Dental Hygiene
Program Type
Associate in Applied Science
Paying for Your Program
Contact
- Health Sciences Division
- (815) 921-3235
- A.Lonsway@rockvalleycollege.edu
- Main Campus - Health Sciences Center
About the Program
Our popular dental hygienist program offers career opportunities in hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, higher education institutions, schools, and extended care facilities. As a part of the dental health team, you'll learn about work in private and corporate dental offices where clients are educated on preventing periodontal disease, optimal oral health, and general oral healthcare.
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the Dental Hygiene Program are required to meet the following requirements to enroll in dental hygiene courses:
- Complete the online New Dental Hygiene Student Program Orientation by July 1, prior to the start of the program.
- Be in good health as certified by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, and complete the medical and immunization validation records.
- Earn current CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification in Basic Life Support. Students are responsible for enrolling in a CPR course. The CPR course must be through the American Heart Association (Bi-annual renewal). In addition, the CPR course content must include adult and infant CPR, and training in the use of an AED.
- Provide documentation of health insurance coverage or enrollment in a Student Health Insurance Program.
- Dental Hygiene Students are automatically enrolled in professional liability insurance when registering for clinic courses.
- Students admitted to the program are expected to meet all progression criteria including academic and performance standards (technical standards) with or without reasonable accommodation. These standards are provided in the Dental Hygiene Student Handbook. (All DNT courses must be passed with a minimum of 77% grade.)
Admission is selective and competitive. We receive more than 80 applications per year and only 20 are selected. To avoid having your application denied, follow all application directions. The deadline for application is March 31.
Ready to apply? Please use this checklist to be sure you have completed the requirements for program application:
-
Applied to Rock Valley College and received your student ID number (only needed if you have not applied or taken classes in the last two years).
-
Consulted with an RVC Health Science Advisor.
-
BIO 281/282 Anatomy and Physiology I & II completed with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5.
-
BIO 282 Anatomy/Physiology II completed within 5 years of entering the program.
-
BIO 274 Microbiology completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
ENG 101 English Composition I completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
College Chemistry with lab completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
PSY 170 General Psychology completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
SOC 190 Introduction to Sociology completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
SPH 131 Speech completed with minimum ‘C’ grade
-
Humanities/Fine Art Course (3 credits) completed with minimum ‘C’ grade.
-
FWS 237 Nutrition completed with a minimum of ‘C’ grade within 2 years of submitting the program application.
-
Submitted official current transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended to the RVC Records Office no later than March 1. (Note: Transcripts are not needed for courses taken at RVC)
-
Completed a transcript evaluation form through the RVC Records Office no later than March 10. (Note: this is not needed if all coursework was completed at RVC).
-
Submitted official results from AP and/or CLEP tests to the RVC Records Office. (Note: This is only needed if you wish to use your AP results or CLEP results in place of a course requirement.)
-
Minimum Overall Pre-Requisite GPA of 2.5
Completing all of the above coursework prior to applying to the Program will increase your chances of being selected. However, some applications may be considered pending completion of their coursework in the Spring or Summer semester following the application deadline.
Each fall, a new cohort of 20 students starts. On average, 80+ students apply to the program. There is no waiting list for admissions. Once the maximum number of students has been selected, an alternate list is created in case openings become available (i.e. due to student ineligibility, changes in finances, etc.).
Admission is selective and competitive. All required documents must be submitted to the Dental Hygiene Program office on or before March 31 to be reviewed for admission for the fall semester.
Dental Hygiene Program Application
Note: Students are also notified if they are denied admission. Students wishing to reapply should meet with the Health Sciences Advisor before completing a new application.
What can I do with this degree?
Potential Careers & Wages
Program Pathways
Students should meet with an Academic Advisor to develop a clear pathway leading to a seamless transfer experience or transition to the workforce. For additional possibilities that may require an advanced degree or certification, make an appointment with an Academic Advisor.
Dental Hygiene at RVC
Check out this short video to learn more about the Dental Hygiene program offered at RVC!
If accepted into the program, the following courses or equivalencies must be completed before starting this program:
- Biology: BIO 281/282–Human Anatomy and Physiology I/II, or equivalent and BIO 274-Microbiology. Completion of BIO 282 within 5 years. BIO 281/282 must meet a minimum of 2.5 GPA.
- Chemistry: CHM 110/210–General, Organic and Biochemistry I/II, or CHM 120-General Chemistry I, or equivalent Chemistry course with lab.
- Communications: ENG 101–Composition I, or equivalent.
- Fitness, Wellness & Sport: FWS 237–Nutrition for Optimum Living (3 credits as a prerequisite that must be completed within two years of entering the program)
- All prerequisites must be completed with a “C” or higher, unless noted above.
Graduates are eligible to take two board exams that lead to state licensure. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) under the auspices of the American Dental Association (ADA).
