Registered dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. Beyond the private dental office, dental hygienists can be found in numerous other settings: nursing homes and long-term care facilities, hospitals, corporate health facilities, school systems, and public health clinics.

In the public health field, dental hygienists conduct research studies and epidemiological surveys to evaluate the oral health needs of people in various population groups, such as the elderly, the disabled and children.

• 12 to 36 months( OPT duration depends on the major studied)

University transcripts

• Students must provide official academic records (transcripts) of all previous academic course work when applying for admission. All documents must be certified by a school administrator or an American Embassy or Consular Official. A literal English translation certified by an appropriate school official, official translator, or U.S. embassy or consulate official must be attached to documents not originally issued in English.
• For all university coursework up to the time of application, students must have achieved a minimum GPA of at least the equivalent of a 3.0 (B average) in the U.S. grading system.
• To be eligible to apply for an exchange study:
  • Students must be formally selected for nomination by their home university and be in good academic standing.
  • Graduate students must have the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree.

Proof of English language proficiency 

• Demonstrated English language proficiency is required and can be demonstrated by submitting one of the following: 
  • An official score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • An official score of at least 79 on the internet-based TOEFL
  • An official score of at least 6.5 on the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam for undergraduate students, or a 7.0 for graduate students
  • Effective immediately, Ohio State no longer accepts TOEFL or IELTS scores sent only via paper score reports. In addition to sending a paper score report, please arrange early in the application process to have the TOEFL score report sent electronically to Ohio State by the testing agency. Ohio State's institution code is #1592.
• Please note: these admissions standards are subject to future change. Every effort will be made to update this website as needed.
• All tests must have been taken within the last two years.
• Some graduate programs may require a higher level of English language proficiency for courses offered in their department.
• Applicants who are citizens of or who have received a bachelor's degree from one of the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean, and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.