Dental Hygiene is an Associate Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Fortis College in Landover, MD. The program takes 96 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $40,050.
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 ABHES.
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.Complete 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 the supervision of an instructor and a licensed dentist.
The program is 105 quarter credits (1,804 contact hours), completed in 96 weeks, in a hybrid format — some coursework is online; labs and clinic are on-campus.
- January 04th, 2027
- July 05th, 2027
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AHP201 | Ethics and Jurisprudence | 1 |
| AHP214 | Anatomy and Physiology | 6 |
| COM205 | Effective Communication | 4 |
| DAS112 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| DHG102 | Nutrition | 3 |
| DHG106 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab I | 3 |
| DHG107 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab II | 3 |
| DHG113 | Process of Care I | 4 |
| DHG114 | Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHG116 | Radiology | 5 |
| DHG117 | Oral Anatomy & Tooth Morphology | 4 |
| DHG180 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 4 |
| DHG185 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 5 |
| DHG216 | Process of Care II | 3 |
| DHG218 | Process of Care III | 3 |
| DHG221 | Periodontology | 5 |
| DHG223 | Community Oral Health | 3 |
| DHG241 | General & Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHG250 | Pharmacology & Pain Control | 4 |
| DHG280 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 5 |
| DHG285 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 6 |
| DHG286 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Seminar | 1 |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 4 |
| MAT101 | College Math | 4 |
| PSY101 | Psychology | 4 |
| SCI125 | Chemistry/Biochemistry | 5 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 4 |
| SOC101 | Sociology | 4 |
| Totals | 105 |
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 College in Landover is offered at a campus accredited by 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 College in Landover Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
The total program cost of $65,720 covers tuition plus the required fees and materials below:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $40,050 |
| Clinical tuition | $16,820 |
| Administrative & technology fee | $304 |
| Instructional materials / kit | $3,011 |
| Certification / licensure exam | $1,715 |
| Laptop computer | $1,098 |
| Books & materials | $2,616 |
| Background check | $66 |
| Drug screen | $40 |
| Total program cost | $65,720 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHP201 | Ethics and Jurisprudence | 12 | 1 |
| AHP214 | Human Anatomy & Physiology | 80 | 6 |
| COM205 | Effective Communication | 40 | 4 |
| DAS112 | Dental Materials | 50 | 3 |
| DHG102 | Nutrition | 40 | 3 |
| DHG106 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab I | 60 | 3 |
| DHG107 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Lab II | 60 | 3 |
| DHG113 | Process of Care I | 60 | 4 |
| DHG114 | Histology and Embryology | 30 | 2 |
| DHG116 | Radiology | 80 | 5 |
| DHG117 | Oral Anatomy and Tooth Morphology | 60 | 4 |
| DHG180 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 120 | 4 |
| DHG185 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 150 | 5 |
| DHG216 | Process of Care II | 50 | 3 |
| DHG218 | Process of Care III | 40 | 3 |
| DHG221 | Periodontology | 70 | 5 |
| DHG223 | Community Oral Health | 50 | 3 |
| DHG241 | General and Oral Pathology | 50 | 3 |
| DHG250 | Pharmacology and Pain Control | 60 | 4 |
| DHG280 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 150 | 5 |
| DHG285 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 180 | 6 |
| DHG286 | Advanced Dental Hygiene Seminar | 12 | 1 |
| ENG101 | English Composition | 40 | 4 |
| MAT101 | College Mathematics | 40 | 4 |
| PSY101 | General Psychology | 40 | 4 |
| SCI125 | Chemistry/Biochemistry | 80 | 5 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 60 | 4 |
| SOC101 | Sociology | 40 | 4 |
| Total | 1804 | 105 |
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+.