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Pediatric dental hygienist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a pediatric dental hygienist. Pediatric dental hygienists usually study dental assisting, biology, or english. 47% of pediatric dental hygienists hold a associate degree, and 45% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 74 real pediatric dental hygienist resumes to see exactly what pediatric dental hygienist education sections show.

The most common colleges for pediatric dental hygienists are the University of New England and the University of New England.

There are also many online pediatric dental hygienist courses to help get the education required to be a pediatric dental hygienist.

What education do you need to become a pediatric dental hygienist?

What degree do you need to be a pediatric dental hygienist?

The most common degree for pediatric dental hygienists is associate degree, with 47% of pediatric dental hygienists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 45% and bachelor's degree degree at 2%.
  • Associate, 47%
  • Bachelor's, 45%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a pediatric dental hygienist?

You should major in dental assisting to become a pediatric dental hygienist. 63% of pediatric dental hygienists major in dental assisting. Other common majors for a pediatric dental hygienist include biology and english.

Most common colleges for pediatric dental hygienists

Pediatric dental hygienists often get their degrees at University of New England, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and West Virginia University. Here are the most common colleges for pediatric dental hygienists in the US based on their resumes.
Pediatric dental hygienist common collegePercentages
University of New England8.33%
Fairleigh Dickinson University8.33%
West Virginia University8.33%
Springfield College8.33%
Winthrop University4.17%

Best majors for pediatric dental hygienists

Best colleges for pediatric dental hygienists

The best colleges for pediatric dental hygienists are University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, and SUNY at Buffalo.

A pediatric dental hygienist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for pediatric dental hygienists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become pediatric dental hygienists.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

4. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

10. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

20 best online courses for pediatric dental hygienists

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1. Introduction to Dental Medicine

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The mouth is the window into human health. This course provides an overview of dental medicine to engage, educate, excite and assist you in improving the oral health of your patients and members of your community. We will review topics in dental medicine including scope of the field, what to expect in function, and some of the many ways that dysfunction may present for different patients. This will include discussions of mouth, jaw, and tooth anatomy, pathology, and treatment. We will talk...

2. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

3. Modern Dental Extractions - Fast, Painless, & Non-invasive

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The goal is less trauma and less drama! This is an update that teaches superior methods for atraumatic extractions...

4. ACLS & PALS

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Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support...

5. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

6. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

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This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

7. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

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Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

8. Introduction to Medical Imaging

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Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...

9. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation

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Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...

10. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

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COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

11. Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Research Professionals

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The Complete, Certified ICH GCP (R2 & R3) Course for Investigators, Study Coordinators, Sponsors, Monitors and Study staff...

12. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

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Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...

13. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

14. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...

15. The Emergence of Oncofertility (Past, Present & Future)

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Oncofertility is a new interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that aims to provide effective fertility options to young cancer patients undergoing gonadotoxic anticancer therapy through several fertility preservation and restoration strategies. This course aims to provide participants with an exciting learning curve to ensure they understand the fundamentals of oncofertility and help them advance their career. This course is offered by the...

16. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

17. Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach

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Public Mental Health is the application of the principles of medicine and social science to prevent the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders and to promote mental health of the population. This course illustrates the principles of public health applied to depressive disorder, including principles of epidemiology, transcultural psychiatry, health services research, and prevention. It is predicted that by 2020 depressive disorder will be the most important cause of disease burden in the...

18. Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice

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Epidemiology is often described as the cornerstone science in public health. Epidemiology in public health practice uses study design and analyses to identify causes in an outbreak situation, guides interventions to improve population health, and evaluates programs and policies. In this course, we'll define the role of the professional epidemiologist as it relates to public health services, functions, and competencies. With that foundation in mind, we'll introduce you to the problem solving...

19. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...

20. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Clinical Perspective)

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HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is a 12-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. Also, it has additional, optional modules on other topics of interest or relevance. Although we suggest to complete the course within a month's timeframe, the course is self-paced and so you can start and...

Top 10 most affordable universities for pediatric dental hygienists

The most affordable schools for pediatric dental hygienists are SUNY Farmingdale, clayton state university, and augusta university.

If the best universities for pediatric dental hygienists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for pediatric dental hygienists.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

3. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$8,604

Cost of attendance

20,618

4. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$9,233

Cost of attendance

18,110

5. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

6. Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$7,879

Cost of attendance

21,223

7. Valdosta State University

Valdosta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,699

8. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

9. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,120

Cost of attendance

13,997

10. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Cost of attendance

24,568

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for pediatric dental hygienists

The hardest universities for pediatric dental hygienists to get into are University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, and SUNY at Buffalo.

Some great schools for pediatric dental hygienists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for pediatric dental hygienists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

56%

SAT average

1,250

4. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

60%

SAT average

1,303

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,172

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,091

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

9. Creighton University

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,276

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for pediatric dental hygienists

The easiest schools for pediatric dental hygienists to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, augusta university, and purdue university fort wayne.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a pediatric dental hygienist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for pediatric dental hygienists.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,172

3. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

4. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

6. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,091

7. SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Canton, NY • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

997

8. Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Carbondale, IL • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,124

9. Albany State University

Albany, GA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

865

10. MCPHS University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,144

Average pediatric dental hygienist salary by education level

According to our data, pediatric dental hygienists with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $101,648 annually. Pediatric dental hygienists with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $95,207.
Pediatric dental hygienist education levelPediatric dental hygienist salary
Bachelor's Degree$101,648
Some College/ Associate Degree$95,207

Pediatric dental hygienist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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