Information on the alignment requirements for the Dental Hygiene Program

CIP Code: 51.0602
CIP Name: Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Definition: A program that prepares individuals to clean teeth and apply preventive materials, provide oral health education and treatment counseling to patients, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. Includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; cleaning equipment operation and maintenance; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; office management; supervised clinical training; and professional standards.

Approval Status

The Dental Hygiene Alignment was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents on April 17, 2014.  Colleges are granted one year from the approval date to implement the alignment.

State Business and Industry Committee recommendation

State and National licensure was used in lieu of a Business and Industry Committee. All programs must be accredited by the American Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).  All students are required to sit for the National Dental Hygiene Board exam, State Dental Hygiene licensure exam and one of the following Regional Clinical Board exams: Central Regional Dental Testing (CRDTS) or Western Regional Examining Board (WREB). 

Alignment Map

Click here (pdf)

Common Courses (12 credit hours)
Common Courses serve as potential articulation and transfer of coursework between secondary and postsecondary partners.   These courses shall have the same title, credit hour allocation, and competencies.  Institutions may add additional competencies based on local demand.  The sequencing of common courses is determined by the institution.

Dental Radiography 2 credit hours (pdf)
Dental Materials 2 credit hours (pdf)
Periodontics 3 credit hours (pdf)
General and Oral Pathology 3 credit hours (pdf)
Dental Public Health 2 credit hours (pdf)

Agreed Upon Dental Hygiene Courses: (24-25 credit hours)
Institutions may utilize existing course titles listed for courses that adhere to the agreed upon course length rand and competencies for the agreed upon Dental Hygiene courses.

1. Clinical Dental Hygiene I: Pre-Clinical or Dental Health           
          Safety & Dental Hygiene Process I or
          Infection Control & Pre-Clinical Hygiene Process

5 credit hours

 

2. Clinical Dental Hygiene II or                                                 
          Dental Hygiene Process II

4 credit hours

 

3. Clinical Dental Hygiene III or                                                
          Dental Hygiene Process III

5-6 credit hours

 

4. Clinical Dental Hygiene IV or                                                
          Dental Hygiene Process & Transition
          in to Dental Hygiene Practice

6 credit hours

 

5. Development Dentistry & Head and Neck Anatomy 
          or Embryology, Histology & Oral Anatomy or Head 
          and Neck Anatomy, Embryology and Histology

4 credit hours

 

Support Courses
Institutions may utilize existing like courses which adhere to the agreed upon course lengths and competencies.

Microbiology 4-5 credit hours
Anatomy and Physiology 5-8 credit hours
Chemistry 5 credit hours

To learn where this program is available in Kansas, visit the Kansas Career Technical Education Program Search.