Steps to get started:
- View the Online Dental Hygiene Tutorial.
- Attend or view an information session to get detailed information and answers to your questions about application and admission requirements.
- If you need individual assistance after viewing or attending an information session, please call the Counseling Center at 509-542-5505 to make an appointment.
Program Costs
Including standard student fees, the program requires an expenditure of approximately $23,000 to $25,000 during the two-year program. These figures are estimates and subject to change. Approximately $6,000 will be needed prior to the beginning of the first quarter. During the last year of the program, students will be required to take both the NBDH exam and the WREB exams, which have additional costs, prior to being licensed to practice as a dental hygienist.
Prerequisite Courses
Must complete all of the 46 credits of prerequisite college courses with a minimum GPA of 2.6 or higher:
- MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics
- SOC& 101 Sociology
- PSYC& 100 General Psychology
- NUTR& 101 Nutrition
- CMST 101 Speech Essentials OR
- CMST 110 Communication Behavior OR
- CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication OR
- CMST& 220 Public Speaking OR
- CMST 260 Multicultural Communications
- ENGL& 101 English Composition
- BIOL& 241 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- BIOL& 260 Microbiology
Preadmission Requirement
- CHEM& 121 Introduction to Chemistry OR
- CHEM& 140 General Chemistry OR
- CHEM& 161 General Chemistry I
Students must complete an application each year to be considered for entry into this program. The Dental Hygiene application will be available online in October and is due January 31 to the Admissions office.
Dental Hygiene Application
Applications are not being accepted at this time. New applications will be available early October and are due January 28, 2013. (Click here for 2013 Application)
Accepted applicants
Accepted applicants will be mailed a letter confirming acceptance. Satisfactory physical exams, required immunization records, and a national background check provided by the college-approved vendor must be completed and submitted before the first day of Dental Hygiene classes. Details of these requirements will be provided at orientation in July.
Individuals who are involved in the provision of dental hygiene services may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens that may result in human disease. The Dental Hygiene program adheres to the practice of "Universal Precautions" as outlined by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). This is necessary to ensure that all necessary procedures are taken to minimize health risks to students, patients, staff, and visitors.
Universal Standards apply to all facility personnel, faculty, and students who, under normal daily tasks, may anticipate contact with blood and other potentially infectious material containing organisms such as HIV, HBV, and HBC.