Clinical Cohort Dental Hygiene Refresher Course
Two full days of hands-on clinical training in a small group in Williamsburg, VA, with ADEX exam prep or clinical confidence training.
Small group, max 6 · 2 days hands-on + 11 hours online · 27 CE hours · $2,695
Is the Clinical Cohort Right for You?
Choose the Clinical Cohort if you:
Are a licensed hygienist returning to practice after time away, or a U.S.-trained candidate preparing for the ADEX Dental Hygiene exam
Want two full clinical days instead of one
Want your second day focused on ADEX exam prep or clinical confidence
Learn well in a small group of up to 6
Want individual feedback on your technique within a set curriculum
Check with your state board before enrolling. If your board requires a set number of hours or specific skills, Private 1:1 can be designed around those requests.
What’s Included
Online Core and 2 Clinical Days
Every course is built on today’s standard of care
Online Core: 11 hours, self-paced
Infection Control and OSHA (2 hrs)
Pharmacology Refresher (1 hr)
The Anxious Patient on Meds: SSRIs/SNRIs, Bruxism, Bleeding and Epinephrine (1 hr)
Medical Emergencies (3 hrs)
Perio Staging, Grading and Protocols (2 hrs)
Documentation, Ethics and HIPAA (1 hr)
Ergonomic Ultrasonic Scaling (1 hr)
Clinical Day 1, 8 Hours
Private skills assessment
Vital signs
Radiography: sensor placement, technique, image review and safety
Manual instrumentation
Ultrasonic instrumentation
Sharpening and instrument care
Ergonomics and positioning
Probing and charting
Private debrief with a written plan
Clinical Day 2: Choose Your Track
Your second clinical day focuses on your goal. You’ll choose your track when you enroll: ADEX exam prep OR clinical confidence. This second day is also 8 hours.
ADEX Exam Prep Track
ADEX exam protocol walkthrough
Typodont work to ADEX criteria
Calculus detection and removal
Probing and tissue management
Timed mock examination
Performance review
Clinical Confidence Track
Full appointment flow on the manikin
Periodontal assessment to treatment decisions
Instrument selection by case
Ultrasonic and hand instrumentation combined
Patient communication practice
Final skills check and written plan
How It Works
Take the 2-minute intake. Answer a few questions about your training and goals, and we’ll recommend the course that fits.
Enroll and choose your dates. Each session’s Day 2 has one focus: clinical confidence or ADEX exam prep. You’ll see the focus listed with each date. Pay at checkout by card, or choose Klarna or Afterpay to spread out the cost.
Complete the online core. Work through the 11 hours at your own pace, and finish at least one week before your first clinical day.
Spend two clinical days in Williamsburg. Day 1 builds your core skills, and Day 2 focuses on your track. You’ll leave with a written plan for your next steps and your CE certificates.
Ready to pick a date? See upcoming Essentials and Clinical Cohort sessions.
Looking for a Different Fit?
Essentials, $1,495: One focused clinical day plus the full online core. A good choice if you don’t need ADEX prep or a second day. 19 CE hours.
Private 1:1, from $3,495: Two clinical days, one-on-one, on your dates, with a program built around your goals. 27 to 45 CE hours.
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH
Meet Your Mentor
30 years of clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a proven track record of transforming dental professionals.
What Sets Dr. Tanner Apart
When you enroll, you’re getting more than a course. You’re getting mentorship from someone who has shaped dental hygiene education nationally and led clinical programs at the highest levels.
Proven Academic Leadership
Dr. Tanner has served as Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, and faculty member at multiple accredited institutions, and is currently a contributing faculty member at Creighton University School of Dentistry. She has helped launch and lead dental hygiene programs, trained faculty, and overseen clinical curriculum.
Clinical Expertise with Real-World Perspective
With 30 years in practice, she understands the day-to-day challenges hygienists face and how to elevate your skills in ways that feel doable and effective.
Trusted Industry Consultant
Collaborates with top companies to deliver training on the most current techniques, tools, and technologies in dentistry.
Published Thought Leader
Lead contributor for DrBicuspid and author in Teledentistry and Peak Performance, shaping national conversations around dental hygiene and professional growth.
Award-Winning Educator
Honored with numerous accolades, including the ADHA & Johnson & Johnson Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene, the Denobi Award, and recognition by Dentistry Today as a Top Dental Consultant for 6 years in a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on your state. Every state board sets its own rules for returning to practice, and they change. Next Level Dental Hygiene courses are clinical skills training and CE. They are not delivered through a CODA-accredited program, so in states that require one for reinstatement, Virginia among them, they will not satisfy that requirement on their own. Before you enroll, call your state dental board and ask exactly what they accept. If you’re not sure what to ask, take the intake and we’ll help you figure out your next step.
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All in-person training takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia. You’ll get the full address and arrival details when you enroll. The online courses are self-paced, so you can complete them from anywhere before your clinical days.
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Yes. Next Level Dental Hygiene is AGD PACE-approved, and most state boards accept AGD PACE credit. Whether your hours count is up to your state board, so it’s worth confirming with yours. Your certificate lists your live clinical hours and online hours separately, which makes reporting easier if your board tracks them differently. The Medical Emergencies course comes with its own separate certificate.
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Yes. When you check out, you can choose to pay over time with Klarna or Afterpay. You’ll see your payment options and terms right at checkout, and approval is handled by the provider you choose.
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Yes. Essentials and Clinical Cohort students can add online electives at a reduced price. Topics include GLP-1 medications, diabetes drugs, vaping, peri-implant care and more. Private 1:1 students on the 45-hour path have electives included, chosen to fit their goals.
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Tuition is paid in full at enrollment and is non-refundable. If you need to change your dates, you can transfer once to a future course within 12 months, as long as you give at least 14 days’ notice before your first clinical day. If you don’t attend and haven’t given notice, your tuition is forfeited. If Next Level Dental Hygiene cancels or reschedules a course, you can choose a full refund or a transfer to any future date.
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Please bring:
Scrubs
Clinical jacket
Dental headlight (required, since there are no overhead operatory lights)
Loupes, if you have them
Provided for you:
Instruments and materials
You’re welcome to bring your own instruments if you’d like to practice sharpening them
Before your first clinical day:
Finish the online core courses
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No program can guarantee a passing score. The ADEX track prepares you with timed mock exams to ADEX criteria and direct feedback on your clinical technique, so you can correct it before exam day.
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Unfortunately, no. This program is not a remediation course and is not approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry for that purpose. Please contact the Florida Board of Dentistry for your next steps.
Ready to Get Back to Clinical Dental Hygiene?
Not sure the Clinical Cohort is the right dental hygiene refresher course for you? Take the 2-minute intake and we’ll recommend your path.
