Dental Hygiene Admissions

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Dental Hygiene Program at Pikes Peak State College (PPSC). The mission of Pikes Peak State College is to provide high quality educational opportunities to all with a focus on student success and community needs, including:

Occupational programs, including certificates, associate and bachelor's degrees, for youth and adults in career and technical fields;
Two-year transfer educational programs to qualify students for admission to the junior year at other colleges and universities; and
A broad range of personal, career, and technical education for adults.

The Pikes Peak State College Dental Hygiene Program is honored that you are interested in joining our inaugural class and we are excited to thoroughly review your application and credentials. We wish you the best of luck in your application process.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene at PPSC has been approved by the Colorado Career and Technical Education (CTE). PPSC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL. 60602-2504, (312) 263-0456.

PPSC Dental Hygiene Program anticipates being granted the Initial Accreditation Status by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) in February 2025. CODA - 211 East Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611, 800-232-6108, www.coda.ada.org

Please note that the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program is a Full-Time Program that spans six consecutive semesters and may require attendance in lectures, labs, or clinics Monday through Friday at any time from 8AM to 8PM. Clinicals may be assigned during the day, or evening, and there is a possibility of Saturday hours. The program offers a 90-credit hour curriculum leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. After all course requirements are met, the dental hygiene student will be eligible to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the CDCA ADEX Dental Hygiene Clinical Exam. Upon graduation and successful completion of both examinations, the dental hygiene student will then be eligible to apply for licensure through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (or their desired state dental board) to become a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).

Students applying to the Pikes Peak State College Dental Hygiene Program must be in good standing with the College. This includes having no academic or financial holds on one’s accounts with PPSC.

Students interested in the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program will need to complete all of the following steps and must be 18 years of age at the time and date of submission of this application to be considered for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program. The PPSC Dental Hygiene Program is highly competitive with selective admission requirements. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be considered.

Application Process

The application window will open November 1, 2024, and close on February 1, 2025, for the cohort starting Summer 2025. Application submission is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program.

This program packet is published for informational purposes only. The information in this packet is not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the program. The program reserves the right to change, at any time without notice, program completion requirements, fees/other charges, curriculum, course structure/content, and other such matters as set forth in the program information packet in accordance with Pikes Peak State College policies and procedures.

This application packet includes the following information needed to complete the application process for the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program:

Application Requirements (Steps 1-9)
Application Completion Instructions
Competitive Ranking Process & Admissions Criteria
Provisional Acceptance to the Dental Hygiene Program
PPSC Dental Hygiene Student Technical Standards/Essential Requirements Policy
Associate in Applied Science Dental Hygiene Degree Course Map
Dental Hygiene Program Cost Estimates
Disqualifying Criminal Offenses
Example of a TEAS Individual Performance Profile Score Sheet

All PPSC Dental Hygiene Program applications are processed through an external application process administered by the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (ADEA DHCAS).

Information about the Dental Hygiene Program can be obtained on the PPSC Dental Hygiene website. If you have further questions after reviewing the website, please call (719) 502-3437 or email at: dental-hygiene@pikespeak.edu

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all steps of the application have been completed and the information is accurate. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be considered.

Application Requirements

Students interested in applying to the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program need to complete ALL the following steps (1-9) to be considered for admission.

***If you are already enrolled at PPSC, you do not need to repeat this step.

Apply online at https://www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/apply.php.

Refer to website: https://www.pikespeak.edu/transcript-evaluation for instructions on submitting official transcripts.

***If you have previously submitted your official transcripts to PPSC, you do not need to repeat this step.

***If you have not previously taken courses at another college or university, skip this step.

General Education
ENG 1021 – English Composition
COM 1260 – Communication in Healthcare

Note: Substitute communication courses could be:
- COM 1150 – Public Speaking (3)
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication (3), or
- COM 2300 – Intercultural Communication (3)

PSY 1001 – General Psychology I
SOC 1001 – Intro to Sociology I
HWE 1050 – Human Nutrition
Science
CHE 1009 – General, Organic & Biochemistry

Note: Substitute chemistry courses could be:
- CHE 1011 – Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab and
- CHE 1012 – Introduction to Chemistry II with Lab

BIO 2101 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
BIO 2102 Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
BIO 2104 Microbiology

Note: All science courses must be completed within 7 years of application to the Dental Hygiene program.

