Concorde Career Colleges, a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., has expanded its dental hygiene program offerings with the launch of two new associate degree programs in Illinois and Indiana. These additions bring the total number of Concorde’s dental hygiene programs nationwide to 14.
The new programs are located at Concorde’s campuses in and ., areas with a growing demand for skilled dental hygienists. Concorde already has successful dental assistant programs at these campuses, and the expansion of its program offerings will allow it to deepen its partnerships with dental providers in the area.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. In Illinois, dental hygienists are among the 25 fastest-growing occupations, with a 12.4% projected employment growth between 2023 and 2031. Similarly, in Indiana, dental hygienists have a 13.7% projected job growth between 2022 and 2032.
Concorde’s dental hygiene curriculum blends online and on-ground coursework with in-person lab instruction and clinical experience to prepare students to enter the dental industry in as few as 17 months. The programs in Illinois and Indiana have received initial programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The first cohort of classes began on August 28, 2023. Once the first cohort of students completes their foundational coursework and is ready to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting, each campus will open its dental hygiene clinic. Under the supervision of faculty and licensed dentists, students will provide a variety of services including health screenings, x-rays, dental cleanings, bite guards, and dental sealants. The clinics will offer low-cost preventive dental care to everyone, including uninsured or underinsured individuals.
“Concorde is deeply invested in the communities where our campuses are located,” said Mark Prehn, division president of Concorde Career Colleges. “Our community dental hygiene clinics provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to give back to the community, while earning the clinical competencies they need to graduate.”
The Illinois and Indiana clinics were retrofitted into the existing campus footprints. Each location has 16 fully equipped treatment bays that can support the training of 32 students per cohort. Each campus plans to host an open house in the fall, which will include tours of the facility and clinic.
Concorde offers a full suite of dental programs, from the on-campus Dental Assistant diploma and Dental Hygiene associate degree programs through an online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program. For more information on Concorde and its healthcare programming, visit www.concorde.edu.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is a leading provider of transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare education programs. The Company offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 15 campuses across nine states, and online. Universal Technical Institute and its campus brands, including Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI), have trained students for careers in the transportation and skilled trades industries for over 55 years. Concorde Career Colleges, a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., offers healthcare education programs at 17 campuses in eight states, and online. For more information about the Company and its brands, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu.
