Dental Hygiene is an Associate Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Fortis College in Birmingham, AL. The program takes 120 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $54,444.
Program Overview
The dental hygienist is an integral member of the dental team and plays a major role in preventing dental disease. The Dental Hygiene program prepares students with the clinical, educational, and therapeutic skills to deliver preventive dental care and to serve as clinician, educator, and patient advocate.
Students learn to provide preventive, educational, and clinical therapeutic services that support patients' total health, control oral disease, and promote good oral health — including a significant supervised clinical component on campus, working under an instructor and a licensed dentist.
What sets this Program apart
- Earn an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene.
- Extensive supervised on-campus dental-hygiene clinic, plus radiology, periodontology, and pharmacology coursework.
- Prepares graduates for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and regional/state clinical board exams.
- Leads toward licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) — requirements vary by state.
- Accredited by ACCSC.
General Requirements
- A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, with documentation. Foreign credentials must be translated into English and evaluated as equivalent or higher by a NACES-member…
- You must be at least 17 years old when your program of study starts.
- Complete an applicant information form and interview with an admissions advisor or other administrative staff.
- Achieve the minimum required score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). A passing score is valid for three years.
- Meet all financial obligations and complete the tuition payment requirements.
- Sign the Fortis enrollment agreement once accepted.
Application Process
- 1Speak to an admissions advisorEvery applicant is assigned an admissions advisor who explains the curriculum and policies and books the interviews you need.
- 2Submit your documentationProvide proof of high school completion and complete the applicant information form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure Fortis receives every required document.
- 3Sit the Wonderlic SLETake the Scholastic Level Exam and reach this program’s published minimum. Accommodations must be requested under the catalog’s policy — campus staff cannot approve them.
- 4Financial aidFortis participates in federal student aid including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, PLUS Loans and Federal Work-Study. File the FAFSA and meet the campus financial aid office.FAFSA Code for Fortis Institute in Birmingham: 030108Complete FAFSA Application
- 5Sign the enrollment agreementAdmission decisions weigh your fulfilment of the requirements, your previous educational records and your career interests.
Program Schedule
Dental Hygiene combines on-campus classes and labs with a supervised dental-hygiene clinic scheduled throughout the program, where students treat patients under an instructor and a licensed dentist. Classes meet mornings, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; terms are 12 weeks in length.
The program is 141.5 quarter credits (2,412 contact hours), completed in 120 weeks, in a hybrid format — some coursework is online; labs and clinic are on-campus.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SCI118 | Chemistry | 4 |
| MED110 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| MED115 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| ENG101 | English Composition | 4 |
| SCI120 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 4 |
| DHG110 | Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology of Facial Structures I | 4 |
| MAT101 | College Mathematics | 4 |
| DHG250 | Pharmacology and Pain Control | 4 |
| DHG111 | Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology of Facial Structures II | 4 |
| COM205 | Effective Communication | 4 |
| SOC101 | Sociology | 4 |
| DHG104 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab I | 4 |
| DAS114 | Radiology I | 4 |
| DHG314 | Radiology II | 4 |
| DHG105 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab II | 4 |
| DHG220 | Periodontology I | 4 |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| DHG197 | Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4 |
| DHG112 | Process of Care I | 4 |
| DHG212 | Process of Care II | 4 |
| DHG198 | Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4 |
| DHG100 | Nutrition | 4 |
| DHG200 | Dental Materials | 4 |
| DHG199 | Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4 |
| DHG240 | General Oral Pathology | 4 |
| DHG320 | Periodontology II | 4 |
| DHG297 | Advance Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4.5 |
| DHG230 | Health Promotion | 4 |
| DHG330 | Community Oral Health | 4 |
| DHG298 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4.5 |
| DHG312 | Process of Care III | 4 |
| AHP206 | Ethics and Jurisprudence | 4 |
| DHG299 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic | 4.5 |
| PDC200 | Career Development | 4 |
| Totals | 141.5 |
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited program means your education has met independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
The Dental Hygiene program at Fortis Institute in Birmingham is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) without reporting requirements — a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The campus also holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Independently reviewed against published standards
- Recognised by employers in the field
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Fortis Institute in Birmingham Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
The total program cost of $63,058 covers tuition plus the required fees and materials below:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $54,444 |
| Administrative & technology fee | $353 |
| Student kit | $3,011 |
| Certification / licensure exam | $1,715 |
| Background check | $66 |
| Drug screen | $40 |
| Textbooks | $2,006 |
| E-books | $325 |
| Laptop computer | $1,098 |
| Total program cost | $63,058 |
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Fortis participates in federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for parents, and Federal Work-Study. Complete the FAFSA and speak with the campus financial aid office to learn what you are eligible for.
Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Clock Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCI118 | Chemistry | 60 | 4 |
| MED110 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 60 | 4 |
| MED115 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 60 | 4 |
| ENG101 | English Composition | 40 | 4 |
| SCI120 | Biochemistry | 60 | 4 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 60 | 4 |
| DHG110 | Anatomy, Histology & Embryology of Facial Structures I | 60 | 4 |
| MAT101 | College Mathematics | 40 | 4 |
| DHG250 | Pharmacology | 60 | 4 |
| DHG111 | Anatomy, Histology & Embryology of Facial Structures II | 60 | 4 |
| COM205 | Effective Communication | 40 | 4 |
| SOC101 | Sociology | 40 | 4 |
| DHG104 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab I | 60 | 4 |
| DAS114 | Radiology I | 60 | 4 |
| DHG314 | Radiology II | 60 | 4 |
| DHG105 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab II | 60 | 4 |
| DHG220 | Periodontics I | 60 | 4 |
| PSY101 | General Psychology | 40 | 4 |
| DHG197 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 120 | 4 |
| DHG112 | Process of Care I | 60 | 4 |
| DHG212 | Process of Care II | 60 | 4 |
| DHG198 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 120 | 4 |
| DHG100 | Nutrition | 60 | 4 |
| DHG200 | Dental Materials | 60 | 4 |
| DHG199 | Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 120 | 4 |
| DHG240 | Oral Pathology | 60 | 4 |
| DHG320 | Periodontics II | 60 | 4 |
| DHG297 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 144 | 4.5 |
| DHG230 | Health Promotion | 60 | 4 |
| DHG330 | Community Oral Health | 60 | 4 |
| DHG298 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 144 | 4.5 |
| DHG312 | Process of Care III | 60 | 4 |
| AHP206 | Ethics and Jurisprudence | 40 | 4 |
| DHG299 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 144 | 4.5 |
| PDC200 | Career Development | 60 | 4 |
| Total | 2412 | 141.5 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment as dental hygienists.
To be eligible for employment as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), graduates must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a regional or state board examination (including a clinical component), and receive a license from the State Board of Dentistry. Licensing requirements vary by state, and most require a written jurisprudence exam.
What to expect as a Fortis student
Fortis is a career-focused college. The Dental Hygiene program follows a set, sequenced schedule combining classroom instruction, labs, and a significant supervised on-campus dental-hygiene clinic where students treat patients under supervision.
Concentration and prerequisite science courses require a minimum grade of C+.