An AS degree requires two years of college education that combines classroom and clinical coursework. To be eligible for licensure, students must graduate from an accredited Dental-hygiene program. They also must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the Florida Board of Dentistry Clinical Dental Hygiene Examination. The FDA also works to secure funding for community college Dental-hygiene programs. Distance-learning programs give students the flexibility of taking classes at home at their convenience.
Students use all the same textbooks and complete the same coursework as traditional students.
They contribute individual expertise to form a continuum of care that ensures quality and safety. The FDA offers Dental Hygienists continuing-education courses at its annual convention, the Florida National Dental Congress. The FDA also offers hygienists discounts on Laws and Rules Updates, which include mandatory CE requirements. The Florida Dental Health Foundation, the FDA's charitable and educational organization, provides financial assistance to Florida students training for Dental-hygiene careers. Scholarships are awarded based on need.