Dental Hygiene Selective Admission Requirements

The following are the minimum criteria and any additional requirements that must be met in order to be considered for program admission to the next cohort for the Dental Hygiene Program. These criteria will be similar for all the selective programs, but there may be some small differences or program specific requirements that must be completed. Please make sure you are aware of all the requirements.

These are the minimum criteria that must be met to be considered for the program. If you do not meet these requirements, you should not submit a selective program admission application. By enrolling in pre-health professions, you are able to work towards these requirements at UC Blue Ash College, and apply once they are met. The pre-health professions advisor can assist with putting together a plan.

One year of high school biology with lab and a grade of C or higher completed within 6 years of application or a college biology course as indicated below is required.

• If high school biology grade was C, but was taken longer than 6 years prior to application, the student must complete Biology for the Health Professions and Technical Programs I (BIOL1051C) with a grade of C or better.

• If high school biology was not taken or if the student earned a grade below C, the student must complete Biology for Health Professions and Technical Programs I (BIOL 1051C) with a grade of C or better.

• College Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2001C) completed with grade of C or better will also meet this biology requirement.

One year of high school chemistry with lab with a grade of C or better completed within 6 years of application or college-level General, Organic, and Biochemistry I Lecture and Lab with grades of C or better is required. If taking the college-level Chemistry course, students may enroll in either CHEM 1030C (General, Organic, and Biochemistry I Combined Lecture and Lab) or CHEM 1030 (General, Organic and Biochemistry I Lecture) and CHEM 1030L (General, Organic, and Biochemistry I Lab).

• If high school chemistry grade was a C or better but was taken longer than 6 years prior to application, the student must complete either CHEM 1030C (Gen/Org/Biochemistry I Combined Lecture and Lab) or CHEM 1030 (Gen/Org/Biochemistry I Lecture) and CHEM 1030L (Gen/Org/ Biochemistry I Lab) with grades of C or better.

• If high school Chemistry was not taken, or if the student earned a letter grade below a C,  the student must complete either CHEM 1030C (Gen/Org/Biochemistry I Combined Lecture and Lab) or CHEM 1030 (Gen/Org/Biochemistry I Lecture) and CHEM 1030L (Gen/Org/Biochemistry I Lab) with grades of C or better.

Students may meet the math prerequisite via any one of the following paths:

• ALEKS Math Placement test score of 30 or higher, ACT Math sub-test score of 20 or higher, or SAT math sub-score of 520 or higher.
• Completion of preparatory math course(s) needed for college-level MATH/STAT course. Consult with your Pre-Health Professions advisor to determine appropriate course planning.
• Completion of college-level MATH/STAT course. MATH 1008 or STAT 1031 are recommended courses. However, any college-level MATH/STAT course is acceptable.

Eligibility for English Composition (ENGL 1001) is required. You can view the eligibility criteria here.

Students who have not graduated from a U.S. or English speaking high school must complete an English Proficiency Requirement, one of the examinations listed below with a designated score.  With the following exceptions:

• Student has taken a full year of High School in the United States and earned a passing grade in one year of Standard English (not ESL).
• Student has earned a passing score of the O-Level English Exam.
• Student has passed the first year of IB English (SL or HL) with a score of 5 or higher.
• Student has attended a full year of school in a country which has been deemed as English proficient.

High Intermediate Ranges on Examination(s) - for students that do not meet one of the Four Bulleted Exceptions above.

• TOEFL
  • Overall: 72
  • Speaking sub-score: 20
  • Listening sub-score: 17
• IELTS
  • Overall: 6.0
  • Speaking sub-score: 6.5
  • Listening sub-score: 5.5
• PTE
  • Overall: 50 (concords to 72 on the TOEFL)
  • CEFR level B2 (easiest) = 51-58
  • CEFR level B2 = 59-75
• Cambridge Assessment
  • English: 175
  • IELTS 6.0 = 169-175
  • IELTS 6.5 = 176-184
  • CEFR level B2 = 160-179
• Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • Overall: 95
  • Production sub-score: 112
  • Conversation sub-score: 88

Applicants must meet the requirement of (A) un-weighted high school GPA of 3.2 or (B) 3.0 cumulative GPA in college courses with a minimum of 12 credit hours that contribute to the applicant's GPA. The GPA of the most recent college where at least 12 credits were earned will be used for selective admission.

In addition to the above listed cumulative GPA requirements, all applicants with a UC GPA on record must have at least a 2.0 to apply to the Dental Hygiene program.  Even if an applicant's most recent GPA has met the cumulative GPA requirements, if they have taken classes at UC and their UC GPA falls under 2.0, they will not be eligible to apply to the program.

Note: A complete application to the Dental Hygiene Program, or having the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admission. The maximum number of times a student can apply for program admission is two.

Applicants are required to visit two (2) dental offices for 8 hours (minimum of 4 hours at each office) for the purpose of observing behind-the-scenes operations and the role of the dental hygienist in that office. This observation requirement may be substituted with work experience in a dental office. 

