Dental Hygiene Programs in Arkansas
Arkansas has 2 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, in Fort Smith and Little Rock.
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 Arkansas's own licensing process is worth understanding before you apply.
Verify before you apply
At a glance
In Arkansas
Programs
2
With a program
Cities
2
Approval without Reporting Requirements
Fully approved
2 of 2
Every CODA-Accredited Program in Arkansas
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.
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 Arkansas's.
For the full path from enrollment to license, see our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist.
Choosing Between Arkansas's Programs
Arkansas's two programs each set their own admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, and application cycle.
Contact a program directly for its current curriculum, application deadlines, and clinical-site details — the CODA accreditation status shown for each program above reflects the program's last accreditation visit, not its admissions process.
If you're also weighing degree level or how long a program takes, see associate vs. bachelor's in dental hygiene and how long dental hygiene school takes.
After You Graduate: Licensure in Arkansas
A CODA-accredited program is the first step, not the last.
Arkansas'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 Arkansas dental hygienist requirements and scope of practice page for what the state itself requires, and confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners before enrolling or applying.
Working as a Hygienist After Graduation
Once licensed, Arkansas graduates go on to work in general and specialty dental practices across the state.
Our Arkansas dental hygienist salary guide covers what the role pays, and our Arkansas dental hygienist job listings show current openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs are in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 2 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, located in Fort Smith and Little Rock.
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.
Does it matter which Arkansas program I attend?
Not for licensure eligibility — both programs listed above hold CODA accreditation, and CODA accreditation is what jurisdictions require for the education portion of licensure nationwide, including Arkansas.
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 Arkansas program to work as a hygienist in Arkansas?
No. Arkansas licenses hygienists who graduated from any CODA-accredited program, not only ones located in Arkansas.
What matters for licensure eligibility is the program's CODA accreditation and passing the required exams — see our Arkansas requirements page for the state's own licensing rules.
What does 'Approval without Reporting Requirements' mean for a program's status?
It's CODA's own term for an accreditation classification granted to a program that achieves or exceeds the basic requirements for accreditation.
It reflects the program's most recent site visit, not its current admissions process — contact the program directly for enrollment details, and check CODA's directory for the most current status.
What comes after I finish a CODA-accredited hygiene program?
Graduates typically sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a regional or state clinical exam, then apply for licensure with the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners.
Our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist walks through that full sequence.
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 Arkansas & 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.