are eligible to apply for licensure in the state in which they want to be employed, which allows students to become a registered dental hygienist (RDH).
For 2024, the exam pass rate for the national board exam was 94% (18/19 students) as was the pass rate for the clinical board exam.
Please note that updated pass rate information will be provided when additional data is available.
After successful completion of both the National Board Dental Hygiene and the regional board for the area of the county in which you want to work, you apply for licensure. If licensure is granted, you become a registered dental hygienist.
Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. View the state listing guide to identify which Kirkwood program fulfills state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.
The Iowa Board of Dental Examiners is the state agency charged with the overall responsibility of regulating the professions of dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental assisting in the state of Iowa.
Use these resources for more information on board examinations:
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of compliance without reporting requirements.
The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Dental Hygiene graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the regional board examinations of their choice. Successful completion of both board examinations is required to receive a license to practice dental hygiene.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312-440-4653
Dental hygienists are employed in private practice dental offices and dental clinics. Many dental hygienists work for public health departments, dental product companies, and insurance companies. Hospitals and educational settings also employ dental hygienists.
Dental hygienists can be compensated in a variety of ways; including an hourly wage, commission or a combination of several methods. Graduates can expect a base salary $27.64/hr (source: graduate survey - 2006 grads) For additional information on the job outlook go to iowaworkforce.org.
The ATI TEAS was developed to measure basic essential skills in the academic content area domains of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. These entry-level skills were deemed important for PTA, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Laboratory Technology program applicants by a panel of program curriculum experts.
The ATI TEAS is a 150-item, four-option, multiple-choice assessment. To prepare in an organized and efficient manner, you should know what to expect from the real assessment.
Students can use this link to purchase the ATI TEAS Study Manual.
| Content Area | Number of Test Items* | Amount of Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 39 | 64 minutes |
| Mathematics | 34 | 54 minutes |
| Science | 44 | 63 minutes |
| English & Language Usage | 33 | 28 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 209 minutes |
*There are 20 unscored questions throughout the exam for a total of 170 questions total.
Test Registration Procedure
1) Register for an available exam time. Using the link below, choose between taking your exam at main campus in Cedar Rapids or the Kirkwood Center at the U of I in Coralville.
2) You must create an account on the ATI TEAS website, click on "create account."
We recommend students use their Kirkwood student email when creating an account. Remember your username and password when you come to take your test.
3) On the day of your scheduled test, bring the following:
*The cost of the exam is $70 (as of July 1, 2023.)
On your scheduled date and time, you will take your test at the test center located on the second floor of Cedar Hall, check-in at room 2055. Leave all personal belongings at home, you will not be able to take your phone, smart watches, etc. in the room where you test.
Please look at the following link for some useful information on how to prepare for the exam: ATI TEAS Tips for Success.
A minimum of 30 days is recommended between ATI TEAS exam attempts. It is recommended that students remediate in the areas identified by the Individual Profile Sub-Scales scores before retaking this exam.
Questions or concerns? Contact the Test Center at testcenter@kirkwood.edu or 319-398-5456.
Three cumulative attempts are allowed to pass the ATI TEAS exam with the minimum score required by the appropriate program.
After the second failed attempt, students will be strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with the appropriate program director to discuss strategies for success on the third attempt.
After the third failed attempt, students are no longer eligible to be admitted into any program that requires the exam. You cannot change programs to start the testing process over.
Students must wait three years if they want to try again if the third test failed to meet the minimum score.
The mission of the dental hygiene program is to prepare students for employment as dental hygienists and to provide the community and the profession of dentistry with competent personnel.
Clinical courses are taught at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Therefore, travel is required and students are responsible for their own transportation. Students often car pool to the College of Dentistry.
The College of Dentistry has a large patient population, and quite a number of those are going to be utilized by the Dental Hygiene program. You are also welcome to bring anyone to the College of Dentistry as a new patient.
You need to have a current physical on file and have started your Hepatitis B Series when you begin the clinical portion of the program.
Biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, English and computer classes will help prepare you for the Dental Hygiene curriculum.
Intro to Chemistry; Intro to Chemistry Lab, Applied Math, Microcomputer Literacy and Human Anatomy & Physiology I.
In addition to the prerequisites, you may take Human Anatomy and Physiology I (required as a pre-req), Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Professionals in Health, Microbiology, Fundamentals of Oral Communication, Composition I, Intro to Sociology, General Psychology, Intro to Organic and Biochemistry, and a General Education course in Humanities.
An Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
If you're transferring to Kirkwood from another school, or if you've attended college at all in the past, contact your former school's registrar office and ask them to send your official college transcript to us at:
Kirkwood Community College
Enrollment Services
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Your transcript will be evaluated for general education courses.
Degree completion can be achieved at universities and colleges nationwide. Dental hygienists often choose education, public health, nutrition, or business as majors.
It doesn't shorten the length but it does lighten your class load per semester.
The curriculum is very intense and your class schedule is quite busy, which makes it difficult to work while in the program. Taking general education classes before beginning the program will lighten your class load.
You will be required to purchase a lab coat for classes at Kirkwood. Lab coats for clinic at the College of Dentistry will be supplied. You will also be required to purchase scrubs to wear during clinical experiences.
| Dental Assistant | Dental Hygienist |
|---|---|
| Certified Dental Assistant | Registered Dental Hygienist |
| Member of dental team | Member of dental team |
| Assist DDS directly | Provide direct patient care |
| Expose radiographs | Patient assessment |
| Office duties | Patient education |
| Infection control | Expose radiographs |
| Inventory control | Treatment planning |