Selective Admission: Dental Hygiene

Grade Point Average (GPA)

We recommend 3.5 or higher overall GPA.

Make A's and B's in most—if not all—of your college courses.

TCC Student ID Number

First, you must apply to TCC.

Apply online with ApplyTCC (use Firefox or Chrome for the best experience)

• Application instructions: How to Apply for Admission

Once you are accepted as a student at TCC, you will get a TCC Student ID number.

You need a TCC Student ID number for your application to our Dental Hygiene Program.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

You must meet the TSI requirements for enrolling in college credit courses. Confirm your TSI status with the Admissions and Registrar Office (817-515-0498).

Questions? See TSI Assessment.

3-Attempt Rule

You are allowed to apply a maximum of 3 times to our Dental Hygiene Program (effective 2016).

Science Courses

It is recommended you complete most, if not all of these courses with a grade of “C” or higher before applying to our program:

• BIOL–2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIOL–2402 Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIOL–2420 Microbiology Non-Science Majors
• CHEM–1406 Intro Chemistry I–Allied Health
  Note: A course is valid only if completed within 5 years of your application.

We will consider only the highest grade from your first 2 attempts on any science course for admission bonus points. A withdrawal or drop counts as an attempt.

If you have not completed one or more of the science courses at the time of your acceptance, you must complete them before the end of the program, per the degree plan.

Health Education System Inc. (HESI NG A2 with CT) Admission Exam

HESI NG A2 with CT is the required admissions exam for the program. 

For details, see How to Apply to Dental Hygiene: Step 4: Take required admissions exams before applying.

The HESI NG A2 with CT exam is not offered at any TCC campus. A study guide is not offered/recommended for the exam.

English Language Proficiency

To be admitted to TCC, you must submit passing scores for English language proficiency if you are an international student. See English Language Proficiency for more details.

Does the Dental Hygiene program have English language requirements?

If you did not graduate from a high school in the United States or on a U.S. military installation where English was the primary language, you will have to complete the TOEFL iBT® exam.

Your test must reach a total of 90 points to be accepted to the Dental Hygiene Program.

Find out how to schedule your TOEFL iBT^® (opens in a new tab). You will also find test centers that offer this test, test dates, and costs.

Graduate from a high school in an English-speaking country?

If you graduated from a high school in one of the following English-speaking countries, you must provide documentation of your graduation:

• Antigua & Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas, The
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada (except Quebec)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Liberia
• Montserrat
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)

Immunizations

Texas law and applicable health-care standards establish immunization requirements for students participating in health-related courses involving patient contact. Texas law also provides exemptions from certain immunization requirements for medical contraindications, reasons of conscience, including religious belief, and active-duty military service. Students seeking a statutory exemption must submit the documentation required by Texas law and Tarrant County College (TCC) student onboarding procedures.

Requesting a Statutory Exemption

Under Texas law and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (opens in a new tab) regulations, you may request an exemption from required immunizations for:

• Reasons of conscience, including recognized religious beliefs
• Medical contraindications (supported by licensed physician documentation)
• Active-duty service in the U.S. military

Submitting an exemption request does not disqualify you from applying to or being considered for admission to a TCC Health Sciences program. Students seeking an exemption must submit required documentation following official TCC student onboarding procedures prior to established clinical placement deadlines.

Important Information Regarding Clinical Site Placement

While TCC honors statutory exemptions under Texas law, hands-on clinical education takes place at external hospitals, clinics, and partner health-care facilities:

• Clinical facility or other third-party clinical partner rules: External clinical affiliates establish and enforce their own independent health and safety requirements (including specific vaccination mandates such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDaP), flu, or COVID-19).
• No College Guarantee: TCC cannot require an external partner facility to accept a student who has received an immunization exemption. The clinical facility makes the final determination regarding site access.
• Impact on Program Completion: Successfully completing all mandatory clinical rotation hours and competencies is required to earn your degree or certificate. If a clinical partner declines an exemption and an alternate placement cannot be secured, you may face progression delays or be unable to complete the program

Health Requirements

• Physical Exam
• American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR Certification
  • Earned through hands-on course
• Health insurance
  • Required when doing clinical coursework

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

After being accepted to the program, but before classes begin, you must undergo and pass a criminal background check and drug screening.

These screenings will be administered through CastleBranch, a background screening management service, and will be at your expense. There are no exceptions.

Notice: Licensure

You may be ineligible for licensure by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), and you may not be able to complete extramural rotations as required by our Dental Hygiene program if you have any of the following:

• Indictments
• Orders of deferred adjudication
• Judgments
• Probation records
• Evidence of completion of probation, misdemeanors, or felonies

Also, acceptance into our program is dependent on background check and drug screening results.

If you are concerned about any items that might be flagged on a Criminal Background Screening, you must apply for a Criminal History Evaluation through the TSBDE website:

• Apply for a TSBDE Criminal History Evaluation (opens in a new tab)
• TSBDE Criminal History Evaluation Application (PDF)Listen (opens in a new tab)