Program Description
The Dental Hygiene program prepares students for entry into the dental hygiene profession as licensed clinicians (Registered Dental Hygienist-RDH). Dental Hygienists provide preventive therapeutic restorative and procedures to control oral disease and promote optimal oral health. The Dental Hygiene program includes instruction in dental anatomy microbiology and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; and office management and professional standards. Clinical education experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum and offer students the opportunity to gain competency through practice each semester.
Upon completion of this program graduates will be eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination (NBDHE) and the regional and or state clinical and local anesthesia examinations. Applicants are encouraged to contact the State Board of Dentistry in the states in which they wish to practice for individual licensing requirements.
Dental Hygiene is a competitive entry program. Students are admitted to the program every other year. The prerequisite course requirements are open to all students. The AAS degree may be obtained in a 24-month course of study following acceptance to the program. A minimum grade point average of B or 3.0 is required in all DENT courses which includes BIOL-207 and PHAR-150.
Application Information
Dental Hygiene begins every-other-year at the start of the spring semester. New cohorts are planned for January 2027 and 2029 with the Spring 2027 application cycle dates set as May 18 - July 16, 2026. Prerequisite courses must be completed no later than August 7, 2026 to meet program consideration. Official transcripts for summer courses ending by August 7, 2026 must arrive by August 13, 2026 to be considered. All other official transcripts must arrive by the July 16, 2026 deadline. Applicants enrolled in summer prerequisite courses must ensure transcripts arrive to meet both deadline requirements.
Please note - During future application cycles, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the application cycle closing date to be considered.
Observation hour requirements are a component of the application process. Applicants may complete observation hour requirements prior to the application cycle using the Spring 2027 Dental Hygiene Program Observation Requirement Form. Completed ‘Observation Requirement’ form(s) must be submitted during the application cycle to be considered. Application and submission instructions will be outlined in the Spring 2027 Dental Hygiene Application Information packet which will be posted as a link on the Dental Hygiene website by the application cycle opening date.
The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the 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. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/.
Student dental hygienists under direct supervision by oral healthcare professionals provide quality, low-cost preventive care at our North Idaho College dental clinics in Coeur d ‘Alene and Lewiston.
Adults and children are provided a complete set of radiographs (x-rays), complete oral and periodontal examinations, and the appropriate type of cleaning.
Other services include:
- Periodontal Therapy
- Fluoride Treatment
- Desensitizing Treatment
- Sealants
- Sports Guards
- Whitening Trays.
For information email: DHclinicNIC@nic.edu or DHclinicLCSC@nic.edu
To leave a message call:
- Coeur d’Alene Clinic - 208-929-4002
- Lewiston Clinic - 208-792-2930
- High school diploma or GED.
- 18 years old to participate.
- Application to the Dental Hygiene program.
- Minimum grades of C+/2.3 must be earned in each of the required prerequisite courses listed below.
Minimum Prerequisites Needed to Apply
- BACT-250 (General Microbiology)
- BIOL-227 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- CHEM-105 (General, Organic and Biochemistry or
CHEM-102 (Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry) - COMM-101 (Fundamentals of Oral Communication)
- ENGL-101 (Writing and Rhetoric I)
- MATH-123 (Math in Modern Society) or higher GEM 3 MATH
- PSYC-101 (Introduction to Psychology)
- SOC-101 (Introduction to Sociology)
- Minimum grades of B/3.0 must be earned in each of the courses listed below. These courses are part of the program curriculum but may be completed with required minimum grade by the application deadline for purposes of additional program application points.
Other Courses Assigned Points in Admissions Process- BIOL-207 (Concepts in Human Nutrition)
- PHAR-150 (Introduction to Pharmacology)
- All lab science courses (BACT, BIOL, and CHEM) must be no older than 7 years at the scheduled program start date.
- A criminal background check and drug screening will be required upon acceptance. Violations may result in denied access to clinical sites and therefore inability to complete the program. For questions regarding specific violations, please contact program director.
The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
