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Admission

Dental Hygiene AAS

Pre-Admission Information Sessions

Interested in the Dental Hygiene program?

Listen to a recorded Dental Hygiene Program Information Session below. After reviewing the Information Session recording, please contact your Enrollment Advisor or Program Advisor for more information. These sessions provide important information about program eligibility, requirements, costs and more.

Applying for Dental Hygiene Education Program

This degree program requires a special program application.  Please read all of the information on this page carefully.

Admissions Process

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • New and transfer students are required to complete the program admissions application
  • Complete assessment tests for math, reading and writing.
  • Transfer courses earned from another regionally accredited institution are not valid until they have been officially evaluated & grades have been posted on PCC transcripts. An official (sealed) transcript and Student Request for Transcript Evaluation form must be submitted to PCC Admissions Office
  • If grades and/or assessment scores are not posted on PCC transcripts by the end of the program application period, application requests will be denied.

Open Application Period: November 1 thru January 10.

  • Prerequisite coursework must be completed (with grades posted) as described in Program Requirements before applying to the program.
  • Once prerequisite coursework is complete, students can access the online HRP Program Application through your MyPima account. Click on Students tab, then Academics, then Academic Planning, HRP Program Application. The application will appear in the drop down section starting November 1st.
  • The program accepts applications starting November 1st through January 10th each year for acceptance into the next Fall cohort starting in August of that year.
  • The Admissions Committee will review applicants and the accepted students will be notified 4-6 weeks after the application window closes.
  • Dental Hygiene accepts 30 students each year; however as there are already admitted students on a waitlist to start, we will only be able to offer up to 15 seats per year to students applying through the open admissions process. The other 15 seats will go to previously accepted students.
  • It is important to check your MyPima email account regularly as program information will be communicated to you via this account.
    • If you have not registered for courses for 3 consecutive semesters or more, your PCC account and email may no longer be active. You will need to re-apply to PCC to have your account reactivated.

Students who applied for the program before November 20, 2023

  • Students who are on the waitlist may choose to re-apply through the Open Application admissions process to attempt to get one of the 15 seats/year granted.
  • In order to apply for a sooner cohort, waitlist students will need to drop from their current spot on the waitlist prior to submitting the new application. We will be monitoring the waitlist, so it is suggested to not drop from the current waitlist more than 1 week prior to the Open Application acceptance period. Waitlist students that enter the Open Application acceptance process and are not selected for the upcoming cohort will be placed back on the waitlist in their original seat after the open application period ends. There is a potential for waitlist movement after the Open Application acceptance period ends.
It is recommended to check this webpage frequently for continued updates for information on the application and selection process.

Program Admissions, Participation and Course Information

  • Vaccinations/testing required for entering/continuing in the Dental Hygiene program: The Dental Hygiene program works with hospitals and agencies that require:
    • MMR
    • Varicella
    • Hepatitis B vaccination (series of three vaccinations)
    • Tdap
    • Annual flu vaccination
    • Annual TB testing or negative chest x-ray
    • COVID-19 (vaccination is recommended, not required)
All students who are enrolled or entering the Dental Hygiene program must provide documentation of a positive titer/proof of vaccination to all of these immunizations. Students who do not provide proof of a positive titer when entering the Dental Hygiene program will have to reapply to the program.
  • Students may request a vaccination exemption. Contact the Dental Hygiene Program Director for information on the process and the Vaccination Declination Form.
  • Students must be able to perform a number of physical activities in the clinical portion of the program. At a minimum, students will be required to lift patients, stand for several hours at a time and perform bending activities. The dental experience also places students under considerable mental and emotional stress as they undertake responsibilities and duties impacting patients’ lives. Students must be able to demonstrate rational and appropriate behavior under stressful conditions, assess and gather information regarding the physical status of patients, communicate effectively with patients and health care teams and synthesize data to critically evaluate and make emergency decisions. Individuals should give careful consideration to the mental and physical demands of the program prior to submitting an application.

To participate in the Dental Hygiene program, students must:

  • Provide and maintain an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Fingerprint Clearance Card. Failure to receive and maintain an Arizona DPS card can jeopardize formal entry and/or continued enrollment in the Dental Hygiene program.
  • Pass a urine toxicology screening exam.
  • Attend the DHE orientation session.
  • Serve as a dental patient to classmates. Students may receive various types of dental treatments that may include local anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation therapy. All dental hygiene care is supervised by a licensed dentist and licensed dental hygienists and is based upon standard of care for the profession of dentistry and the Rules and Statues of the Arizona Dental Practice Act.
  • Be aware of and practice the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Standard Precautions and Post Exposure Guidelines for disease/injury control and prevention. Students may be exposed to infectious diseases and bloodborne pathogens during patient care.
  • Be flexible and able to balance employment, personal and academic schedules and responsibilities.
  • Provide own transportation from the college campus to clinical sites.
  • Maintain health insurance throughout enrollment in the program.

Course Information

  • Completion time for the DHE program is based on compass assessment results, completion of program admission requirements, support courses and/or completion of 4 semesters of DHE core courses.
  • Must receive a C grade or better in all core courses to progress to the next semester.
  • DHE program curriculum is offered only on a full-time basis at PCC West Campus.
  • Core courses are scheduled by the Dental Hygiene program.
  • Students who opt to leave the dental hygiene program may re-enter the program one time without need to repeat mandatory course work, if they re-enter within one (1) year, based on space availability.

Important Information on Licensure

Students should be aware that the state/national license exams or certification applications may include a personal history section in which prospective applicants must report and may have to provide a detailed explanation of legal situations. An investigative process must be completed before a license is issued. Students with a misdemeanor or felony conviction must apply for and receive an Arizona Depart of Public Safety (DPS) card to enter the Dental Hygiene Education program. Failure to receive and maintain a DPS card is grounds for dismissal from the Dental Hygiene program. Examples of situations which may prohibit licensure or certification include, but are not limited to: felony or misdemeanor convictions, substance abuse, conviction of an offense involving immoral behavior, or being guilty of acts which deceive, defraud or cause harm to the public in any way.

Fingerprinting may be a part of many state and federal licensing and certification processes. If there is any question about eligibility for licensure or certification, it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the state and/or federal agency responsible for licensure or certification. For licensure eligibility inquiries, contact the State of Arizona Board of Dental Examiners, (602) 242-1492 or state dental licensing boards of the state(s) in which you wish to practice. All applicants applying or renewing a license must also demonstrate U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. A statement of Citizenship form with the documents identified in the Evidence of Citizenship attachment must accompany all license applications and renewals.

Program Information

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