Application Acceptance Process

Minimum Requirements

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Individuals must be at least 18 years of age
• Completion of Required Pre-requisite courses
• Completion of Health Science ONLINE Application
• Completing the HESI A2 Exam in Reading, Math, Anatomy & Physiology, and Critical Thinking.
• A minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA
• Earn sufficient points to be placed on the class roster.
• Applicants to the dental hygiene program must be able to meet performance standards. Technical Standards and Essential Functions
• An incomplete application will NOT be reviewed for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program.
• After acceptance into the Program, the student must pass a criminal background check and drug testing via Complio. The student will also be required to complete all required immunizations before entering the Program and immunizations needed while in the Program.

Pre-requisites required for application:

*All Associate (AA, AS) degrees and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, have a 1 credit hour institutional requirement of EDUC 1100: First-Year Seminar.

BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology I

BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology II

BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Non Science Majors

CHEM 1406 General Organic & Biological Chemistry

The Following Substitutions will qualify for CHEM 1406:

• CHEM 1405 - Introductory Chemistry I
• CHEM 1411 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1412 - General Chemistry II
• CHEM 2423 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 2425 - Organic Chemistry II

Program Map

Major Course Requirements 

DHYG 1201 - Orofacial Anatomy, Histology and Embryology

DHYG 1207 - General and Dental Nutrition

DHYG 1211 - Periodontology

DHYG 1215 - Community Dentistry

DHYG 1219 - Dental Materials

DHYG 1227 - Preventive Dental Hygiene Care

DHYG 1235 - Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist

DHYG 1239 - General and Oral Pathology

DHYG 1260 - Clinical - Dental Hygienist I

DHYG 1304 - Dental Radiology

DHYG 1331 - Preclinical Dental Hygiene

DHYG 1360 - Clinical Dental Hygienist II

DHYG 2153 - Dental Hygiene Practice

DHYG 2201 - Dental Hygiene Care I

DHYG 2231 - Dental Hygiene Care II

DHYG 2260 - Clinical Dental Hygienist III

DHYG 2360 - Clinical - Dental Hygienist IV

ENGL 1301 - Composition I **

PSYC 2301 - General Psychology **

PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics **

SPCH - 1318 Speech **

SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology **

(**) Courses can be completed before program acceptance, but may also be completed while you have been admitted into the program.

Point System

Acceptance into the A.C. Dental Hygiene Program is based on the combined points for pre-requisite grades, HESI A2 exam points, and additional points. The point system is used to select students for the Dental Hygiene Program. Completion of pre-requisites assigns points to the grade achieved.

(Note:  Students will receive the highest grade for courses earned per category or repeated; be aware that courses may only be repeated one time)

PRE-REQUISITE POINTS

• Grade of "A" for courses = 10 points
• Grade of "B" for courses = 7 points
• Grade of "C" for courses = 4 points

HESI

HESI ADMISSION ASSESSMENT

• Composite score x 0.15 = total HESI points

HESI EXAM A2 CRITICAL THINKING PORTION

• 900 = 5 points
• 850-899 = 4 points 
• 800-849 = 2.5 points
• 700-799 = 1 point
• 699 = 0 points

The Dental Hygiene Program Admission Committee reviews applications beginning June 3, 2024; once all have been submitted by the May 31 deadline. You will be contacted through your Amarillo College email on June 3 or June 4 to verify the information we have received from you and the points you have been assigned. Once the committee reviews and scores all applications, they are ranked from highest to lowest. The Dental Hygiene Program at Amarillo College excepts 24 students each year. Despite the number of applicants and the ranking, the Program can only accept 24. You will receive an email from the Admission Committee shortly after all applicants have been scored on your status in the Program.  You will be informed about your next steps if accepted into the Program. Please be aware that you must have a Background Check, Drug Screening, and Immunizations before entering the Program. (You must be in the process of Hep B)

CPR & HIPAA/OSHA

CPR and HIPAA/OSHA training will be required during the program’s first week. You will NOT need to take those prior to the first day of class.

