Dental Hygiene Schools in Alabama

Alabama has 3 dental hygiene programs at 3 schools, based on IPEDS 2023–24 completions data checked against official program pages.

It depends on the degree. ADEA reports the average associate program takes 2 years (84 credit hours) and the average bachelor's takes 4 years (120 credit hours). Most programs also require prerequisite courses first, so plan on about 3 years in total for an associate path.

In-state tuition and fees at Alabama schools with a dental hygiene program run from $4,980 to $14,741 a year (median $5,060, IPEDS, 2023–24). That's whole-school tuition, not program cost. Dental hygiene programs add instruments, uniforms, and exam fees, so ask each program for its total cost.

Not for your first license. Entry-level programs include hands-on clinical training with patients, so you attend in person, though some schools teach part of the coursework online. Online degree-completion (RDH to bachelor's) programs are for hygienists who are already licensed.

Finish an accredited dental hygiene program, pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a clinical exam Alabama accepts (ADEX or CRDTS), then apply for your Alabama license. Alabama also requires a jurisprudence exam.