Dental Hygiene Programs in Kentucky
Kentucky has 5 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, located in Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville and Paintsville.
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 Kentucky's licensing process is worth understanding before you apply.
Verify before you apply
At a glance
In Kentucky
Programs
5
With a program
Cities
4
Approval without Reporting Requirements
Fully approved
4 of 5
Every CODA-Accredited Program in Kentucky
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 a classification granted to a program that "achieves or exceeds the basic requirements for accreditation." "Approval (with Reporting Requirements)" means specific deficiencies exist and the program must show it corrected them within a set timeframe — that's a compliance deadline CODA tracks, not a warning to avoid the program.
The last- and next-accreditation-visit years shown for each program are CODA's own site-visit schedule, not anything the program sets itself.
For admissions, cost or curriculum questions, contact the program directly, and confirm any program's current status on CODA's own directory.
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 Kentucky's.
For the full path from enrollment to license, see our step-by-step guide to becoming a dental hygienist, and for what degree level and program length look like, see associate vs. bachelor's in dental hygiene and how long dental hygiene school takes.
Kentucky's own board sets the exam, application and continuing-education requirements a graduate must meet to hold an active license — see our Kentucky dental hygienist requirements and scope of practice page for what the state itself requires, and confirm anything you intend to rely on with the Kentucky Board of Dentistry before enrolling or applying.
After You Graduate in Kentucky
Once you've completed a CODA-accredited program and met Kentucky's licensing requirements, our Kentucky dental hygienist salary guide breaks down pay for the state, and our open dental hygienist jobs show current openings.
Kentucky's programs cluster in Bowling Green, Lexington and Louisville, with a fourth program in Paintsville in the eastern part of the state, so most applicants will find a program within a reasonable radius regardless of where in Kentucky they plan to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 5 CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs, located in Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville and Paintsville.
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
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 Kentucky program to work as a hygienist in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky licenses hygienists who graduated from any CODA-accredited program, not only ones located in Kentucky.
What matters for licensure eligibility is the program's CODA accreditation and passing the required exams — see our Kentucky requirements page for the state's own licensing rules.
What does "Approval with Reporting Requirements" mean for a Kentucky program?
It means CODA identified specific deficiencies in one or more areas and the program must demonstrate it corrected them within a set timeframe.
It is still a fully accredited program — the classification is a compliance status, not a warning to avoid the school.
Check the program's current status directly with CODA before applying.
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 Kentucky & 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.