Admission Requirements

The Dental Hygiene program uses a competitive admission process to select students. Program faculty and the Admissions Office staff designed the process to ensure maximum opportunity for student success in the program and on the licensure examination. Prospective students may gain admission to the college initially as Healthcare Science program students/applicants to Dental Hygiene in order to complete any learning support classes and required general education and health core courses. The Dental Hygiene program admits students once per year at the beginning of Fall Semester.

The application and file completion deadline for the associate degree program in Dental Hygiene is the first day in which campus offices are open after January 1 of the year for which applicants are seeking admission to the program. Applicants who are on academic probation or are academically dismissed from the college as of the application deadline will not be considered for admission. Applicants not selected for the program may reapply during subsequent admission intake periods. There is no waiting list between intake periods; applicants must complete the application process for each attempt for entry into the Dental Hygiene program.

Applicants must possess the specific Dental Hygiene essential functions that reflect dental hygiene performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to complete the requirements of the Dental Hygiene program successfully. Dental experience is a plus and/or graduation from a dental assisting program highly favorable. To receive consideration for admission to the program, applicants must submit:

• Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee.
• Official transcripts showing that applicants earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all college work attempted. Applicants transferring from other colleges will not be required to submit high school transcripts if they completed a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credit hours of study at one or more colleges.
• Documentation of completion of college mathematics (MATH 1101 or MATH 1111), human anatomy and physiology I and II (BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, and BIOL 2114L), introductory microbiology (BIOL 2117 and BIOL 2117L), and chemistry (CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L) or equivalent courses with grades of C or better. Applicants transferring from other colleges must confirm the transferability of credit for these courses with the college's director of registration and records by the January application deadline.
• Proof of legal presence in the United States.
• Scores from the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test V (HOBET V) (see Selective Admission Examinations).
• Three forms of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicants' academic or work history, community service, extracurricular activities, and leadership abilities. Blank recommendation forms are available on the college website.
• Documentation showing the completion of 40 hours of observation in a dental office, preferably with a registered dental hygienist. Blank observation forms are available on the college website.
• Signed Dental Hygiene Code of Ethics form, which includes the responsibility to provide oral care for all patients without discrimination. The Code of Ethics is available from the program chair and the college website.
• Completed and signed Intent Form. Blank forms are available on the college website.
• Attend a mandatory pre-admission orientation session if invited. Failure to attend or to make alternate arrangements to obtain necessary information will result in the forfeiture of admission to the program.

Although applicants must have a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses listed in item C, it should be noted that the prerequisite course grade point average is one of the main criteria for selection in life science programs, so grades of C are typically not competitive.

Applicants must take Health Occupations Basic Entrance Text V (HOBET V) no later than November to receive consideration for admission to the program. The Admissions Office staff and program faculty will invite a group of the highest-ranking applicants (based on the above criteria) to participate in a formal interview and essay writing process.

From this group, 15 students will gain admission to the program. Students admitted to the Dental Hygiene program must have the following official documents on file in the Dental Hygiene Office prior to entering any Dental Hygiene (DHYG) course:

• Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for healthcare providers/basic first aid.
• Copy of immunization records.
• Results of medical and dental examinations (conducted a maximum of six months prior to admission).
• Verification of both health and malpractice insurance (see Malpractice Insurance).
• A signed document acknowledging that the commission of a felony before or during their enrollment in this program may prevent graduates from taking the licensure exam to become dental hygienists and that they may be required to complete drug testing and/or background checks at their own expense prior to participating in internships, practicums, or clinical activities at certain host sites for these activities (see Drug Testing/Background Checks). Blank documents are available from the program chair and the college website.