Dental Hygiene Programs in Florida
Florida has 23 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, spread across 20 cities from Pensacola in the panhandle to Miami.
Most sit at public state colleges, alongside a few private career institutes.
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 — the definitive source for whether a program still holds that accreditation.
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At a glance
In Florida
Programs
23
With a program
Cities
20
Approval without Reporting Requirements
Fully approved
22 of 23
Every CODA-Accredited Program in Florida
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 List Below
"Approval (without reporting requirements)" means, in CODA's own words, the program "achieves or exceeds the basic requirements for accreditation." "Approval (with reporting requirements)" means specific deficiencies exist that the program must correct within a set timeframe — it is not a warning to avoid the program, just a status CODA is actively monitoring. "Initial Accreditation" applies to a program that is not yet fully operational, meaning it has not yet graduated its first class.
The last and next accreditation visit years shown are CODA's own review schedule, not anything set by the program.
For admissions requirements, application deadlines, or cost, contact the program directly or check CODA's own directory — none of that is part of the accreditation record shown here.
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, including Florida.
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.
For the full path from enrollment to license, see our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist, and for how degree level factors in, see associate vs. bachelor's in dental hygiene and how long dental hygiene school takes.
After You Graduate: Licensure and Jobs in Florida
A CODA-accredited program is the first step, not the last.
Florida'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 Florida dental hygienist requirements and scope of practice page for what the state itself requires, and confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Florida Board of Dentistry before enrolling or applying.
Once licensed, see our Florida dental hygienist salary guide and current Florida dental hygienist jobs.
Where Florida's Programs Are Located
Florida's programs are spread across the state rather than clustered in one region: several sit along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, others along the Gulf Coast from Pensacola down through Ft.
Myers, and several more along the Atlantic side from Jacksonville down to Miami and Ft.
Lauderdale.
That geographic spread means most Florida residents have a CODA-accredited program within reasonable driving distance, though each sets its own service area and residency preferences worth confirming directly with the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs are in Florida?
Florida has 23 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, located across 20 cities including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Pensacola.
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 Florida 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 Florida.
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 Florida program to work as a hygienist in Florida?
No. Florida licenses hygienists who graduated from any CODA-accredited program, not only ones located in Florida.
What matters for licensure eligibility is the program's CODA accreditation and passing the required exams — see our Florida requirements page for the state's own licensing rules.
What does "Approval with Reporting Requirements" mean for a program on this list?
It means CODA has identified specific deficiencies or weaknesses the program must correct within a set timeframe — CODA's own definition, not a signal to avoid the program.
The program remains CODA-accredited while it works through that timeline.
Contact CODA directly for the specifics of any program's 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 Florida Board of Dentistry.
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 Florida & 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.