***A minimum of 3 out of 4 science and 2 out of 5 Gen Ed pre-requisite courses MUST be completed at the time of application to the Dental Hygiene program. A minimum of 19 credits of pre-requisite coursework and/or 24 credits of DEA coursework must be completed at the time of the application, with the remainder to be completed at the minimum satisfactory level (a “C” or higher) at the conclusion of the Spring 2025 semester. Accepted applicants who do not have all pre-require coursework completed at the time of application will be granted a conditional acceptance with the requirement of having to successfully complete the remainder of the pre-requisite coursework before enrolling in the dental hygiene (DEH) courses. Unsuccessful completion of the remainder of the pre-requisite courses will disqualify the candidate from enrolling in the dental hygiene courses and the student will be dropped from the program, even if they have been conditionally accepted. Please refer to the Admissions Criteria document for minimum requirements.

TEAS information can be found at https://www.pikespeak.edu/admissions/testing-center/certification-testing/index.php The individual Performance Profile provides the Total Score, Reading Score, and Math Score, each of which must be at or above the current national mean for a total combined minimum score of 64 or higher. Applicants may take the TEAS exam a maximum of 2 times in the 12 months prior to dental hygiene application submission. The student must submit their TEAS Individual Performance Profile score sheet to ADEA DHCAS with their application.
ADTH information can be found at https://www.ada.org/en/education/testing/exams/admission-test-for-dental-hygiene-atdh The ADTH provides a Combined Score, Reading Comprehension, Language Usage, Perceptual Ability, Biology, and General Chemistry cores, each of which must be at or above the current national mean for a total combined minimum score of 340 or higher. Applicants may take the ADTH exam a maximum of 2 times in the 12 months prior to dental hygiene application submission. The student ADTH scores are automatically submitted to ADEA DHCAS.

Note: Only one exam is required.

This includes ALL required documentation and $50 payment at the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (ADEA DHCAS).

1. Fee assistance is available for those who qualify at ADEA DHCAS Application Fee Assistance Program.
2. For support with navigating and/or completing the application contact 617-612-2095 or support@adeadhcas.myliasion.com
3. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the application is complete and accurate at the time of submission. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be considered for admission.

The DH Application Information Session form should be saved with your first initial, last name, form title, and year

(example; T_Molar_DHApplicationInformationSession_2025).

The observation form should be saved with your first initial, last name, observation form, and year (example; T_Molar_ObservationForm_2025).

Note: this is different than the letter of attestation from your dental employer. The letters of recommendations should be saved with your first initial, last name, recommendation letter 1, and year (example; T_Molar_RecommendationLetter1_2025).

Application Completion Instructions

All required documents and forms MUST be submitted through the ADEA DHCAS portal, or the application packet will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for this application cycle. No documentation will be accepted outside the ADEA DHCAS portal.
All attached documentation must be saved in the format specified above (see examples).
Any student who was dismissed for disciplinary reasons from another Dental Hygiene Program within the past 5 years will not be eligible to apply to the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program. Your application will be denied and not reviewed. Falsifying, misleading, or withholding information regarding a previous Dental Hygiene Program failure may be grounds for immediate dismissal from the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program.

Applicants who have completed steps 1-9 will have their application reviewed and ranked using a standard rubric. PPSC staff will review the anonymous/blinded Admissions Essays of the top ranking (15 Priority Admission and 30 General Admission) candidates to fill the 30 admitted spots and 10 alternate candidate spots. The application deadline is February 1, 2025. The ADEA DHCAS will NOT accept any additional application materials after the deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their application is complete and accurate upon submission. The ADEA DHCAS and/or PPSC Dental Hygiene Program are not responsible for misplaced or incomplete application materials.

Notification letters will be sent to applicants via email, approximately 6 weeks after the application deadline. The status of an application can be viewed by logging into the ADEA DHCAS account. Pay close attention to the Dental Hygiene Department website for updates on the status of the application process and dates for emailing notifications, etc. Information can be found at the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program Website at https://www.pikespeak.edu/programs/dental/dental-hygiene/index.php

Candidates accepted to the program will be required to provide additional documentation within two weeks of the provisional acceptance notification. Failure to provide the requested information within the specified period will result in the candidate being dropped from the program and the spot will be given to an alternate candidate. No exceptions will be granted.

All decisions made by the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Committee are final.

Competitive Ranking Process

The ADEA DHCAS/PPSC Dental Hygiene Program employs a selective admission process. Applicants meeting all admission criteria are ranked on a 100-point system. Admission to the program is considered based on specific criteria such as grade point average (GPA) in pre-requisite courses, average scores on either the Admissions Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) or the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), written admissions essay, letters of recommendations from a dental hygiene professional and previous faculty, and demographic/life experiences. Top ranking candidates are offered acceptance to the program. There are two admissions tracks; 1) Ten spots are allocated for a priority admission process for existing or previous dental assisting certificate and/or dental assisting associate degree students from a CODA accredited program that meet the minimum requirements, 2) Twenty spots are allocated to a general admission process for any other interested student that meets the minimum requirements.

