Dental Hygienist

Program admission requirements:

• High school senior, or high school graduate with high school GPA 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (if high school GPA is below 2.7 or earned GED, this requirement may also be met by completing 9 credit hours of college-level courses with a grade C or higher, )

  OR

• College/ICC student with overall college GPA 2.0 or higher

  AND

• BIOL 140 and CHEM 115, both with grade C or higher.

• Requires the Health Science Application

Additional requirements after program acceptance:

• Provide negative drug screen result, negative fingerprint background check, documentation of required physical exam and immunizations.

• Complete Healthcare Provider CPR certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) or American Red Cross (ARC) BLS and keep it current throughout program.

• Participate in scheduled program registration and orientation sessions.

• Maintain minimum GPA 2.0 and earn GPA 2.0 or higher in all courses required within program.

Recommendations:

• Before application, schedule an appointment with college Health Careers Student Success Advisor for assistance enrolling in required courses.

• Required general education courses from program sequence may be completed with grade C or higher, prior to acceptance/admission into program.

The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body of the American Dental Association. Contact information for ADA/CODA, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611-2678. Phone: 312-440-2500

Accreditation Review: October, 2028

Graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a regional/state examination for registration as a Dental Hygienist in Illinois, and other states. The dental hygienist works under the supervision of the dentist in dental offices and other health agencies by performing duties delegated by the dentist in accordance with the Illinois Dental Practice Act or other applicable state practice acts. Duties include cleaning teeth, exposing xrays, providing oral healthcare instructions to patients, maintaining patient records, etc. Students receive extensive clinical experiences in the Illinois Central College Dental Hygiene Clinic and selected agencies.

A grade of C or better must be earned in all required general education and program courses.