Admissions Process
To qualify for consideration for admission to the dental hygiene program, the applicant must have met or exceeded the following minimum qualifications:
- 2.75 cumulative grade point average
- 2.75 prerequisite grade point average
- 20 hours of dental office observation
- Official ACT scores submitted
- Completion of College Algebra and three out of the five science prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better prior to the application deadline. All prerequisite courses must be completed by June 1.
Application Deadline: All application materials must be postmarked by April 1. Documentation of all previous college work, including the prerequisite courses, must be provided in the form of official transcripts* Transcripts provided or delivered by the applicant will not be accepted. The most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.
*Have official transcripts sent to:
UAMS College of Health Professions
Attention: Admissions
4301 W. Markham Street #619
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
CHPAdmissions@uams.edu
Class Size and Selection: A class of 36 students will be selected for the program.
Admissions Criteria: Admission to the dental hygiene program requires the applicant to complete required prerequisite coursework/admission requirements and successfully complete an on-campus interview process if invited. Admission to the UAMS Dental Hygiene Program is competitive and based on the following factors:
- Academic achievement in math and science
- Overall academic achievement
- Leadership and professionalism
- Written and oral communication
The most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Interviews are held after the application deadline. A class of approximately 36 students is typically selected. Applicants selected for enrollment will receive notification within a few weeks after interviews are held. Selected applicants are required to complete a criminal background check and drug test. Licensure in Arkansas also requires a state and federal criminal background check.
Need More Information?
Please consider attending an information session on the UAMS Dental Hygiene Program. These are held each winter, usually in November, December, and January. When available, dates are posted on the homepage for Dental Hygiene.
**All accepted applicants must consent to a criminal background check and drug screen prior to matriculation. Background checks and drug screens are required by most clinical sites during the didactic and clinical phase of the program. Matriculation into the program is contingent upon acceptable background check and drug screen results. Adverse results of a background check will be considered on an individual basis and may result in an inability to matriculate into the program. Enrolled students may be randomly drug tested throughout the curriculum and clinical sites may require updated background checks. More information about the requirement will be provided to accepted applicants.
