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Dental Hygiene Application Process FAQs

Below you will find answers to many of your questions about the Dental Hygiene application process.

At AC, we accept a class of 24 that begins each Fall.

We begin accepting applications in February; the final day is April 10, 2026.

Yes, you do.

  • The Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee reviews all applications submitted by the deadline. Each application is evaluated based on the Program Point System Worksheet, which assigns a ranking score to determine the top candidates.
  • Once applications are reviewed, the top 48 applicants will be required to take the Casper assessment, which plays a role in the final selection process. After considering both the application ranking and Casper scores, the top 24 students will be offered admission to the program.
  • Final admission decisions will be based on both your application ranking and Casper score. If selected, be sure to complete the Casper test as instructed to remain eligible for admission.

If you are among the top 48 applicants, you will receive an email with Casper registration details on May 18, 2026.

Below is the selection timeline:

  • April 10, 2026 – Application deadline (no further submissions accepted).
  • May 16, 2026 – Final Amarillo College grades available for review.
  • May 18, 2026 – Emails sent to the top 48 applicants with Casper registration instructions.

If I rank in the top 48 applicants, when do I take the Casper test?

  • Registration is required
    • Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 7:00 PM 
    • Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 12:00 PM

Note: Failure to complete the Casper test, if selected, will result in your application being removed from consideration.

Because each applicant will be ranked, it is essential to remember that higher grades will receive higher points. The AC Dental Hygiene Program is highly sought after by students. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.5 will be needed to compete for a position in the class. However, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is acceptable to apply.

No, we do not require letters of recommendation for acceptance.

We value your experience as a dental assistant; however, it is not considered in the admission process.

Here’s what to expect during the selection process:

May 18, 2026 – If you are among the top 48 candidates, you will receive an email with instructions to register for the Casper Test, which is required for final selection.

If you do not rank in the top 48 applicants, you will also receive an email notifying you that you were not selected to move forward in the admissions process. This indicates that your application points did not place you within the top 48 candidates for this application cycle.

June 10, 2026 – After Casper scores are reviewed, you will receive an email notifying you of your admission status into the Dental Hygiene Program.

Final acceptance into the program is based on a combination of your application ranking and Casper score.

Follow this link: Steps to Apply to the AC Dental Hygiene Program

We recommend you don’t wait until the last minute to apply if possible, especially if you need to have courses evaluated by the registrar, because that can take time.

Coursework that has been repeated one time will be considered. The highest of the two attempts will be accepted.

The Dental Hygiene Program has shifted to a new admission process in 2023. The courses you have taken are still required but will not count as points toward your acceptance. Taking those classes is still mandatory for graduation. You will not be required to retake them in the Program as long as they are completed with a passing grade and approved by the Dental Hygiene Program Selection Committee.

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test designed to evaluate personal and professional skills that are important for success in the Dental Hygiene Program. The test takes 65–85 minutes to complete and helps assess attributes such as ethics, communication, empathy, and decision-making.

Only a select group of top-ranking applicants will be required to take Casper. The top 48 applicants will receive an invitation to complete the test. Final admission decisions will be based on a combination of application rankings and Casper scores.

  • April 25, 2025 – Application deadline (no further submissions accepted).
  • May 5, 2025 – Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications.
  • May 9, 2025 – Final grades from Amarillo College become available for review.
  • May 12, 2025 – Emails sent to the top 48 applicants with Casper registration details.

If you are selected, you will receive an email with a registration code and instructions on how to complete Casper.

The Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee will notify applicants through their Amarillo College email on the following dates:

  • May 18, 2026 –
    • If you rank in the top 48 applicants, you will receive an email with instructions to register for the Casper Test.
    • If you do not rank in the top 48, you will also receive an email notifying you that you are no longer being considered for admission.

Important Reminder: If you are selected for Casper, you must take the test on May 19 at 7:00 PM or May 23 at 12:00 PM to remain in consideration for admission. There are no makeup dates.

  • June 2, 2025 – If you are accepted into the program, you must respond to the email by this date to confirm your spot. Failure to respond may result in forfeiting your acceptance.

Tip: Be sure to check your Amarillo College email regularly, as all official communication will be sent there!