Dental Hygiene Programs in Arizona
Arizona has 8 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, spread across 6 cities from Flagstaff in the north to Tucson in the south.
Each program is listed below with its city, address, website, and current accreditation status, pulled directly from the Commission on Dental Accreditation's own program directory.
Graduating from a CODA-accredited program satisfies the education requirement for licensure in every U.S. jurisdiction, though how a program prepares you for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and Arizona's own licensing process is worth understanding before you apply.
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At a glance
In Arizona
Programs
8
With a program
Cities
6
Approval without Reporting Requirements
Fully approved
7 of 8
Every CODA-Accredited Program in Arizona
Source: CODA program directory, index dated 2026-09-09. Status terms (“Approval without Reporting Requirements,” “Approval with Reporting Requirements,” “Initial Accreditation,” “Discontinued,” etc.) are CODA’s own.
Reading the Accreditation Status Column
CODA describes "Approval (without Reporting Requirements)" as the classification granted when a program "achieves or exceeds the basic requirements for accreditation." "Initial Accreditation" is granted to a program that is "not yet fully operational" — one that hasn't yet enrolled and graduated its first class.
The visit years shown next to each program are CODA's own accreditation-cycle dates, not something the program sets.
For admissions requirements, current costs and application deadlines, contact the program directly or check CODA's own directory at coda.ada.org.
What CODA Accreditation Means for Your License
CODA accreditation is the credential jurisdictions look for when they evaluate a hygiene applicant's education.
Graduating from a CODA-accredited program satisfies the education requirement for licensure in every U.S. jurisdiction.
The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) fulfills or partially fulfills the written-exam requirement most jurisdictions set, though acceptance of it — like every licensing requirement — is at that jurisdiction's own discretion, including Arizona's.
For the full path from enrollment to license, see our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist, and for how degree level and program length differ, see associate vs. bachelor's in dental hygiene and how long dental hygiene school takes.
After You Graduate: Licensure and Work in Arizona
A CODA-accredited program is the first step, not the last.
Arizona's own board sets the exam, application and continuing-education requirements a graduate must meet to hold an active license, and those requirements can change.
See our Arizona dental hygienist requirements and scope of practice page for what the state itself requires, and confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners before enrolling or applying.
Once licensed, see our Arizona dental hygienist salary guide and current Arizona dental hygienist job openings.
Where Arizona's Programs Are Located
Arizona's programs cluster around the Phoenix metro area — Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe together host most of the state's programs — with additional programs in Flagstaff, Kingman and Tucson.
That spread means applicants outside the Phoenix area still have in-state options without a long commute or relocation.
Each program sets its own admission requirements, prerequisite coursework and application cycle, so contact a program directly for its current details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs are in Arizona?
Arizona has 8 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, located in Flagstaff, Kingman, Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe and Tucson.
Each is listed above with its current CODA accreditation status, address and website.
CODA's own directory is the definitive, up-to-date list — confirm a program's status directly with CODA before applying.
What does "Initial Accreditation" mean for one of Arizona's programs?
CODA grants Initial Accreditation to a program that is not yet fully operational — meaning it hasn't yet enrolled and graduated its first class of students.
It is a distinct classification from Approval (without Reporting Requirements), which is granted once a program meets or exceeds CODA's basic accreditation requirements.
Both are accredited statuses; contact the program directly for where it stands in that process.
Does it matter which Arizona program I attend?
Not for licensure eligibility — every program listed above holds CODA accreditation, and CODA accreditation is what jurisdictions require for the education portion of licensure nationwide, including Arizona.
Beyond that baseline, programs differ in location, campus and admission requirements, so contact each one directly to compare them.
See associate vs. bachelor's in dental hygiene if you're also weighing degree level.
Do I have to attend an Arizona program to work as a hygienist in Arizona?
No. Arizona licenses hygienists who graduated from any CODA-accredited program, not only ones located in Arizona.
What matters for licensure eligibility is the program's CODA accreditation and passing the required exams — see our Arizona requirements page for the state's own licensing rules.
Is every program on this list accredited?
Every program above is shown with the CODA accreditation status CODA had published for it as of 2026-09-09, the date this directory was last pulled from CODA's own program search. "Approval without Reporting Requirements" is CODA's standard fully-accredited standing; other status terms on this page — such as "Approval with Reporting Requirements," "Initial Accreditation," or "Discontinued" — mean something different, and a status can change after that date.
Confirm a program's current status directly with CODA before applying.
More Arizona & Dental Hygienist Resources
Sourced from the CODA program directory (index dated 2026-09-09). Verified September 2026. Program details change. Confirm accreditation status, admission requirements and costs with the program and with CODA before applying.