Ten spots are allocated for a priority admission process for existing or previous dental assisting certificate and/or dental assisting associate degree students from a CODA accredited program that meet the minimum requirements. The top ranked 15 candidates under the priority admission criteria have their anonymous/blinded Admissions Essay evaluated by the Admissions Committee utilizing a standardized evaluation rubric. The Admissions Committee consists of the program director, 1 program faculty, and 1 non-dental personnel. The top 10 ranked dental assisting certificate and/or dental assisting associate degree applicants are extended a letter of acceptance. In case of having more qualified dental assisting certificate and/or dental assisting associate degree candidates apply, the top 10 ranked applicants are admitted, and the remainder are placed in the general admission pool of candidates and follow the general admission process. In case of not having 10 qualified dental assisting applicants, unclaimed priority seats are released to the general admission pool.

Twenty spots are allocated to a general admission process for any other interested applicants that meet the minimum requirements. The top ranked 30 candidates have their anonymous/blinded Admissions Essay evaluated by the Admissions Committee utilizing a standardized evaluation rubric. The Admissions Committee consists of the program director, 1 program faculty, and 1 non-dental personnel. The Admissions Essay score is combined with the previously tabulated candidate ranking score to determine the overall ranking. The 20 top ranked applicants are extended a letter of acceptance, and the remaining 10 applicants placed on an alternate candidate list.

Priority Admission – Dental Assisting Certificate candidates or graduates (10 spots)	General Admission (20 spots)
Application Deadline	February 1^st	February 1^st
Pre-requisite GPA	Science (minimum 3/4 courses & must be completed within 7 years of application) ≥3.5 = 20 3.3-3.4 = 19 3.1-3.2 = 18 2.9-3.0 = 17 2.7-2.8 = 16 2.5-2.6 = 15 ≤ 2.4 – not considered 20 points Gen. Ed = (minimum 2/4) ≥3.5 = 10 3.3-3.4 = 9 3.1-3.2 = 8 2.9-3.0 = 7 2.7-2.8 = 6 2.5-2.6 = 5 ≤ 2.4 – not considered 10 points	Science (minimum 3/4 courses & must be completed within 7 years of application) ≥3.5 = 20 3.3-3.4 = 19 3.1-3.2 = 18 2.9-3.0 = 17 2.7-2.8 = 16 2.5-2.6 = 15 ≤ 2.4 – not considered 20 points Gen. Ed = (minimum 2/4) ≥3.5 = 10 3.3-3.4 = 9 3.1-3.2 = 8 2.9-3.0 = 7 2.7-2.8 = 6 2.5-2.6 = 5 ≤ 2.4 – not considered 10 points
Prior education credit	24 credits of DEA coursework completed @ application time = spring semester· DEA certificate must be completed satisfactorily by beginning of hygiene program. 10 points	≥ 19 credits of pre-requisites @ application time = spring semester· All remaining pre-reqs must be completed satisfactorily by the beginning of the hygiene program. 10 points
Load/semester	≥12 credits per semester 3.5 – 4.0 = 15 points 3.0 – 3.49 = 12 points 2.5 – 2.99 = 9 points ≤ 2.49 = not considered 15 points (Basted on cumulative GPA) 15 points (Basted on cumulative GPA) ≤11 credits per semester 3.5 – 4.0 = 13 points 3.0 – 3.49 = 10 points 2.5 – 2.99 = 7 points ≤ 2.49 = not considered 13 points (Based on cumulative GPA)Minimum of one semester of ≥12 credits to qualify for 15 points.
Admissions Test	Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) ≥ 69 – 20 points 68 – 68.99 – 19 points 67 – 67.99 – 18 points 66 – 66.99 – 17 points 65 – 65.99 – 16 points 64 – 64.99 – 15 points ≤ 63.99 – not considered OR Admissions Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) ≥390 – 20 points 380-389.99 – 19 points 370- 379.99 – 18 points 360 – 369.99 – 17 points 350 – 359.99 – 16 points 340 – 349.99 – 15 points ≤339.99 – not considered 20 points
Demographic/ Life Experience	First-generation college student Non-traditional student ≥ 40 GED recipient Single parent Male Military service Underrepresented minority DACA, Dreamer, ASSET, undocumented Rural resident 5 points
Dental Hygiene Observation/Attestation letter	8 hours of dental hygiene clinical observation OR letter of attestation from dental employer. 5 points
Written essay	Average based on grading rubric from program director, 1 faculty member & 1 non-dental faculty or administrative support. 5 points
Colorado Resident	5 points
Two letters of recommendation fromprofessors/instructors and/or managers/employers.	5 points
Total Points	100

Competitive ranking is based on a maximum of 100 points. In the rare case of multiple applicants with an identical number of points, selection is randomized.