1. Applicants who do not have dental office work experience and need to complete observation hours will need to submit an Observations Hours Tracking Form for each of their observation sites. We will not accept any other forms as proof of completed observation hours.
2. Applicants who have employment experience in a dental office and want to use this experience to substitute their observation requirements must submit the Dental Office Work Experience Form.

Please note that the Fall 2027 admission cycle is the final year dental office work experience will be accepted as a substitution for the Observation Hours requirement. Beginning in the Fall 2028 application cycle (March 1 – April 28, 2028), 8 Observation Hours will be required for all applicants regardless of prior dental office work experience.

Beginning in the Fall 2027 admission cycle, completion of the Survey of Career Knowledge is mandatory. A link to this survey will be enclosed in the Confirmation Email applicants receive upon submitting their Dental Hygiene Selective Admissions application. Applicants must complete the Survey of Career Knowledge by May 1 at 11:59pm. This is a required part of the admission application. Applicants who do not complete the survey by the deadline will be considered ineligible for admission. Applicants may take the survey only once per application cycle.

The program admissions committee will review the academic records, observation/work experience forms, and survey of career knowledge for all students who meet the minimum selective admission criteria and complete the application process. The highest rankings will be given to those students who are most successful in the following areas:

• High school biology or college equivalent
• High school chemistry or college equivalent
• Current cumulative GPA (high school or college)
• Observation hours
• Survey of Career Knowledge - this is completed as part of the selective admissions application.

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Completion of the following courses with a B or better:
  • English Composition (ENGL 1001)
  • College-Level Math (MATH 1008 or STAT 1031)
  • Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 2001C)
  • Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 2002C)
  • Microbiology (BIOL 2031C)
  • Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM 1020)
• Completion of an associate degree or higher in any field
  • Transcripts or degree diplomas for Associates Degrees or higher must be included in the application to be considered for additional points.
• Employment experience in a healthcare practice - Forms linked below
  • Applicants with employment experience in a Dental Office should submit the Dental Office Work Experience Form. Section II of this form must be completed and signed by the Dentist at the applicant's place of employment. Forms submitted without a signature from the Dentist will not be accepted as complete.
  • Applicants with healthcare employment experience outside of a dental office should submit the Additional Healthcare Work Experience Form. Section II of the Additional Healthcare Work Experience form must be completed and signed by an authorized representative of the employer. Forms submitted without a signature from the employer will not be accepted as complete.
  • Only healthcare experience submitted with either a Dental Office Work Experience form or an Additional Healthcare Experience form will be considered.
  • Fall 2027 is the final application cycle in which Healthcare Experience will be considered for additional points. Beginning in Fall 2028, we will no longer consider Healthcare Employment Experience in our applications.

Additional points may boost your application, but the primary emphasis is on the minimum requirements to apply. Before you are able to apply through the Dental Hygiene Selective Admission process, you first need to be a confirmed University of Cincinnati student. The Dental Hygiene Program only has one cohort each year which starts each Fall Semester.

The selective admissions application to join the Dental Hygiene cohort opens the first business day of March and will close the last business day in April. If you are interested in enrolling, and have reviewed and meet all the requirements, you can apply today. (Again, the application is only open in March and April)

It takes time for non-UC institutional transfer transcripts and test scores to be received and processed. All non-UC transcripts (including spring transcripts with final course grades) and score reports (including AP/IB/CLEP credit or placement tests) must be received by UC by May 1st. After this date, we cannot guarantee your transfer credits and/or test scores will be considered as part of that year's admission application.

• Application to this program does not guarantee admission and students can apply to any one selective admission program twice. Applicants will be notified within six weeks after the end of the Spring semester.
• Students who do not return the acceptance form by the date listed in their letter/email will be removed from the admission list and their space may be offered to the next most qualified student.
  
• Following acceptance to the health programs, students must meet the following requirements:
  
  1. Attend mandatory orientation sessions
  2. Purchase appropriate uniforms, supplies, and educational materials
  3. Document current immunizations - Please view this list required immunizations for Healthcare Programs
  4. Document health care provider CPR certification
  5. Arrange for personal transportation to and from clinical sites
  6. Undergo background checks and drug testing as may be required by the program or the clinical site
  7. Meet additional program specific requirements

There are some additional requirements to be aware of that will need to be met and followed by students who are accepted into the program. It is important to know these requirements before applying so that you are aware of everything that is entailed.

Both first and second year students must attend a mandatory orientation the week before the start of classes. Students are required to purchase instruments, magnification loupes and uniforms. Refer to the Cost Estimate sheet for more detailed information regarding additional expenses. Other critical requirements include background checks, proof of Hepatitis vaccination and titer, annual TB test, vision examination, dental examination, and current health care provider CPR certification.

The UC Blue Ash Dental Hygiene Department recognizes that bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) present a risk to students, faculty, staff, and patients.

• Dental Hygiene Program Overview
• Allied Health Department
• Selective Admissions Overview

Dental Hygiene Program
Phone: 513-558-7928
Email: dentalhygiene@ucblueash.edu