Clayton State University was founded in 1965 as a Two-year junior college. In 1986, this junior college became an accredited four-year college. Clayton State University is located 10 miles away from Atlanta in Morrow, Georgia. The Department of Dental Hygiene at Clayton State University offers two accredited programs. Students who already possess an associate degree can register for the four-year Bachelor of Science program. Alternatively, for first-year freshmen, there is a separate Bachelor of Science program.
Everest Institute, formerly known as Georgia Medical Institute (GMI) is located in Norcross, Georgia. The institute has four different campuses in Georgia with Norcross as the closest to Atlanta. The college provides courses on Dental Assistance. Their training program is designed in such a way that students will get a hands-on-approach to dentistry training with real-world work experience.
Atlanta Technical College has opportunities for both full-time students and working adults. The program helps students to prepare for careers or to obtain admission to a four-year college degree. The dental assisting program at Atlanta Technical College provides experience in classroom and clinical training. The college also has a dental laboratory technology program that prepares students to become professional lab technologist. Student can choose between complete dentures and removable partial dentures or dental ceramic and crown and bridge. The college has been ranked as the "best community college in the United States" by Washington Monthly in 2007.
The Medical College of Georgia is located in Augusta and is the only accredited dental college in the state. The school provides a four-year program that trains students to become a Registered Dental Hygienist. Two separate bachelor programs include an entry-level program and an associate degree in dental hygiene. They also have a Master of science program in Allied Health that allows graduates to teach dental hygiene as well as write in dental journals. All programs at the school places an emphasis on early exposure to patients. By the time students are sophomores, they have had a good share of hands-on experience.