Dental Hygiene Schools in Tennessee

Tennessee has 10 dental hygiene programs at 10 schools, based on IPEDS 2023–24 completions data checked against official program pages. Of these, 3 schools offer a bachelor's degree.

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 Tennessee schools with a dental hygiene program run from $4,550 to $29,264 a year (median $11,002, 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. Career colleges that price by program report $64,959 for the whole dental hygiene program, before books and supplies.

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 Tennessee accepts (ADEX or CRDTS), then apply for your Tennessee license. Tennessee also requires a jurisprudence exam.