Dental Hygiene Admissions Requirements

The Fall 2025 application period is open until March 21, 2025.

Before You Begin

  • The Dental Hygiene program has a competitive admission process. Each application is ranked, and the top 20 applicants are granted admission into the program each fall semester. If two applicants tie, their applications are ranked in the order they were received.
  • Use the Dental Hygiene Application Checklist to review all criteria and prepare your application materials before starting the online application. 
  • Special requirements including immunizations, an AHA BLS Provider card, drug screen and a background check will be required once admission to the program is offered.

Dental Hygiene Admissions Process

1. Apply to Become a Student at FRCC

Apply to become a student at FRCC.  Choose AA in Health Sciences as your major. 

Tip: You will also need to apply to the Dental Hygiene Program (step 6).  Students are admitted to the program each fall. 

Apply to FRCC

2. Meet with Your Advisor

We recommend all students meet with a Larimer Campus Health Science & Wellness academic advisor and a financial aid advisor (optional).

 

Advising InformationContact Financial Aid

3. Complete Prerequisites

Application Prerequisites

The following courses (or an equivalent transfer course) must be complete with a letter grade of "C" or higher and a minimum 2.5 GPA prior to application semester for the program.   

  • ENG1021 or ENG1022 English Composition I or II
  • PSY1001 General Psychology or PSY2440 Human Growth & Development
  • COM 1150 Public Speaking
  • BIO 1010 Biology Foundations
  • BIO 1004 Biology: A Human Approach: GT-SC1

* BIO 2101 and BIO 2102 will count in leu of BIO 1004 but must still be completed with a ‘C’ or higher.
* CHE 1011 and CHE 1012 will count in lieu of CHE 1009 but must be completed with a 'C' or higher.

In-Progress/Admission Prerequisites

The following courses (or an equivalent transfer course) must also be completed with a letter grade of “C” or higher and a minimum 2.5 GPA prior to final admittance to the program and registration for classes.  However, they may be in progress at the time of your application*. 

  • BIO 2104 Microbiology w/lab: GT-SC1
  • CHE 1009 General, organic, & Biochemistry
  • DEH 1005 Intro to Dental Hygiene
  • SOC 1001 Intro to Sociology I: GT-SS3

*Students may have a maximum of four (4) prerequisite courses currently in progress at the time of their application. Of the 4 outstanding courses, only two (2) science (BIO or CHE) courses may be in progress.

*If BIO2104 and CHE 1009 are still in progress, you must upload an instructor email stating a projected grade upon completion of the course (all instructor letters must be submitted with your application.) Final grades will be verified prior to final admittance to the program and registration for classes. 

*Credit must be transferred to FRCC prior to submitting an application to the Dental Hygiene program.  Credit from a transfer course must already be visible on your FRCC transcript for the application. Evaluations take up to 30 days to complete after the FRCC Registrar receives the official transcript and the Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.  Transcripts may not be issued to the student to be considered ‘official’. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the previous college to the FRCC Office of the Registrar.

* Science courses (BIO and CHE) must have been completed within 7 years prior to application to the program.

4. Transfer Credit to FRCC (Optional)

If any prerequisite coursework was taken outside of the FRCC system, you must have your transcripts officially evaluated through the FRCC Office of the Registrar. All prerequisites must be transferred to your FRCC transcript before applying.

The transfer credit evaluation can take up to 30 days once all documentation is received. 

Transfer Evaluation Form

4. Review Essential Functions of a Dental Hygienist Document

Review and be prepared to accept the Essential Functions of a Dental Hygienist document.

Essential Functions of a Dental Hygienist

5. Take the ATDH Exam or the TEAS Test

Complete the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) exam or TEAS test. The ATDH test must be taken by 03/16/25 in order to count toward the Fall 2025 application.

ATDH:

  • Apply  online and schedule the exam at a Prometric Testing Center. 
  • Complete the ATDH exam with a minimum average score of 200.
  • Exam score can be used for up to 15 months.
  • Exam may be taken twice in 365 days.

TEAS:

  • Complete the TEAS test with a minimum average score of 58.7%.
  • Exam score can be used for up to 15 months.
  • Exam may be taken twice in 365 days.

If you plan to apply to other Dental Hygiene programs in Colorado, please check acceptable entrance exams, most take the ATDH or TEAS or accept both exams. 

ATDH examTEAS test

6. Apply to the Dental Hygiene Program

Applicants will need the following to submit the Dental Hygiene Program application:

  1. Code received from viewing the Dental Hygiene Power Point.
  2. Unofficial FRCC transcript (no other transcripts will be accepted).
  3. ATDH Exam or TEAS test report.
  4. If applicable, your CODA-accredited dental assisting program transcripts.

*Note: students who have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program are awarded additional points in their application screening. 

  1. Submit your application for admission to the Front Range Community College Dental Hygiene Program by the deadline.

Review the Dental Hygiene Program Applicant Ranking Criteria. 

Dental Hygiene Program Application

Important Program Notes

  • Students completing prerequisite coursework at other colleges and universities should include course descriptions and syllabi with the submission of their transcript(s), or contact the FRCC Admissions to insure transferability.  Completion of prerequisite courses does not guarantee automatic admission to the program.
  • Once a student has conditional acceptance into the program, the student must provide documentation of immunizations, CPR for Health Care Providers, and successful completion of a drug test and background check.  Students are responsible for purchasing instruments and required uniforms and for other fees associated with the program.
  • 20 full-time students will be admitted each fall semester into FRCC's five-semester dental hygiene program. This program may not be taken part-time. The learning process in dental hygiene requires that each student be a patient for another student in the Program.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take National, Regional and State Board Exams for licensure. Completion of the program does not guarantee licensure as a dental hygienist.
  • Students must achieve a minimum of 75% in each course in the dental hygiene curriculum in order to continue in the Program.
  • The practice of dental hygiene requires the repetitive use of the arm and wrist as well as long hours of sitting.
  • Information on blood-borne and infectious disease policies is available from the Program Director upon request.
  • Formal acceptance and continuation in the dental hygiene program is contingent upon:
    • Valid CPR Healthcare Provider certification
    • Up-to-date immunization records, including Hepatitis B vaccination
    • Supplemental background check and drug testing
  • For information regarding Front Range Community College's policies on academic integrity, withdrawal, and refund information, please consult the FRCC College Catalog.

Questions?

Feel free to reach out to our team.

Jenna Golden

Program Director