IMMUNIZATIONS & SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

You DO NOT need to complete the following Immunizations and Screening Requirements until you are accepted into the program. Amarillo College requires immunizations, criminal background checks, and drug screening. Complio is an all-in-one compliance tracking program that is used.(Complio is compatible with Chrome and Firefox browsers only.)

Once you are accepted, you are required to have the following:

VACCINATIONS

• Measles Vaccination
• Rubella Vaccination
• Mumps Vaccination
• Hepatitis B Vaccinations (must have started the series)
• Varicella Vaccination
• Tdap Vaccination
• Flu vaccine
• Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination
• Tuberculosis Skin Test 

TEXAS IMMUNIZATION & SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements apply to all students enrolled in health-related programs in Texas schools, which will involve direct patient contact in program-affiliated medical care facilities. See ACCompliance 

1. Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show, prior to first patient contact, acceptable written evidence of vaccination of two doses of measles-containing vaccine administered since January 1, 1968. Serologic confirmation of measles immunity is adequate. Evidence of immunity must consist of a laboratory report that indicates either confirmation of immunity or infection.
2. Before program admission, students must show written evidence of vaccination of one dose of rubella (German measles) vaccine. Serologic confirmation of immunity to rubella is acceptable. Evidence of immunity must consist of a laboratory report that indicates either confirmation of immunity or infection.
3. Students born on or after. January 1, 1957, must show written evidence of vaccination of one dose of mumps vaccine prior to first patient contact. Serologic confirmation of immunity to mumps is acceptable. Evidence of immunity must consist of a laboratory report that indicates either confirmation of immunity or infection.
4. Students shall have received a complete series (three injections) of the hepatitis B vaccine prior to first patient contact.
5. Students shall have received a complete series (two injections) of varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine prior to first patient contact unless the first dose was received prior to thirteen years of age or must present documentation of varicella immunity. Proof of varicella immunity through laboratory results is acceptable in lieu of vaccine.
6. Within the last ten years, one dose of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) is required. The booster dose may be in the form of a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap).
7. Students who have patient contact must show written evidence of Influenza Vaccination prior to the seasonal flu season.
8. Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination  https://www.actx.edu/admission/meningitis
    

TUBERCULOSIS

All students must present documentation of a negative tuberculin skin test (PPD) administered within one year of beginning clinical activities prior to first patient contact or present evidence of a negative chest x-ray for tuberculosis (T.B.) obtained within one year of beginning clinical activities, if the T.B. skin test is positive. Tuberculosis skin tests must be repeated yearly while students are enrolled in a Health Science Program.

Questions concerning Texas immunization requirements should be directed to a private physician or the local or state health department (not to Amarillo College personnel)

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

Amarillo College background checks are conducted by Complio, a firm specializing in background checks for healthcare workers. Your order must be placed online only, and typically takes 3-5 business days o complete. A.C. Compliance

Complio will not use your information for any other purposes other than a background check. Your credit will not be investigated, and your name will not be given out to any businesses.

Before proceeding with the Criminal Background Check process, you should first view and download the Amarillo College CBC Policy Statement. After reading the policy statement, you will need to sign the attached form and submit the signed form to your program director for placement into your application file. Your application to the program cannot be considered until this signed statement is on file.

Complete all required fields and hit Continue to enter your payment information. The payment of $48.00  plus sales tax for individuals living in Texas) can be made securely online with a credit or debit card. You can also pay by money order, but that will delay processing your background check until the money order is received by mail at the Complio office. You will be provided an order confirmation number and instructions on checking the status on the completion of your report by email.

If you need assistance, don't hesitate to contact Complio at A.C. Compliance.

DRUG SCREENS

The 10-panel drug screen procedure may take up to 30 days to complete.   Students are required to order the drug screen and submit a specimen in sufficient time to be reviewed by the school before starting the clinic.

Incoming students should begin the drug screen process only upon directions from the department. Failure to complete the drug test in the time period required will result in withdrawal from the program. All drug screens must be ordered through Complio at www.actxcompliance.com, and urine specimens submitted within 30 days of ordering the drug screen.

For details regarding Drug Screening in Health Sciences, please refer to https://www.actx.edu/health_sciences/drug-screens