Objectives: This study investigated the ethical awareness regarding artificial intelligence (AI) among dental hygiene students based on core competency levels and proposed a competency-based educational approach to improve AI ethical awareness. Methods: Eighty-six dental hygiene students participated in the study and provided informed consent. The core competency survey tool included innovation, communication, relations, and services. The AI ethical awareness survey tool was divided into eight categories, each with 24 questions: responsibility, stability and reliability, non-discrimination, transparency and explainability, people-centered service, employment, tolerance and limits, and robot rights. Results: The group with high core competency had higher levels of AI ethical awareness (p<0.05), particularly in terms of responsibility, transparency, and peoplecentered service. The level of AI ethical awareness was significantly correlated with the relationship competency and service competency (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results highlight the association between AI ethical awareness and core competencies. These results suggest that competency-based education in universities is critical for improving AI ethical awareness. Furthermore, we intend to use the findings as preliminary data to suggest a direction for competency-centered education to improve AI ethical awareness.