Dental Hygiene Programs in California
California has 26 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs across 25 cities, at public community colleges and universities spanning the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California.
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 California's own licensing process is worth understanding before you apply.
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At a glance
In California
Programs
26
With a program
Cities
25
Approval without Reporting Requirements
Fully approved
24 of 26
Every CODA-Accredited Program in California
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 California's.
For the full path from enrollment to license, see our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist.
Choosing Among California's Programs
California's programs are spread across the state, from Northern California campuses near Santa Rosa and Redding to the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and clusters of programs in and around Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
Each program sets its own admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, and application cycle, so contact a program directly for its current curriculum, application deadlines, and clinical-site details.
The CODA accreditation status shown for each program above reflects that program's most recent 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 California
A CODA-accredited program is the first step, not the last.
California'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 California dental hygienist requirements and scope of practice page for what the state itself requires, and confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Dental Board of California before enrolling or applying.
Working as a Hygienist After Graduation
Once licensed, California graduates go on to work in general and specialty dental practices across the state.
Our California dental hygienist salary guide covers what the role pays, and our California dental hygienist job listings show current openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs are in California?
California has 26 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, spread across 25 cities statewide.
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 California 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 California.
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 a California program to work as a hygienist in California?
No. California licenses hygienists who graduated from any CODA-accredited program, not only ones located in California.
What matters for licensure eligibility is the program's CODA accreditation and passing the required exams — see our California requirements page for the state's own licensing rules.
What does 'Approval with Reporting Requirements' mean for a program's status?
It's CODA's own term for an accreditation classification indicating that specific deficiencies or weaknesses exist in one or more areas of a program, with compliance due within a set timeframe.
It isn't a warning to avoid the program — it reflects that program's most recent site visit, not its current admissions process.
Check CODA's directory for the most current status before applying.
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 Dental Board of California.
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 California & 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.