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 Dental Hygiene program 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 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. Applicants to the program should be aware of the Bloodborne Pathogens Infectious Disease Policy in relation to patient care.

To receive consideration for admission to the program, applicants must submit the following documentation to the Admissions Office by the application deadline for the year they seek admission to the program:

• Completed and signed application for admission and a $25 nonrefundable application fee.
• Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts of all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements). Students must have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all college work attempted.

• Valid ACCUPLACER or COMPANION, SAT, or ACT test scores (see ACCUPLACER Placement Examination).

• Proof of legal presence in the United States.

• Scores from Assessment Technologies Institute The Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) (see Selective Admission Examinations).  
• 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.
• If applicable, students may submit a copy of their Certified Dental Assistant credentials. This certification is given by the Dental Assisting National Board.
• If applicable, students may submit a copy of their Expanded Functions Certificate. This credential is granted by the State of Georgia.
• If applicable, applicants who are employed in a dental office may submit a Proof of Employment form to be competed and signed by the dentist employer.
• The Dental Hygiene Program requires that all applicants attend a mandatory virtual information session in the year before they apply for the Program. They usually last 30 to 40 minutes, and time is available to ask questions after the program information has been discussed. Sessions are held 2 times a semester. Please email pgainey@athenstech.edu for information.

The selection process will be weighted toward students who have completed human anatomy and physiology I and II (BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, and BIOL 2114L), introductory microbiology (BIOL 2117 and BIOL 2117L), chemistry (CHEM 1151 and CHEM 1151L or CHEM 1211 and 1211L), and other core classes in the Dental Hygiene curriculum with grades of C or better by January 1 of the academic year for which they are seeking admission to the program. 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 1 application deadline. Although applicants must have a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses listed in item C, it should be noted that the prerequisite Science course grade point average is one of the main criteria for selection in life science programs, so grades of C are typically not competitive. Science Core GPA is calculated as an average of all attempts at a course

Applicants must take the Assessment Technologies Institute Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) no later than November to receive consideration for admission to the program.

Applicants will receive points and will be ranked by totaling the following criteria: Science GPA, TEAS score, Certification as a Dental Assistant (DANB Certification ONLY will result in points added) and Employment in a Dental Office. Students who have completed a CODA Accredited Dental Assisting Program will be awarded Bonus points if their GPA in the program totals 3.5 or higher. These points will be added to the Science GPA.

The top 16 students will be selected along with 5 alternates, all of whom must attend a mandatory pre-Orientation session. Introduction of the faulty, curriculum, schedules and all pertinent information about program will be discussed. Students will be given the opportunity to ask any questions that they may have about the program, and will be followed a mandatory detailed Orientation that will be held in the summer before the Program begins.

Beginning in Fall of 2019, Program information sessions will be offered at different times during the semester. Please call the Dental Hygiene reception desk at 706-583-2810 to schedule your session. Attendance is recommended, and will be mandatory beginning in 2020. After that time, applicants will be required to attend a mandatory DHYG information session in the application period for which admission is sought. Applicants who have attended  an information session during a previous application period must attend another session. Records of attendance will be maintained at the DHYG program office. **All applicants must present a government-issued Driver's license at the Information session attended **

The 16 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.
• Students who are accepted into the Dental Hygiene program must also attend mandatory Dental Hygiene orientation approximately 3 week prior to the first day of courses. Failure to attend this orientation will result in the forfeiture of admission to the program. The date of the orientation will be announced in the Welcome Letter/Packet.