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male hygienist cleaning the teeth of a female sitting in a dental chair in a dental office.

Western Dakota Technical College Learn. Do. Now.

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Dental Hygiene

Students in dental hygiene acquire the knowledge and clinical skills needed to promote oral health, prevent disease, and provide therapeutic dental hygiene services under the supervision of a licensed dentist. This program combines academic coursework with laboratory instruction and supervised clinical experiences to prepare students for careers as licensed dental hygienists.

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Degree Description

A registered dental hygienist is a licensed oral health educator and clinical practitioner who, as part of the dental team, employs preventive, educational, and therapeutic methods to help individuals and groups achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Dental hygienists may work in various roles, including clinician, educator, researcher, administrator, manager, preventive program developer, consumer advocate, sales and marketing manager, editor, or consultant. Clinical dental hygienists often work in diverse healthcare settings such as private dental practices, schools, public health clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, correctional facilities, or nursing homes.

Important Accreditation Notice: The Western Dakota Technical College Dental Hygiene Program is a developing program seeking initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Initial accreditation has not yet been granted. Prospective students should understand that application to or acceptance into the program does not constitute a guarantee that CODA will grant accreditation.

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Application Process

1. Apply to WDTC

    1. Complete Western Dakota Technical College Admissions Application
    2. Complete the ACCUPLACER test ($15 fee)
    3. Schedule your Admissions Advising Session
    4. Provide an official copy of a High School transcript or GED scores. If you graduated from an international high school, you must submit your transcript to Educational Credential
    5. Evaluators to determine U.S. equivalence.
    6. Submit Immunization Records verifying two doses of MMR vaccinations.
Once you receive your acceptance letter, schedule a time to register for classes.

The ACCUPLACER test will be waived if you have an ACT sub-score of 18 or better in English, Math, and Reading.
To waive the ACCUPLACER with SAT scores a student will need a 500 on the MATH subsection of ACT and a composite of 970 to waive Writing and Reading. To place into MATH 114 a student will need a 520 on the MATH subsection.

2. Complete Application Checklist
The application window opens Dec. 1, 2026, and closes Jan. 29, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.(MST). Additional information will be emailed to Dental Hygiene students in the fall.

Note: If you are or have been convicted, pleaded guilty or no contest to, or received a suspended imposition of sentence for a felony or certain misdemeanors, you are advised that you may not be able to complete all course requirements for your chosen program, you may be prevented from taking required certification/licensure examinations in your chosen program field, and you may be prevented from gaining employment in your program field. If you are not a resident in the state of South Dakota, please be aware that licensing requirements vary from state to state. It is your responsibility to determine if your Dental Hygiene testing results and status are valid in your state of residence, or the state in which you plan to practice in. Students that sit out for a spring or fall semester or longer, will return under a new catalog and may be required to repeat courses or successfully complete new or revised skills or competency assessments. Before readmittance, the program may need to determine if a student is eligible to continue in technical courses. Program sequencing and cohort size may prevent enrollment in technical courses. Clinicals, practicums, and internships may include, but are not limited to, differential shifts (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays) to meet industry expectations. This may require travel outside the Rapid City Area.

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Career Description

Dental hygiene focuses on the prevention, assessment, and treatment of oral disease to promote lifelong oral and overall health. As a dental hygienist, you will provide preventive and therapeutic services, educate patients on proper oral hygiene practices, and work closely with dentists and other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive patient care. The Dental Hygiene Program prepares you to combine clinical expertise with compassionate, patient-centered care through classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical experiences. You'll gain hands-on experience providing care to patients of all ages in a clinical setting while developing skills in patient assessment, dental radiography, periodontal therapy, preventive treatments, and oral health education. Graduates are prepared for careers in private dental practices, community health clinics, public health agencies, specialty dental offices, and other healthcare environments.


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Licensure and Certification

Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. WDTC will not initially enroll students in an academic program leading to professional licensure or certification unless the College has confirmed the program meets all educational requirements of the state where the student is located, per WDTC’s Student Location policy, or intends to work after graduation.

If WDTC has not determined whether the program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state you are located in or intend to work in after graduation, please contact the Vice President for Teaching and Learning for assistance by emailing Tiffany.Howe@wdt.edu or calling 605.718.2905.

As of May 5, 2026:

  1. The program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
  2. The program curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: None
General Education EMT

After Earning Your Degree

A dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional who provides preventive oral healthcare services, including patient assessments, dental cleanings, and oral health education, under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Dental hygienists are an essential part of the dental healthcare team. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, the average wage in South Dakota was $84,020.

Meet Your Faculty

Western Dakota Technical College has a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning more one-on-one learning. Individual attention from your professor can make your college experience more fulfilling.


  • Erik Mutterer

Financial Aid

Continuing your education is crucial and Western Dakota Technical College wants to make sure that any student who wants to attend school, has the opportunity to do so. For this reason, WDTC is dedicated to administering the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IV Financial Assistance Program fair and consistently to anyone who needs it.

Build Dakota Scholarships

The Build Dakota Scholarship at Western Dakota Technical College will pay all your tuition and fees and prepare you for a career that is in-demand and growing in South Dakota. Build Dakota Scholarships will be awarded to students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical institutes to fill the state’s technical careers with skilled professionals.

Student Housing

Finding affordable housing during school can be a challenge for students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not have on-campus housing, but partners with a Rapid City VRBO to offer a limited number of apartments for full-time students in the fall and spring semesters.


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Child Care

Finding child care during school is a challenge for many students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not offer on-campus child care, but here are some resources that may help you in your search.

Youth & Family Services is an organization dedicated to helping children in Western South Dakota. They offer a variety of services, including child care at multiple locations.

The Y of Rapid City offers child care and other services.

Disclaimer: Western Dakota Technical College provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply affiliation, endorsement or adoption by Western Dakota Technical College of any site or any information contained therein. When you leave wdt.edu, you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern. Western Dakota Technical College makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature or reliability of third-party websites or vendors.

WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE MISSION
Western Dakota Technical College prepares students to be highly-skilled professionals through accessible, career-focused programs to improve their lives, while adapting to community workforce needs and positively impacting our economy.

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