Bachelor Degree Dental Hygiene Program
Why Dental Hygiene? Why West?
West Los Angeles College's dental hygiene program has been among the most respected in the country since its inception. The dental Hygiene program was originally started in 1969 at Los Angeles City College. The program then moved to West Los Angeles College in 1978. The first graduating class was in 1971. The dental hygiene program has offered an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree until 2017.
In 2016, the program started a four-year (two years of GE courses and two years of Dental Hygiene Upper Division Courses) Full-time Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program. In 2018, twenty-eight students graduated with their first Bachelor's degree from California Community College. Since then, the college has awarded more than one hundred fifty BSDH degrees (As of 2024).
In 2018, a one-year, full-time, ONLINE Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program (ASDH to BSDH program) was also started for licensed dental hygienists to complete their bachelor's degrees. Since its inception, over 100 students have been awarded BSDH degrees (As of 2024).
West has also been offering the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) licensure program since 2007 for those interested in serving the community in alternative settings.
West's Dental Hygiene Program is affiliated with UCLA School of Dentistry. The students serve diverse populations in our Veterans Administration Dental Clinics, Free Clinic of Simi Valley, Southbay Children's Health Center, and South Central Family Health Center in Montebello. A community dental clinic is also available at the West Los Angeles College campus.
The West Los Angeles College Dental Hygiene Program offers two pathways to a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree.
- The Entry-Level Bachelor of Science Degree Program offers a CODA-approved curriculum and is a full-time, 21-month program (four semesters, two winter and two summer intersessions). We accept 35 students per cohort in the Fall and Spring semesters. We maintain a 1 instructor-to-5-student ratio in the clinical learning environment. Students are expected to be available for the dental hygiene coursework, activities from Monday through Friday, and some occasional night and weekend activities.
- The Bachelor Degree Completion Program offers curriculum for the dental hygienists who have California RDH license with Associate Degree to complete the Bachelor Degree in Dental Hygiene. Students are accepted throughout the year as rolling admission. Students will be taking all the required classes online asynchronously. The courses are designed for working individuals for flexibility.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene provides the opportunity to enter into a variety of dental health positions in teaching, research, administration, public health, private industry and other areas of hygiene practice, as well as application for entry into degree programs such as Master’s in Dental Hygiene, Public Health, Oral Biology or Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice.
Completing the Dental Hygiene program qualifies students to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a Dental Hygiene Clinical Examination for licensure. The Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC) requires the submission of official fingerprinting (Live Scan); a license may be denied if a person has been convicted of a felony.
Upon completing the Dental Hygiene Program at West Los Angeles College, graduates are ready to take the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) to become licensed in California. Our graduate passing rate is high for NBDHE. Graduates who wish to obtain a license outside California may be required to take a clinical examination. West Los Angeles College hosts the mannequin examination hosted by CDCA-WREB-CITA. Program Faculty will guide students' licensing requirements throughout the program.
Dental hygienists provide primary care to patients to maintain their oral health and prevent oral disease. Dental hygienists enjoy excellent job prospects for the foreseeable future, with a 20 percent job growth for the next ten years. (source: Labor Statistics) Dental hygienists work in general and specialty dental offices that offer many different types of preventative services, including radiology, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery. Other career options include education, sales, administration, and consulting. Dental hygienists earn an excellent income, with median, full-time wages reaching almost $90,000 annually, often with medical benefits, paid vacation, and sick leave.
- The WLAC Dental Hygiene Graduate Survey shows 100% employment in the dental field.
- The most current Labor Market Information of the Dental Hygienist is available from LMI Data
- West Los Angeles College received commendations from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
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The West Los Angeles College Program in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. CODA granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements" in 2017 - Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene Education Programs and the program. The next CODA site visit is in 2025.
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 www.ada.org/en/coda
We are proud to announce that the West Los Angeles College Dental Hygiene Program is fully approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC). Our program meets the highest standards of education and training to prepare students for successful careers in dental hygiene licensure for California.
DHBC approves the following programs and certifications for West Los Angeles College.
- The entry-level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program Curriculum includes local anesthesia, nitrous oxide sedation, soft tissue curettage, Intraium Therapeutic Restoration (ITR), and Radiographic Decision-Making (RDM).
- Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice Program Curriculum
- Radiographic Decision Making (RDM) Certification for Registered Dental Hygienists
Please visit their official website for more information about the DHBC program approval process and RDH licensing requirements.
Dental Hygiene Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1350
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 916-263-1978
Fax: 916-623-4093
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
West LA College's Dental Hygiene program is affiliated with other prestigious institutions in Los Angeles. These connections offer our students excellent learning and networking opportunities. Dental Clinic facilities are in the UCLA School of Dentistry, The Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center, the Veterans Administration Greater LA Healthcare System, Southbay Children's Dental Clinic, Free Clinic of Simi Valley and South Central Family Health Center (SCFHC).
- The West Los Angeles College Dental Hygiene Student Demographic Analysis shows a diverse student population among the entry level BSDH program with 57% Hispanic, 19% White, 17% Asian, 4% African American/Black, and multiracial 1%. (Spring 2024 Term)
2015 CA Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office Final Letter of Program Approval
On October 23, 2015, In accordance with Senate Bill 850, the California Community College Chancellor's Office granted approval for WLAC to offer a bachelor degree in dental hygiene. On January 22, 2016, the substantive change for the bachelor degree program was approved by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The college granted the last Associate of Science (AS) degree in dental hygiene in spring 2017, and archived the two-year AS degree.
On October 6, 2021, Governor approved Assembly Bill 927, which would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program indefinitely.