Dental Hygienist Program

The dental hygienist program at St Petersburg College prepares students for careers as a clinician, oral health care education, health promoter, consumer advocate, administrator, or researcher. The program focuses on cleaning teeth, providing oral health education and treatment counseling, identify oral pathologies and injuries, and manage dental hygiene practices. Program courses include: dental anatomy, microbiology, pathology, dental hygiene theory and techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, dental materials, radiology, office management, supervised clinical training, and professional standards. Get more details below including other Florida colleges that offer dental hygienist program.

The Dental Hygienist program at St Petersburg College is accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation since 1965.

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St Petersburg College (SPC)

33701 State Road 52, Saint Leo, FL

St. Petersburg College (formerly St. Petersburg Junior College) is a state college that ranks among the top 10 community colleges in the Nation. Formerly a two-year institution, it now offers both associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees through its University Partnership Center (UPC).  St. Petersburg College (SPC) has nine learning sites in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County.

SPC offers traditional on-campus programs as well as an "eCampus" program, allowing students to take hundreds of accredited courses online.

In addition to its academic degree programs, SPC offers Applied Technology Diplomas and professional certificates to prepare students for the workforce in more than 60 fields.

History

St. Petersburg College was founded in 1927 as Florida's first two-year college.  The college gained full accreditation in 1931. The private college became public in 1948.  It merged with Gibbs Junior College, which served African-American students, in 1965.

Academics

The SPC academic calendar follows the semester system, with a fall, spring and summer "term."

Colleges and Schools

The SPC has nine learning centers, but is not divided into academic colleges or schools.  It offers more than 200 majors as well as continuing education for professionals in the areas of health care, public safety, and teacher training.

Student Life

There are many resources for students at SPC, including student advising, tutoring, and career development.  Additionally, there are opportunities for volunteer service and study abroad programs.  There are numerous student clubs to join, and arts and culture events to enjoy; so interested students should consult the events calendar for upcoming performances and shows. The Clearwater, Downtown and EpiCenter campuses have campus cafes.  

There are Wellness Centers, which are workout facilities open to all students, available at the Allstate, Clearwater, St. Petersburg/Gibbs and Tarpon Springs sites.

Athletics

SPC athletics teams compete in several intercollegiate sports, including men's baseball and basketball, and women's basketball, softball, volleyball, and tennis.  Students may also try out for cheerleading.  Intramural sports are also available.  Interested students should visit the Student Life and Leadership Office on their campus.

Satellite Campuses

SPC has nine satellite campuses, or "learning sites," in and around St. Petersburg, as follows:

• Tarpon Springs Campus (Tarpon Springs, FL)
• Clearwater Campus (Clearwater, FL)
• Epicenter (Largo, FL)
• Seminole Campus (Seminole, FL)
• Health Education Center (Pinellas Park, FL)
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus (St. Petersburg, FL)
• SPC Downtown (St. Petersburg, FL)
• SPC Midtown (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Allstate Center (St. Petersburg, FL)

Community Life

St. Petersburg College is proud of its many community partnerships.  There are joint-use libraries available at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs and Seminole campuses, which are made available through partnerships with the cities of St. Petersburg and Seminole.  Through partnerships with local businesses, there are many collaborative professional programs available at the EpiCenter campus.  

The SPC Downtown Arts Cultural Center at the college's Downtown Center features the American Stage Theatre Company.  The Florida International Museum in downtown St. Petersburg is part of SPC.  Other SPC campus-based community offerings include the Florida Orchestra, The Palladium Theatre, The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, The Music Center, CoMotion Dance Theatre, The Crossroads Gallery, and the Planetarium.

Students Enrolled in the Dental Hygienist Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. St Petersburg College has offered the following programs for students:

• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Dental Hygienists

Description

Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, dental hygienists employment is expected to grow at a rate of 18.6% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $32.09
  • Average Annual Salary: $66750

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).