Dental Hygiene, A.A.S.

Purpose

The program is designed to prepare students to serve in a dynamic and growing health profession as members of the dental health team. After successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and professional licensure examinations. Upon successful completion of the licensing process, the title “Registered Dental Hygienist” (R.D.H.) is awarded.

Transfer Information

Transfer is not the primary purpose of an A.A.S. program, but NOVA has articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer of this and other career-oriented programs to selected senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact a counselor or their academic advisor early in their program.

Special Accreditation Status

The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s 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 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is https://coda.ada.org.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases Statement

By nature of the profession, students accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program may be exposed to blood and body fluids while practicing dental hygiene skills or providing services during clinical, preclinical, and laboratory sessions. Policies and procedures have been established to ensure the working environment is safe in order to minimize disease transmission. Prospective students may request a copy of the policy on bloodborne infectious diseases by calling 703-822-6627.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must do the following:

• Comply with all general admission requirements for Health Sciences Programs.
• Be eligible to sit for the licensure exam, which will require the student to present documentation of legal status in the U.S.
• Pass BIO 141 Human Anatomy And Physiology I-BIO 142 Human Anatomy and Physiology II,with a grade of “B” or higher and must be completed within 10 years at time of application. (Please note: BIO 141 Human Anatomy And Physiology I requires the completion of BIO 101 General Biology I, or NAS 2 Foundations of Life Sciences or a placement test as noted at: https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/divisions/health-sciences/).
• Pass BIO 150 Microbiology for Health Sciences with a grade of “B” or higher and must must be completed within 10 years at time of application.
• Pass ENG 111 College Composition I with a “C” or higher prior to being admitted to the program.
• Pass SDV 100 College Success Skills or SDV 101 Orientation to: Orientation to Healthcare with a “C” or higher prior to being admitted to the program.
• Be willing to repeat courses or to complete evaluative testing for credits earned more than ten years ago.
• Review the competitive admission and deadlines for applications on the dental hygiene website at https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/divisions/health-sciences/.
• Successfully complete and achieve satisfactory scores on the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test. Students may only take the test three times per year. The latest result must be within three years of application to the DNH Program.
• Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. For Health Science programs, GPA evaluation will prioritize a student’s record at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). If no NOVA GPA is available, the GPA from the student’s most recent institution will be considered.

Completion Requirements

All courses (including General Education courses) must be completed with a grade of “C” or better before taking the next course in the sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements (note: some prerequisite requirements may require a higher grade).

Special Program Requirements

The Virginia Board of Dentistry reserves the right to deny licensure to any candidate who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or the use of drugs or alcohol to the extent that such use renders him/her unsafe to practice dental hygiene. Any applicant who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony must consult with the Dental Hygiene program director prior to admission.

Two Years

Students who graduate from the NOVA Dental Assisting Certificate Program within One Year of acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program may substitute DNA 110 Dental Materials for DNH 214 Practical Materials for Dental Hygiene. DNA 134 Dental Radiology and Practicum can be a substitute for DNH 130 Oral Radiography for the Dental Hygienist. It will be required to register and take DNH 196 On-Site Training, a 1 credit course, during the summer semester of the program to supplement the Dental Materials coursework. The DNH 196 On-Site Training course will cover aspects that are specific to the dental hygiene scope of practice and review materials and skills necessary for clinical treatment of patients in the program.