COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT AUGUSTA
Maine’s only public dental hygiene program, only bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, and only accredited dental assisting program are all located at the University of Maine at Augusta’s Bangor campus. Each prepares students for licensure or national certification and careers in fields where Maine needs more trained professionals.
Two of UMA Bangor’s signature programs prepare students for careers in oral health. UMA offers Maine’s only public Dental Hygiene program and its only accredited Dental Assisting program, which is also available at the Lewiston Center. Both give students hands-on experience in clinical and community settings while preparing them for licensure or national certification.
Dental Hygiene students provide low-cost dental services to members of the community and gain additional experience through internships. The program reports excellent board exam pass rates, and 98% of its graduates stay in Maine to practice.
Dental Assisting recently earned the highest accreditation status from the Commission on Dental Accreditation, affirming the program’s quality and rigor. Students complete externships in community dental practices and are prepared to sit for the national Certified Dental Assistant exam. They can earn a certificate in three semesters and continue for two additional semesters to complete an associate degree.
UMA’s Veterinary Technology graduates also see exceptional placement, with every 2025 graduate either working in the field or continuing their education. Students develop their skills in facilities that include a surgical suite and digital radiology, then complete two seven-week externships in settings such as research labs, wildlife rescues or large-animal practices. Students can begin with an associate degree that leads to licensure and continue into the bachelor’s program to prepare for opportunities in veterinary practice management, research or further study, including veterinary school.
Together, the Bangor dental clinic and Veterinary Technology program provide care to community members, shelters and rescues. UMA students learn by doing work Maine needs done.
These programs are also part of something larger. Bangor is one of UMA’s two campuses, connecting students to more than 60 degrees and certificates offered through the Bangor and Augusta campuses, online and at UMA centers across the state. Students can explore programs ranging from nursing and aviation to business, cybersecurity, education and the arts, while choosing from in-person, online, hybrid and other flexible learning options. For Bangor-area students, that means the personal support and hands-on opportunities of a local campus, with the programs, resources and pathways of the full university behind them.. Tuition is the lowest of any public university in Maine, and first-time, full-time students who qualify for the Pine Tree State Pledge may be eligible for zero tuition.
It’s even free to apply. Visit uma.edu/handson to learn more.