Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene begins every-other-year at the start of the spring semester. New cohorts are planned for January 2027 and 2029 with the Spring 2027 application cycle dates set as May 18 - July 16, 2026. Prerequisite courses must be completed no later than August 7, 2026 to meet program consideration. Official transcripts for summer courses ending by August 7, 2026 must arrive by August 13, 2026 to be considered. All other official transcripts must arrive by the July 16, 2026 deadline. Applicants enrolled in summer prerequisite courses must ensure transcripts arrive to meet both deadline requirements.

Please note - During future application cycles, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the application cycle closing date to be considered.

Observation hour requirements are a component of the application process. Applicants may complete observation hour requirements prior to the application cycle using the Spring 2027 Dental Hygiene Program Observation Requirement Form. Completed ‘Observation Requirement’ form(s) must be submitted during the application cycle to be considered. Application and submission instructions will be outlined in the Spring 2027 Dental Hygiene Application Information packet which will be posted as a link on the NIC Dental Hygiene website by the application cycle opening date.

In collaboration with North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College offers the program requirements to prepare you for entry into the dental hygiene profession as licensed clinicians (Registered Dental Hygienists – RDH). Dental hygienists provide preventative, therapeutic, and restorative care to control oral disease and promote optimal oral health. The Dental Hygiene program includes instruction in dental anatomy, microbiology, and pathology; dental hygiene theory and techniques; dental materials; radiology; patient education and counseling; and office management and professional standards. Clinical education experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum and offer you the opportunity to gain competency through practice. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), and the regional and/or State Board of Dentistry in the states in which you wish to practice. Dental Hygiene is a competitive entry program. Students are admitted to the program every January of odd years. Pre-requisite courses are open to all students and must be completed prior to application. The program awards an AAS degree following 24 month of courses after acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program. As an applicant, you will be required to complete dental office clinical observation. Dental Assistant Certification or work experience will earn additional points on the program application.

NIC Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of initial accreditation. 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. The Commission’s web address is: www.ada.org/en/coda.

Student dental hygienists under direct supervision by oral healthcare professionals provide quality, low-cost preventive care at our North Idaho College dental hygiene clinics in Coeur d‘Alene and Lewiston.