Dental Hygiene

The dental hygiene program is limited to the number of students it may admit to each class based on the size of the clinical facilities. Minimum criteria are established to be eligible for placement in the applicant pool and must be met by the application deadline of December 15. Meeting the minimum criteria for selection does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program. The final selection will be made using the 100-point system, which takes into account the criteria listed above. There is no waitlist, and the applicant pool is determined on a year-by-year basis.

 *Individuals completing prerequisite classes during the application semester must show proof of the course in progress through submission of an unofficial transcript at the time of application. Once final grades have been rendered for in-progress courses, an updated copy of the unofficial transcript must be sent to the dental hygiene program to complete the application.

Each year, CCD’s dental hygiene program receives more applications than there are available student spaces. Each application is carefully reviewed using a 100-point scale and the following criteria.

The Community College of Denver’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene program is designed for those who wish to become a dental hygienist. It is a unique blend of academic and clinical coursework that requires attention to detail, motivation to succeed, and the ability to complete tasks within a specific timeframe. Through its science and clinic-based curriculum, students learn the educational, clinical, and communication skills necessary to become a valued member of the dental team.

Applications to the Dental Hygiene Program are accepted once a year between August and December. One class is accepted each year, and study begins part-time in the summer semester following application and acceptance. The full-time study begins during the fall semester following application and continues for five semesters.

To prepare to apply to the AAS Dental Hygiene program, applicants must complete eight (8) prerequisite classes (four (4) science classes and four (4) general education classes). All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the application semester in order to be eligible for application. The science classes must have been taken within seven years of the planned start of the program and, when averaged, have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Science prerequisite classes:

• BIO 2101 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 2102 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• BIO 2104 - Microbiology
• CHE 1009 - General, Organic & Biochemistry (CHE 1011 and 1012 will compensate for CHE 1009)

The four (4) general education classes are good for a lifetime and must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

General education classes:

• ENG 1021 - English Composition (ENG 1022 will compensate for ENG 1021)
• PSY 1001 - General Psychology I (PSY 1002, 2221, or 2440 will compensate for PSY 1001)
• SOC 1001 - Introduction to Sociology (ANT 1001, SOC 2018 will compensate for SOC 1001)
• COM 1150 - Public Speaking (COM 1250 or 1260 will compensate for COM 1150)

To verify the classes have been completed and to provide proof of grades for GPA calculation and credits by semester, unofficial copies of all transcripts containing prerequisite courses must be submitted with the application. Courses that have been taken more than once will be averaged if taken within seven years of each other.

There will be other documents that must be submitted or paperwork completed as part of the application process. Be prepared to provide the following additional items with your application.

• Application Essay - Applicants will choose one of two writing prompts and provide a typewritten response.
• Two Dental Hygienist Interviews - Applicants will conduct an interview with two (2) dental hygienists and provide a summary of each interview.
• Signed Notification of Estimated Program Expenses
• Signed Notification of Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

All applicants to the CCD Dental Hygiene program must apply and be accepted to the Community College of Denver prior to submitting a separate selective admission application to the Dental Hygiene program. During the CCD application process, applicants will establish their residency status.

To see how each application is evaluated, visit our Application Review section to learn more.

All applicants must complete a criminal background check and drug screening before being offered an opportunity to interview for the program.

Application Review Criteria and Points

Following review, background check, drug screening, and interview, scores are tallied, and the highest-scoring forty (40) individuals are offered a position within the dental hygiene class. The next ten (10) individuals are offered alternate status. If, for any reason, someone chooses not to accept their position in the class, the next highest-scoring individual from the alternate list is offered a position in the class.

A criminal background check and drug screening are required and must be completed before being offered an opportunity to interview for the program. Applicants who meet the minimum GPA criteria will be provided information on how to complete this step in January once all applications have been reviewed. 

Please note that this application requires a CCD S Number to access; you must have already applied to and been accepted by the Community College of Denver and have a current S Number to apply.  The application is only open between August and December of every year. These materials are for reference and are subject to change.

Apply to CCD if you are not a current student.

Please read all application instructions and information to ensure your application is complete. 

We encourage you to download the application checklist and ensure that you have all your materials gathered prior to starting the online application.  Once your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. Please keep this email for your records in case of problems with the application process.

• Application Check List (please ignore the directive to change your program of study to AGS)
• Prerequisite Course List Form
• Dental Hygienist Interview Form (two interviews required)
• Estimated Program Expenses Form (only available during application window)
• Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Form
• Written Prompt Response* - Applicants will choose ONE of the following prompts and provide a typewritten 500-word response using 12 pt. font and 1-inch margins. The writing sample will be evaluated for content, organization, language use, structure, grammar, and mechanics. We feel it is important for individuals to provide a written response to assess the individual’s writing skills and ability to communicate effectively, as this is important in practice and as a dental hygiene professional.
  • Prompt 1: Conflict Resolution Describe a situation in which you were in direct conflict with someone – a colleague, patient, or fellow student. Address your feelings at the time, how they impacted the situation, and how you were able to resolve the conflict.
  • Prompt 2: Community Service Activity & Summary Describe your participation in a minimum of two volunteer activities, demonstrating at least 4 hours of active involvement for each session. Describe your experiences and the impact on you personally. 

FALL 2025 ASSOCIATE OF DENTAL HYGIENE APPLICATION (Fall 2026 start)

*Writing Sample Rubric