Dental Hygiene Admissions

The Dental Hygiene program of study prepares the student to become a licensed primary health provider and a member of the dental team responsible for the preventative aspects of oral health. Emphasis in this area of study will prepare students to participate in roles that include clinician, educator, researcher, administrator and public health advocate.

The Dental Hygiene program is a full-time, summer entry Associate of Applied Science degree.

Steps to Apply

1. Sign up to attend one of our information sessions.
2. If not a current HCC student, submit an HCC Application for Admission. Select the Dental Hygiene area of study, as well as program code-280.
3. New to College Take placement tests, if applicable: Students may be exempt from the placement test if they have transcripts showing completion of college-level English and/or math at another academic institution, qualifying High School GPA or SAT/ACT test scores. Please speak to an advisor to review your options.
4. Complete the required prerequisite coursework with appropriate overall GPA. Please consult with a Nursing/Allied Health Advisor in the Office of Admissions and Advising (RCF-242) to get the most current information on prerequisites and requirements. The College reserves the right to change, without notification, any requirement, fee or program, if it is deemed necessary.
5. Have Prior Credit: Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended: Complete an Official Transcript Evaluation Form and submit to the Office of Admissions and Advising (RCF-242)]
6. Complete 16 hours shadowing a dental hygienist and turn in a signed Clinical Observation Documentation Form by the application due date of January 15.​
7. Complete the online supplemental application for admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. 
8. The application cycle for Dental Hygiene runs between September 15 and January 15 of each school year, with the January date as the final deadline.

• Dental Hygiene AAS Degree Supplemental Application for the Summer 2024 program will be available (9/15/23 - 1/15/24)

Learn more about the Dental Hygiene Program

Clinical Requirement

• If admitted, a drug screening and criminal background check will be required prior to enrollment in any nursing and allied health clinical course in order to ensure the safety of patients in the clinical setting. Students who do not comply with the drug screening and criminal background check are ineligible for placement in clinical agencies and are not able to progress in the clinical program. It is the student’s responsibility to know whether they are eligible for licensure. If a student has a criminal background, it is the students’ responsibility to explore whether the background will prohibit them from being licensed and employed in the health care industry. HCC faculty and staff are not able to provide legal advice. If you have any questions about your background, you may wish to discuss this matter with legal counsel.
• As of 6/17/2021 ALL students who accept a clinical seat will be required to show proof of completed COVID-19 Vaccine prior to beginning their clinical semester.
• As of Fall 2022, I will be required to show proof of health insurance. Howard Community College does not provide or sponsor health insurance for students. In the event that I sustain an injury while on campus or in clinical, it is my responsibility to utilize my own health insurance plan to cover the cost of treatment and/or follow up care.

Dental Hygiene Program Documents

• Dental Hygiene Planning Sheet (PDF)
• DH Observation Hours Form (PDF)

To view the Portable Document Format files (PDFs) from this site, download a free Acrobat Reader.

Additional Information

• Information for Admitted Students - what you need to know to prepare for your program, once admitted to the clinical portion of the program