Pima Medical Institute Launches New Dental Hygiene Program at its Phoenix Campus

New Program Prepares Dental Hygiene Students to Meet Arizona’s Workforce Needs

PHOENIX, AZ, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Pima Medical Institute is officially launching a Dental Hygiene program at its Phoenix campus, expanding educational opportunities for students while helping address a growing need for oral health professionals across the state. The new program is offered at the Phoenix campus and provides dental education pathways for students throughout the greater Phoenix area, including those at the Mesa campus. Enrollment is currently underway for the first class, which begins November 2, 2026.

The 18-month associate degree program prepares students for careers focused on preventive oral healthcare, including dental cleanings, patient education, and early detection of oral health issues. It is designed to strengthen the regional healthcare workforce while creating opportunities for students to pursue dental hygiene careers close to home. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students will receive hands-on clinical experience through an on-site dental hygiene clinic.
The Phoenix Dental Hygiene Clinic is slated to open in early 2027. The educational clinic will serve the local community by providing affordable preventive dental hygiene services delivered by students under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. These services will focus on preventive care, including cleanings, screenings, and patient education.
“Dental hygiene offers students the opportunity to build meaningful careers while making a lasting difference in the health of the communities they serve,” said Dr. Kimberly Peacher, DHSc, RDH, Pima Medical Institute’s Dean of Academic Innovation-Dental Hygiene. “This program is designed to give students the hands-on clinical experience they need to become skilled, compassionate dental hygienists who are prepared to meet the growing need for preventive oral healthcare.”
The Phoenix program launch comes as demand for dental hygienists continues to exceed supply across the state. According to data published by *The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health, Arizona currently meets less than 35 percent of its dental health workforce needs, leaving millions of residents in designated dental health professional shortage areas. By preparing more dental hygienists in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the program will expand access to professional healthcare career opportunities and strengthen the oral healthcare workforce serving communities throughout Arizona, including rural, Tribal, and other underserved populations.
Access to routine, affordable oral healthcare remains a significant statewide challenge, with long wait times for preventive care appointments and many residents delaying treatment because of cost and provider shortages.
“Arizona has a significant need for qualified dental hygienists, and educating more professionals is an important part of addressing that gap,” said Mark Luebke, Co-CEO, Pima Medical Institute. “Our Phoenix Dental Hygiene program gives students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and clinical experience needed to enter this essential healthcare profession, while our dental hygiene clinic helps connect members of the community with important preventive oral healthcare.”
Healthcare providers nationwide are experiencing similar workforce challenges in oral healthcare. According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute’s Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry, more than 90 percent of dental practices report difficulty recruiting dental hygienists, leading to longer wait times for preventive care appointments in many communities.
The Dental Hygiene program combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory training and clinical experiences to prepare students to become competent, entry-level dental hygienists. The curriculum incorporates essential areas including anatomy and physiology, periodontology, oral pathology, radiology, pharmacology, patient care, public health, and dental law and ethics, with an emphasis on critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and serving diverse populations. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to apply for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and other examinations required for state licensure. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
In addition to Phoenix, Pima Medical Institute currently offers Dental Hygiene programs at several nationwide campus locations, including New Mexico (Albuquerque), Texas (Houston, San Antonio), and Washington State (Seattle). Each features on-site dental hygiene clinics that provide supervised, real-world, preventive care.
The Phoenix campus offers several other healthcare educational training programs in the medical, dental, and veterinary fields, including Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Sterile Processing Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Surgical Technology, Veterinary Assistant, and Veterinary Technician. These programs support the college’s mission of preparing students for careers that serve community health needs.
Pima Medical Institute has been educating allied healthcare professionals for more than 50 years, with a national footprint that includes 16 campuses across the United States and 100% online programs designed to help students pursue and expand careers in health care administration and advanced bachelor’s degrees, including: RN to BSN, Physical Therapy (BSPTA); Radiologic Sciences (BSRS); Respiratory Therapy (BSRT); and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership. For more information about the new Dental Hygiene program at the Phoenix campus, visit pmi.edu/dentalhygiene. For all other programs, visit pmi.edu.
ABOUT PIMA MEDICAL INSTITUTE
Established in 1972, Pima Medical Institute is an employee-owned (ESOP) career college that provides allied healthcare professional training nationwide in the medical, dental, veterinary, and healthcare administration fields. Pima Medical Institute operates 16 campus locations nationwide, including: Phoenix (East Valley, Mesa and Phoenix); Tucson; San Diego (Chula Vista and San Marcos); Denver (Aurora and Denver); Colorado Springs; Las Vegas; Albuquerque; El Paso; Houston; San Antonio; and Seattle-Tacoma (Seattle and Renton). Pima Medical Institute also offers many online programs, including advanced healthcare education at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. Additional information is available at pmi.edu.

*Quantifying Arizona’s Dental Health Workforce Shortage Using Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Data, published by the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health.
*American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry.

Diane Smith
Pima Medical Institute
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Written By: EIN Presswire