Additional Admissions Requirements For The Dental Hygiene Program

In addition to the General Admissions Requirements, the following are additional admissions requirements for Dental Hygiene programs.

1. The applicant must complete a 2 to 4-page typed essay outlining (1) why the applicant wants to enter into the Dental Hygiene profession and (2) why he or she should be admitted to the Dental Hygiene program. The Dental Hygiene Program Director may elect to include an additional topic. The essay may be completed offsite. It must be submitted by email to the Dental Hygiene Program Director or his or her designee no less than one week prior to the interview with the program director or his or her designee. After the essay is completed, the applicant will meet with the program director. The program director or his or her designee scores the essay using the Essay Rubric.
2. The applicant must schedule and complete an interview with the Dental Hygiene Program Director and/or his or her designee.
3. The applicant must submit a current and valid form of picture identification. For example, a current and valid driver’s license or U.S Passport.
4. The applicant must submit either a valid medical insurance card or sign a medical waiver form stating he or she is responsible for the costs of all medical services he or she requires.
5. Applicants must submit to and pass a drug-screening test and results must be in the applicant's admission file before starting the program. Inconclusive test results (such as dilute sample and insufficient sample) will require the applicant to be retested at his/her expense. The retest must be completed within 24 hours of receiving the notification on the first test. A second inconclusive test result (such as a dilute sample and insufficient sample) will be considered a positive drug test
6. Applicants must submit to and pass a criminal background check prior to starting the program. Results must be in the applicant’s admission file before starting the program. The applicant should note that a history of criminal convictions may prevent the student from attending or completing the clinical/externship requirements of the program or may prevent his or her credentialing in the profession. If there are any questions regarding the results of the criminal background check, the applicant must make an appointment with the program director to discuss the consequences of the results.
7. With the exception of Hepatitis B, all required immunizations are to be completed prior to or within the first week of the first term that the student starts a dental hygiene program.
8. When all the above admissions requirements are completed with the exception of immunizations as noted, the Applicant Rating Form and Rubric and the application file will be submitted by the Director of Admissions to the Director of the Dental Hygiene Program for consideration by the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee. The Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee consists of the Dental Hygiene Program Director or his or her designee as the chairperson of this committee, designated Dental Hygiene or other faculty member(s), and the College President or his or her designee. The primary purposes of the Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee are: (1) to rank the applicants and (2) to make the final decision as to which applicants are best suited for the Dental Hygiene program. This includes selecting applicants who are most likely to be successful weighing the applicant’s background and experiences with the standards of the profession and school.
9. The Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee reviews each application package, ranks each applicant, as mandated by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and makes the final determination for admission to the Dental Hygiene program based on limited seating capacity for the program. Each member of the committee has an equal vote in determining an applicant’s rank; a majority vote will rule. In the event of a tie vote, the Dental Hygiene Program Director will be the deciding vote.
10. After the Dental Hygiene Program Admission Committee meets and makes its determinations, applicants will be notified of acceptance or denial.
11. An applicant who is not accepted for the start of a class may re-apply to the Dental Hygiene program for a future class. If desired by the applicant, he or she will have the opportunity to retake the SLE in accordance with testing procedures. His or her revised admission rank will be measured according to the current applicant pool. A waiting list for future cohorts will not be generated with applicants who have not been accepted. An applicant who is not accepted for the start of a class may re-apply for a future class and will be placed into the new pool of applicants for ranking.

Ranking for Student Admission into the Dental Hygiene Program

Students will be ranked for admission into the Dental Hygiene program using the following criteria: (1) high school and/or college grade point average (GPA) or GED, (2) interview with the Dental Hygiene Program Director, (3) written essay, (4) score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam, and (5) work experience in an allied health field or military service. The following is a description of the ranking criteria and procedures.

• Interview with the Dental Hygiene Program Director. The interview will assess a variety of the applicant’s characteristics and attributes. A questionnaire interview rubric will result in the assignment of a score ranging from 1 to 5.
• Written Essay. The essay will include the assessment of content, writing format, logical progression of thoughts, writing style, spelling, grammar and punctuation. An essay rubric will result in the assignment of a score ranging from 5 to 25.
• High School Grade Point Average (GPA), GED and College GPA if applicable. The high school or college GPA or GED will have a possible score ranging from 0 to 60. Ten (10) additional points will be awarded for students who have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in college science courses. Total possible score in this category is 70.

• Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) Score. Points will be assigned according to the score on the exam ranging from 0 to 30. Minimum score of 16 required.

• Work Experience in an Allied Health Field or U.S. Military Service. Points will be assigned according the amount of time the applicant has worked in an allied health field or served in the US Military, ranging from 0 to 30.

Essential Skills and Functional Abilities for Dental Hygiene Students

An applicant for the Dental Hygiene program should possess the following essential skills and functional abilities:

Motor Abilities

• Physical abilities and mobility sufficient to execute gross motor skills, and physical endurance to provide patient care

Manual Dexterity

• Ability of the student to demonstrate fine motor skills sufficient to accomplish required tasks and to provide necessary patient care.

Perceptual/Auditory Ability

• Sensory and perceptual ability to assess patients for providing dental hygiene care

Behavioral/Interpersonal/Emotional

• Demonstrates interpersonal abilities sufficient for interaction with individuals, families and groups from various social, intellectual and cultural backgrounds.
• Demonstrates the ability to work constructively and independently with the ability to modify behavior in response to constructive criticism.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior, which includes adherence to the professional standards and student honor codes.
• Ability to effectively and accurately operate equipment and utilize instruments safely in laboratory and clinical environments.

Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Dental Hygiene Examination and the regional and/or state clinical and written examinations, all of which require passing scores before a graduate can complete an application for dental hygiene licensure. Dental hygiene licensure is required by all states before a graduate can practice as a dental hygienist. The written examination is a computerized exam given as the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE). The clinical examination, with a computerized component, is administered by several regional testing agencies in various locations and passing the exam is required for states within a specific region.

Regional board exams are given by the following agencies: CDCA/CRDTS/SRTA/CITA. Each state requires completion of a licensure application following submission of passing scores on both the NBDHE and one of the regional or independent state examinations before a graduate can practice as a dental hygienist.