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.

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.

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)

Casper Assessment Requirement

Casper Assessment

A select percentage of top-ranking applicants must complete the Casper assessment as part of the 2025/26 admissions process.

What is Casper?

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test designed to assess personal and professional skills important for success in our program. The test takes 65–85 minutes to complete and complements other tools used in our applicant evaluation process.

When Will I Know if I Need to Take Casper?

The Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee reviews all applications to determine top-ranking candidates. Here is the timeline for notifications:

• April 25, 2025: Application deadline (no further submissions accepted).
• May 5, 2025: The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications.
• May 9, 2025: Final grades become available for review from Amarillo College (AC).
• May 12, 2025: Final notification emails are sent to top-ranking candidates.

If you are selected, you will receive an email from the Admissions Committee with a registration code and instructions for completing the Casper test.

Selection Process Overview

• The Dental Hygiene Program accepts 24 students each year.
• The top 48 applicants will be required to take the Casper assessment.
• Final selections are based on combined application review and Casper scores.
• The highest-ranking 24 students after the Casper assessment will be offered admission.

Important

• The only date and time for the Casper test is:
  • May 14th at 7:00 PM
• Registration is required.
• Failure to complete the Casper assessment, if selected, will result in your application being removed from further consideration.

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 Accepted

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. Go to the AC Complio Website.

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: See the AC Admission Policy for Bacterial Meningitis Vaccine

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.

**Note: 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 to complete. Go to the AC Complio Website.

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 through the AC Complio Website.