For example: If there is one spot left to fill and there are three applicants that are all competitively ranked with the same number of points, these three applicants are randomized. The first applicant randomly drawn will fill the open spot. The remaining two applicants may have the option of becoming an alternate position holder for the Dental Hygiene Program if the opportunity arises.

Provisional Acceptance to the Dental Hygiene Program

A letter of provisional acceptance is e-mailed to all candidates that are provisionally accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program. Candidates that are provisionally accepted will receive a packet along with the e-mail of provisional acceptance. The packet will include the following:

Candidates are expected to electronically submit this form showing that they either accept or decline the offered provisional position with the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program. The Return Form must be returned within two weeks of the acceptance letter, or it will be assumed the candidate is declining their provisional position. An alternate candidate will be given the open position.

Accepted candidates must complete a background check and a drug screening test within two weeks of the provisional acceptance notification. Further instructions will be included in the acceptance e-mail. The background check and drug screening test must be initiated within the specified period, or it will be assumed the candidate is declining their provisional position. An alternate candidate will be given the open position.

This form must show proof of all immunizations recommended by the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program as well as documentation of a negative TB test. The forms MUST be completed and signed by the candidate’s healthcare provider.
Dates will be provided for when all documents are required.
Information and instructions will be provided, if needed.

This form must show proof of a vison test including any prescription, if needed.
Dates will be provided for when all documents are required.
Information and instructions will be provided, if needed.

A current BLS for Healthcare Professional certification is required by the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program
Dates will be provided for when all documents are required.
Information and instructions will be provided, if needed.

N/A

Note: Final acceptance into the PPSC Dental Hygiene Program is dependent upon completion of and timely submission of the above documentation. No exceptions will be granted.

Requested documentation and tasks will be submitted through Castle Branch, PPSC Medical Document Management portal. Further instructions will be provided in the acceptance notification. Task requirements must be completed with uploaded documents by specified dates.

A MANDATORY Orientation Event will be held on a specified date prior to the start of the fall semester, and all candidates must attend the event. It is a PPSC Delta Dental Center wide event with specific workshops scheduled. Dental loupes representatives will be present for students to select and get fitted for their dental loupes and head lights. Dental loupes are required for all dental hygiene students. Further information on specific brands and cost estimates will be provided prior to the event. Candidates will meet several faculty members and get information on what their upcoming schedule might look like for the fall semester.

PPSC Dental Hygiene Student Technical Standards Policy

Disability Related Information. Students are expected to participate fully in activities required by the Program. See the Essentials Skills and Functional Abilities for Dental Hygiene Students.

Any student having a temporary medical condition that inhibits or restricts his/her activities should contact the Office of Accessibility Services (719-502-3333).

Should a student become unable to participate fully in the Program’s activities, he or she may be granted an Incomplete or be administratively withdrawn. Questions regarding a grade of Incomplete or an administrative withdraw should be directed to the Dental Hygiene Department.

Students requesting reasonable accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services at http://www.pikespeak.edu/accessibility-services or 719-502-3333. It is recommended that students set up their initial appointment with Accessibility Services prior to starting the Dental Hygiene Program. Specific information regarding the accommodation process is available on the PPSC website. Accommodations may only be provided when the student provides the Accommodations Form from the Office of Accessibility Services to his or her individual faculty. More information about Technical Standards and the Essential Requirements Policy can be found at https://www.pikespeak.edu/programs/dental-hygiene

A candidate for the Dental Hygiene program must have abilities and skills in six categories: observation, communication, motor, intellectual, behavioral/social, and environmental. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. A candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. The following skills are required with or without accommodation.

Candidates must have sufficient sensory capacity to observe in the classroom, laboratory, and clinic. Sensory skills adequate to perform an examination and to detect subtle surface textures are required. Functional vision, hearing, and tactile sensation must be adequate to observe a patient’s condition, inspect subtle color and characteristic changes in oral tissues, read radiographs, and detect fine changes on tooth surfaces.

Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both academic and health care settings. Candidates must show evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills, such as those needed to interact with patients and professionals and to communicate patients’ needs in a prompt and effective manner.

Candidates must have fine motor function to execute movements required to provide care to patients. Candidates must be able to negotiate patient care environments and be able to move between settings, such as clinic and classroom buildings. Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences.

Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize. Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of dental hygienists, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Candidates must be able to read and understand scientific literature. In order to complete the Dental Hygiene degree, candidates must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion in problem solving and patient care.

Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team is essential. The dental hygienist’s role requires flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, concern for others, and the ability to function in the face of the uncertainties and stress inherent in clinical practice.

Candidates must be able to function in an environment that requires use of agents for infection control, such as: nitrile gloves, masks, protective eye wear, surgical gowns, and chemical solutions and aerosols used to kill pathogens.