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May 06, 2026
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PVCC 2026-2027 College Catalog
Dental Hygiene (AAS)
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 Return to: Programs of Study
PURPOSE
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene is offered in partnership with Germanna Community College to prepare students for a rewarding career as a registered dental hygenist, a licensed healthcare professional who plays a vital role in promoting oral health and preventing disease. Students will gain the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies needed to provide patient-centered care in a variety of settings, including dental offices, public health clinics, and community-based organizations.
Through a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory simulation, and supervised clinical experiences, students will develop expertise in:
- Preventive dental care and patient education
- Oral disease assessment and documentation
- Dental radiography
- Infection control and patient safety
- Community oral health promotion
Graduates will be eligible to sit for national and regional licensing examinations required for employment as a dental hygienist.
PROGRAM FORMAT
This program is offered through a consortium model, with Germanna Community College serving as the accredited institution. Students enrolled through Piedmont Virginia Community College will complete labs and clinical experiences locally, while benefiting from virtual, cohort-based lectures through GCC.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Students are strongly encouraged to complete general education coursework prior to applying to the program. To qualify, students must:
- Apply to Germanna Community College
- File (with Admissions & Records) a high school or home school diploma or GED.
- Qualify for MTH 154 within the past five years.
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater and demonstrate competency in Math (MDE 10) and English (ENG 111)
- Complete the TEAS exam with scores of 50% or better in all four content areas of the exam.
- Answer essay questions.
- Confirm with Admissions & Records at Germanna (prior to the end of the application period) that all college transcripts, transcript evaluations, and supporting documents are on file.
- See ‘Other Requirements’ here (scroll to More Information>Dental Hygiene Program Requirements>Admission Requirements).
Additional Requirements May Include:
- Healthcare observation or dental shadowing (recommended)
- Background check and drug screening upon acceptance
- Current CPR certification (Healthcare Provider level)
- Immunizations and health records compliant with clinical site requirements
Applicants should refer to the official program materials from Germanna Community College for the final and most current requirements.
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General Education Requirements
Note
*Students can enroll in Introduction to Sociology or take any HUM ___ elective. Additional Curriculum Information
All Dental Hygiene (DNH) courses are offered through Germanna Community College, and students will register for these courses through GCC. Didactic (lecture) courses are delivered via live, distance video streaming from Germanna, with students attending together as a cohort in a designated classroom space at Piedmont Virginia Community College. *Some of the DNH courses listed below have a Laboratory or clinical component. While lectures for these courses are delivered by Germanna via live, distance video streaming, the lab and clinical portions are delivered locally within the PVCC service region. Students will still need to register for these courses through Germanna. DNH 111, DNH 115, DNH 120, *DNH 130, *DNH 141, *DNH 142, DNH 145, DNH 146, *DNH 214, DNH 216, DNH 226, *DNH 227, DNH 230, *DNH 235, *DNH 143, *DNH 244, *DNH 245 Clinical and Lab Sites
The PVCC Dental Hygiene Lab/Clinic is located on the 1st floor of the BRHD on Rose Hill Drive in Charlottesville, VA. Clinicals will be held at the Charlottesville Free Clinic on Preston Ave and UVA Dental Clinic at 1222 JPA near UVA Health.
Accreditation Status
The Dental Hygiene program at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Partnership with GCC is pending approval by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon CODA approval, which is expected in August 2026. Applicants will be notified of admission decisions by mid-October 2026. Advisor Information
For more information, please contact: Healthcare Academic Advisor
Stefanie Thompson msraymundo-thompson@germanna.edu
Germanna Community College
PVCC Academic Advisors
Assigned Advisor: April Pannell apannell@pvcc.edu (Student last name starts with A-Gh)
Assigned Advisor: Mary Taylor mtaylor@pvcc.edu (Student last name starts with Gi-O)
Assigned Advisor: Tesia Moore tmoore@pvcc.edu (Student last name starts with P-Z) |
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