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
- (312) 440-2500
- https://www.ada.org/en/coda
- 211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611
The Rock Valley College Dental Hygiene Program will undergo an accreditation site visit by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) on September 9 and 10, 2025.
CODA is now accepting any third-party comments related to the CODA-assigned standards and policies. Comments must be sent to CODA at least 60 days before the September 9 and 10 site visit. The deadline for RVC Dental Hygiene Program third-party comments is Friday, July 11, 2025.
- Third-party comments should be emailed to the appropriate CODA staff. Email addresses are available on the CODA website. Comments should not be sent to the Commission office via the US Postal Service.
- All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process.
- Third parties include communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers.
- Signed or unsigned comments will be accepted. All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.
- A copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the commission at 1-312-440-4653 or by email.
The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene Program at Rock Valley College meets the state education requirements for a registered dental hygiene license in the state of Illinois. Rock Valley College has not determined if the Rock Valley College Dental Hygiene Program meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Learn more about how to become a dental hygienist or dental hygienist education, training requirements, and professional licensure.
Estimated Dental Hygiene Program Cost (as of Dec. 2024, subject to change)
- General Education Courses Tuition/Fees at RVC
- Pre/Co-Requisite Courses at RVC (34 Credits at $125/cr) = $4,250
- Pre/Co-Requisite Course Lab Fees = $444
- Subtotal: $4,694
- RVC College Fees
- Technology Fee (48 Credit Hours at $10) = $480
- Activity Fee (48 Credit Hours at $5) = $240
- Course Fee (25 Classes at $1) = $25
- Registration Fee (5 Semesters at $2) = $10
- Subtotal: $755
- Dental Hygiene Tuition (48 Credit Hours at $150) = $7,200
- Dental Hygiene Lab Fees
- Semester 1 (FA) = $1,227
- Semester 2 (SP) = $2,097
- Semester 3 (SU) = $1,395
- Semester 4 (FA) = $2,059
- Semester 5 (SP) = $1,134
- Subtotal: $7,872
- Other/Supplies (subject to change)
- Textbooks = $1,465
- BLS Certification (CPR for Healthcare Provider) = $50
- ADHA 2-Year Student Membership = $150
- Student Kits = $1,000
- Loupes = $1,595
- Equipment (Ultrasonic Inserts/Instrument Kits) = $1,200
- Consumable Supplies = $250
- Instruments (Sharpening or Replacement for Licensure Exams = $200
- Uniforms (2 Sets, Uniform Laundry Bag) = $235
- Subtotal: $6,145
- End of Program Costs: Board Review, Licensure Examination Costs = $2,130
- Total Estimated Dental Hygiene Program Cost: $28,796
All costs are based on in-district tuition. View Tuition and Fees for Illinois Out-of-District, Out-of-State, and International Students. Other supplies and end-of-program costs may vary. Rock Valley College reserves the right to make changes to tuition and fees without notice.
Students should meet with an Academic Advisor to ensure a seamless pathway from prerequisite courses through the Dental Hygiene Program. The Dental Hygiene Academic Advisor is Amanda Lonsway and she is located in the Health Sciences Center. For more information, please contact Amanda Lonsway at a.lonsway@rockvalleycollege.edu.
Program Faculty & Staff:
- Program Chair & Full-Time Professor: Dr. Marie Navickis, DHSc, MSDH, RDH
- Full-time Associate Professor: Lisa Graciana, RDH, EdM
- Full-time Clinic Coordinator: Kenosha Holland, RDH
- Full-time Administrative Assistant: Dusty Kayser
- Dental Hygiene Academic Advisor: Amanda Lonsway
Reciprocal Agreement Program: Qualified applicants who are residents in a neighboring college district may be able to receive in-district fees while attending the RVC Dental Hygiene Program. Learn more about Joint Agreement Programs at RVC.
Advance Placement: The following information only applies to applicants who have attended another dental hygiene program. Students requesting admission as an advance placement will be considered for admission, as space is available in the program. Advanced placement students are reviewed based on the following criteria:
- The American Dental Association Commission on Accreditation accredits the previous program attended.
- The student grade point average in all dental hygiene courses previously completed is 3.0 or better.
- Previous enrollment is not more than three years from the date of anticipated enrollment in the RVC Dental Hygiene Program.
- Coursework received in transfer is evaluated as equivalent to RVC Dental Hygiene courses. Validation of previous didactic and clinical coursework may be required.
- The student was not dismissed due to academic dishonesty and/or unprofessional or unethical behavior.
RVC has partnered with Northern Illinois Universities College of Health and Human Sciences. Eligible RVC graduates may transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at NIU. For further information, visit www.niu.edu.
The RVC Dental Hygiene Clinic offers low-cost, high-quality dental hygiene preventative services performed by students in the RVC Dental Hygiene program. All students are supervised by faculty consisting of registered dental hygienists and licensed dentists. To learn more and/or make an appointment, visit the RVC Dental Hygiene Clinic page.
Related Programs