Located just southeast of Pittsburgh, Westmore County Community College (WCCC) offers an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in dental hygiene. The 75-credit program prepares students for practice as a dental hygienist in a variety of career paths, not just for employment in a private dental practice, and is usually completed by full-time students in two years. The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association has accredited the program.
Westmoreland County Community College
145 Pavilion Lane
Youngwood, PA 15697
724-925-4000
wccc.edu
Ranked by U.S. News and World Report in their 2010 survey of best colleges, this affiliate of the Pennsylvania State network specializes in providing technical vocational training to its students. The School of Health Sciences offers a two-year AAS degree in Dental Hygiene. Penn Tech, as it's called, also offers a bachelor's of science degree in two concentrations of dental hygiene: Health Policy and Administration and Special Population Care.
Pennsylvania College of Technology
1 College Avenue
Williamsport, PA 17701
570-327-4761
pct.edu
According to the website, University of Pittsburgh offers the only dental hygienist training program in Pennsylvania that is affiliated with a major university, a major dental school and a major medical center. Offered through the School of Dental Medicine, this two-year program ends with a Certificate of Dental Hygiene. Students who have completed the certificate program can later enter a bachelor's of science degree through the College of General Studies.
University of Pittsburgh
School of Dental Medicine
Salk Hall
3501 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-648-8437
dental.pitt.edu