Program Director, Dental Hygiene
A Program Director of Dental Hygiene is the academic and administrative leader of the program, responsible for program quality, student success, and accreditation compliance while leading faculty and refining curriculum. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Program Director of Dental Hygiene do?
The Program Director serves as the academic and administrative leader responsible for program quality, student success, and accreditation compliance, while fostering a culture of professionalism and clinical excellence. The role shapes the future of dental hygiene education by leading faculty, refining curriculum, strengthening community partnerships, and keeping the program aligned with industry standards.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in dental hygiene education, experience with CODA accreditation, and a commitment to developing the next generation of oral health professionals through evidence-based instruction.
CODA, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, is the body that accredits dental hygiene and dental education programs in the United States. A Program Director may qualify through either a current dental hygiene license or a DDS/DMD degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine).
What does this role lead and uphold?
What are the key responsibilities?
- Oversee all aspects of program operations, including curriculum management, faculty supervision, assessment, scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure high-quality instruction and continuous improvement.
- Maintain full compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and state board regulations, leading self-studies, site visits, and ongoing quality assurance.
- Recruit, train, and mentor faculty to ensure consistency in instructional delivery, student evaluation, and adherence to best practices in clinical education.
- Foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment focused on academic achievement, clinical competence, and professional growth for all students.
- Build partnerships with dental practices, clinics, and community health organizations to enhance externship opportunities, graduate placement, and workforce readiness.
- Collaborate with institutional leadership to identify opportunities for program expansion, technology integration, and alignment with evolving oral healthcare trends.
What qualifications are required?
- Current dental hygiene license or DDS/DMD degree required; master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 3 to 5 years of teaching experience in an accredited dental hygiene program.
- Demonstrated understanding of CODA standards and accreditation processes.
- Proven leadership skills with experience in faculty management and program development.
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal abilities.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in health sciences education.
Why is this role important?
Dental hygiene education plays a pivotal role in improving community health outcomes and advancing access to preventive care. As Program Director, this leader guides a team of educators, shapes curriculum innovation, and makes sure students graduate with the clinical expertise and ethical foundation to thrive in a dynamic healthcare landscape.
A hiring note from Excelon
CODA experience is the dividing line on this search. A strong clinician who has never carried a program through a self-study and site visit is a different hire than someone who has. We look for candidates who can speak to accreditation cycles in detail and who have actually managed faculty, because the director role is as much administrative stewardship as it is clinical leadership.
The director who can pass a CODA site visit and still mentor faculty through it is the one worth waiting for.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Program Director of Dental Hygiene do?
The Program Director is the academic and administrative leader of a dental hygiene program, responsible for program quality, student success, and accreditation compliance while leading faculty, refining curriculum, and strengthening community partnerships.
What qualifications are required?
This sample role requires a current dental hygiene license or a DDS/DMD degree, with a master’s preferred, plus a minimum of three to five years of teaching experience in an accredited dental hygiene program and a demonstrated understanding of CODA standards.
What is CODA?
CODA is the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the body that accredits dental hygiene and dental education programs in the United States. The Program Director maintains compliance with CODA standards and state board regulations.
What does CODA accreditation involve?
It involves meeting the Commission on Dental Accreditation’s standards through self-studies, site visits, and ongoing quality assurance. The Program Director leads these efforts alongside compliance with state board regulations.
Why is this role important?
Dental hygiene education improves community health outcomes and access to preventive care. The Program Director shapes curriculum and faculty so students graduate with the clinical expertise and ethical foundation to thrive in the healthcare landscape.
Need to hire a Program Director of Dental Hygiene?
Excelon Associates recruits allied health and dental education leaders for colleges and universities nationwide, connecting institutions with academic leaders who strengthen curriculum design, uphold CODA accreditation, and build community partnerships. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.