Henderson Community College, located in western Kentucky, is a two-year college serving 2,000 students on-campus and another 4,000 in continuing education programs. The academic programs are structured to give students the necessary education to enter a work environment immediately after graduation. Its dental hygiene course is a selective admissions program that requires 12 college credits in pre-selected dental hygiene courses, a grade point average of 3.0, an ACT score of 20 or above and a pre-admission interview. Graduates are prepared for the Kentucky state dental hygienist exam. Only four dental hygiene students are accepted per year. Financial assistance is available.
The dental hygiene program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College's Cooper Campus in Lexington combines courses in a general academic education with dental hygienist classes. Clinical, lab and classroom studies prepare students to take the Kentucky dental hygienist licensing exam. Acceptance into the program is based on an admissions application, and includes ACT scores of 21 or above, 12 or more college credits with a 2.8-grade point average, and four hours minimum of work or observation in the dental hygienist field. College coursework in the sciences will place the applicant in a "preferred" category. Financial aid is available.
The University of Louisville's dental hygienist program began in 1952. The school offers a four-year, bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene and is the only dental hygienist school in Kentucky located within a college's dental school. An on-campus clinic is the site for all clinical experience. General admission criteria to the university must be met prior to applying to the dental hygienist school. Five spaces are reserved for incoming freshmen, and an additional five spaces are reserved for second-semester freshmen who apply and have met the grade point average for the first term. High school coursework in the sciences is recommended, and financial aid is available.
Western Kentucky University's dental hygiene course is a two-year associate degree program. The school is located in Bowling Green, south of Louisville and just north of the Tennessee border. While the school does accept recently graduated high school students, it is recommended that applicants complete a minimum one year of college courses prior to applying for admission. Students must be accepted into the University prior to applying for the dental hygiene program. A certificate in CPR is necessary for admission. The school operates a dental clinic open to the public and is the site of clinical practice for students. Financial aid is available.