Harper College
Dental Hygiene
Dental clinic waiting area
Dental clinic waiting area

Dental Hygiene Associate Degree Program

Become a dental hygienist

Harper's Dental Hygiene Program is a full-time, six-semester career program leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree. It is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. This is a limited enrollment program.

In 2024, 100% of the graduates of Harper’s Dental Hygiene Program passed both the American Dental Association’s National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment’s Clinical Board Examination. 

The next application window will open Oct. 1, 2024, for the summer 2025 class selection. Click on the Admission Criteria and Process link below to review the summer 2025 admission requirements.

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Prepare for a health profession

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare you for entry into this profession. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.

Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.

Accreditation

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body of the American Dental Association and is recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-2500 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda

Notice to patients and prospective dental hygiene applicants: Dental hygiene clinic students, patients and faculty clinicians are exposed to bloodborne pathogens.  These include (but are not limited to) pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood or other bodily substances and have the potential to cause diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The Dental Hygiene Clinic follows the College's Exposure Control Plan and follows methods of compliance that include universal and standard infection control precautions. To further  reduce the likelihood of exposure, the Dental Hygiene Program conducts an ongoing review of our engineering and work practice control protocols. The Dental Hygiene Program's Infectious Disease/Bloodborne Pathogen Policy is found in the “Important Factors to Consider Before Applying” link.

Resources

For more information about starting your career as a dental hygienist, contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.

Last Updated: 7/17/25