• Train in Florida for a career as a dental hygienist.Person having teeth cleaned image by skidme from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for dental hygienists is expected to rise by 36 percent through the year 2018, much faster than other professions. A career as a hygienist requires specialized training and experience, and many schools across the country offer two-year, associate's degree programs. Florida residents interested in a dental hygiene career have a variety of options to get the training they need.
  
  

Valencia Community College

• Valencia Community College offers an Associate of Science degree in dental hygiene. Coursework includes training such as removing hard deposits, periodontal assessment, mounting radiographs, applying fissure sealants, counseling patients on nutrition and root excavation.
  
  Students gain real-world experience through practicing at the school's public dental clinic and through rotations at community health centers. The school is accredited through the American Dental Association. Applicants must be Florida residents and must submit to a criminal background check.
  
  Valencia Community College
  P. O. Box 3028
  Orlando, FL 32802-3028
  407-299-5000
  valenciacc.edu
  
  

South Florida Community College

• Begin your career in dental hygiene by training at South Florida Community College and earn an Associate of Applied Science in dental hygiene. Classes include Pharmacology and Pain Control, Dental Radiology Lab, General and Oral Pathology, Community Dental Health, Periodontology and Orofacial Anatomy.
  
  Students are admitted for the fall term only; applicants must have a health exam and be up to date on immunizations. A background check also will be performed. Upon completion of the program, students may take their Florida State Clinical Licensure Examination and National Dental Hygiene Board Exam. SFCC has received accreditation from the American Dental Association.
  
  South Florida Community College
  600 West College Drive
  Avon Park, FL 33825
  863-453-6661
  southflorida.edu
  
  

Miami Dade College

• Students in the Miami area may be interested in Miami Dade College's Associate of Science degree in dental hygiene. Housed in the school's medical center campus, program enrollees take such courses as Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene, Nutritional Counseling, Dental Office Emergencies, Dental Radiology, Preventive Dentistry and Dental Medicine/Pharmacology. Miami Dade is accredited by the American Dental Association. The school encourages students not to have outside employment during their time of study. Applicants must be age 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or GED.
  
  Miami Dade College
  2248 Southwest 60th Avenue
  Miami, FL 33155-2263
  305-237-0651
  mdc.edu
  
  

Florida State College

• Florida State College offers a dental hygiene associate's degree in science, accredited by the American Dental Association. Coursework includes Preventive Dentistry, Dental Hygienists Expanded Duties, General and Oral Pathology, Dental Radiology Laboratory, Medically Compromised Patient and Head and Neck Anatomy. Applicants must have a record of Hepatitis B immunization and test negative for tuberculosis.
  
  Florida State's program prepares students for dental hygiene employment in Florida only. Graduates may be required to take another exam or more training when applying for employment in another state. Classes begin every fall.
  
  Florida State College
  101 W. State St.
  Jacksonville, FL 32202
  904-633-8100
  floridastatecollegecatalog.fscj.edu