Area of Study: Health Sciences
Program number: 105081
The two-year Dental Hygienist associate degree program at Madison College prepares you to work side by side with dentists.
The dental hygienist inspects the mouth, administers local anesthesia and chemotherapeutic agents, removes stains and deposits from teeth, applies preventive agents, prepares clinical and diagnostic tests, completes dental x-rays and performs many other services related to mouth care. Dental hygienists also counsel patients about preventive measures such as nutrition, oral hygiene, and dental care.
Top Career Training
The Dental Hygienist Program is widely respected by leading dentists throughout Madison, Wisconsin. Students develop top skills from their hands-on experience at our on-campus dental clinic, which serves real patients from the area. Dental hygiene graduates work for many top dental organizations.
Strong Job Opportunities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38 percent employment growth for dental hygienists by 2020. In addition to dental technician positions, Madison College graduates work as dental hygienist instructors, dental lab technicians, public school hygienists and more.
Dental Hygienist graduates are required to successfully complete comprehensive written and clinical examinations given under the direction of the State of Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board, the American Dental Association's Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, and Central Regional Dental Testing Services, Inc.
Please note: Upon admission to the Dental Hygienist program, you will be required to complete a background check and multiple immunization requirements, and provide documentation of current Health Care Provider CPR certification.
Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Education programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Education Forms and Policies.
Students in the Dental Hygienist program must attend full time.
Classes are offered Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Dental Hygienist classes are offered at these Madison College campuses:
Explore financial aid eligibility for this program.
Some of the courses for this program may be available online.
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Dental Hygienist Petition Requirements.
Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Fall 2020 and Spring 2021
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2019-2020 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current program students (including newly admitted), go directly to your Degree Progress Report (also referred to as an Advising Report or Academic Requirements) to view:
If you have questions after reviewing your report, please see Advising Services.
After completing the Dental Hygienist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
Graduates of the Dental Hygienist program are able to find employment as the following:
With additional education and/or work experience, dental hygiene graduates also may find employment as:
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|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Program Graduates | 34 | 34 | 36 |
| Number of Surveys Sent | 34 | 34 | 36 |
| Number of Surveys Returned | 26 | 28 | 25 |
| Percent of Surveys Returned | 76.50% | 82.40% | 69.40% |
| Available for Employment | 26 | 26 | 23 |
| Percent Available for Employment | 100.00% | 92.90% | 92.00% |
| Not in Labor Market | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Percent Not in Labor Market | 0.00% | 7.10% | 8.00% |
|
|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduates Employed | 25 | 25 | 23 |
| Percent of Graduates Employed | 96.20% | 96.20% | 100.00% |
| Employed in Related Occupation | 24 | 22 | 21 |
| Percent Employed in Related Occupation | 96.00% | 88.00% | 91.30% |
| Employed in Unrelated Occupation | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation | 4.00% | 12.00% | 8.70% |
| Employed - No Response | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Percent Employed - No Response | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Seeking Employment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Percent Seeking Employment | 3.80% | 3.80% | 0.00% |
|
|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Number of Satisfaction Responses | 26 | 28 | 25 |
| Very Satisfied | 14 | 17 | 11 |
| Percent Very Satisfied | 53.80% | 60.70% | 44.00% |
| Satisfied | 12 | 10 | 12 |
| Percent Satisfied | 46.20% | 35.70% | 48.00% |
| Unsatisfied | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Percent Unsatisfied | 0.00% | 0.00% | 4.00% |
| Very Unsatisfied | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Percent Very Unsatisfied | 0.00% | 3.60% | 4.00% |
|
|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Primary Reason Responses | 26 | 28 | 25 |
| Preparation for Getting a Job | 17 | 17 | 16 |
| Percent Preparation for Getting a Job | 65.40% | 60.70% | 64.00% |
| Career Change | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Percent Career Change | 30.80% | 28.60% | 28.00% |
| Improvement of Existing Skills | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Percent Improvement of Existing Skills | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Preparation for Further Education | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Percent Preparation for Further Education | 3.80% | 7.10% | 0.00% |
| Personal Interest | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Percent Personal Interest | 0.00% | 3.60% | 4.00% |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Percent Other | 0.00% | 0.00% | 4.00% |
|
|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of When Employment Obtained Responses | 25 | 25 | 22 |
| Before Enrollment | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Percent Before Enrollment | 4.00% | 4.00% | 4.50% |
| While Attending the College | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Percent While Attending the College | 16.00% | 16.00% | 13.60% |
| After Training at the College | 20 | 20 | 18 |
| Percent After Training at the College | 80.00% | 80.00% | 81.80% |
|
|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Employment Location Responses | 25 | 25 | 23 |
| In College District | 13 | 17 | 16 |
| Percent In College District | 52.00% | 68.00% | 69.60% |
| In Wisconsin, Not in District | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Percent of In Wisconsin | 40.00% | 28.00% | 26.10% |
| Outside of Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Percent Outside Wisconsin | 0.00% | 0.00% | 4.30% |
| Employer Location Unknown | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Percent Location Unknown | 8.00% | 4.00% | 0.00% |
| Salary Trend | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Time Employment (Related Job) | Full Time Salary Count | 15 | 11 | 14 |
| Average Monthly Wage | $4,495 | $4,511 | $4,851 | |
| Average Hourly Wage | $26.13 | $26.23 | $28.21 | |
| Average Work Hours per Week | 37.2 | 37.3 | 38.1 | |
| Part Time Employment (Related Job) | Part Time Salary Count | 7 | 10 | 5 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $26.78 | $28.10 | $31.20 | |
| Average Work Hours per Week | 27.6 | 26.8 | 30.2 | |
| Wisconsin TechConnectTM Jobs* | Madison | Non-Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Full Time Positions Open | 32 | 228 |
| Number of Part Time Positions Open | 31 | 202 |
| Total Jobs | 63 | 430 |
| Employer(s) | Job Title | City** | State*** | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Holter DVM | Hygienist | Dodgeville | ||
| Aspen Dental | Dental Hygienist | Dickson | TN | |
| Associated Dentists | Dental Hygienist | |||
| DeForest Dental Services | Dental Hygienist | DeForest | ||
| Dental Express Staffing | Dental Hygienist | Wilton | ||
| Dental Health Associates | Dental Hygienist | |||
| Dental Health Associates | Dental Hygienist | Fitchburg | ||
| Door Creek Dental | Dental Hygienist | |||
| Dr Robert Wyler | Dental Hygienist | Waukesha | ||
| Eby Family Dental | Registered Dental Hygienist | Fort Atkinson | ||
| First Choice Dental | Dental Hygienist | Middleton | ||
| Jackson Family Dentistry | Dental Hygienist | Jackson | ||
| Madison No Fear Dentistry | Dental Hygienist | |||
| Madison No Fear Dentistry | Registered Dental Hygienist | |||
| Midwest Dental | Dental Hygienist | Janesville | ||
| Midwest Dental | Registered Dental Hygienist | |||
| Today's Dentistry | Dental Hygienist | West Bend | ||
| Warren Family Dental/Affordable Dental Care | Dental Hygienist | |||
| Williams & Pearce Family Dental | Dental Hygienist | Richland Center |
* - Wisconsin TechConnectTM jobs are posted through a statewide consortium operated and funded by all 16 of the technical colleges in Wisconsin.
** - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
*** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
**** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at techconnect@madisoncollege.edu
MATC's Dental Hygienist program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).