This HTML version keeps the entire packet together in one continuous document for reading and printing.

Dear Dental Hygiene Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in the Blinn College District Dental Hygiene Program.

Enclosed is the complete information packet for the program, along with an Application Procedure guide. You will find information regarding the admission procedures; required courses (both general academics and dental hygiene courses); estimated cost; and the application, observation, community service, and reference forms.

The Dental Hygiene Program is a two-year program that begins in the fall semester each year in Bryan, TX. Enrollment is limited to 14 each year. Blinn College District offers the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Dental Hygiene. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded the A.A.S. in Dental Hygiene and is eligible to sit for national and regional licensing examinations. Admission to Blinn College District does not imply or guarantee admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.

The program is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

A minimum grade point average of 2.5 is recommended. Applicants must have earned at least a “C” in all academic courses required in the program. Selection is based on GPA, grades in the required general academic courses, grades in the sciences, ATI TEAS, a general category which includes college credit and/or degrees awarded, letters of recommendation, employment history, observation, and community service activities. An interview is not required. Notification of results will be made via email during March 2027.

Please thoroughly read the application packet and follow all directions. Failure to do so may result in a reduction in total points awarded or disqualification of the application.

Your application packet will not be processed unless ALL steps are completed within the scope of the criteria and delivered or postmarked no later than Feb. 2, 2027. No exceptions will be made.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Dental Hygiene Program office at (979) 209-8066 or Nikki.Pratt@blinn.edu.

Sincerely,

Lisa K. Wiese, M.S, R.D.H.
Lisa K. Wiese, M.S., R.D.H.
Program Director, Professor

Hepatitis B Vaccination

All health care providers should be immunized against the Hepatitis B virus as well as childhood diseases. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are several types but the greatest risk to health care workers is Hepatitis B (HBV). Available since 1982, the Hepatitis B vaccine is considered safe and effective and is recommended for the prevention of HBV infection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program strictly adheres to and routinely practices the “Standard Precautions” against bloodborne pathogens enforced by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and recommended by the CDC.

Communicable Disease - Student Admission

Dental hygiene applicants are considered without regards to race, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or gender. Otherwise qualified applicants with an active communicable disease, including sero-positivity for Hepatitis B (HBeAg) and/or HIV, receive equal consideration. Applicants should note, however, that some state boards of dental examiners’ rules and regulations mandate that a dental hygienist who is HBeAg seropositive or HIV seropositive must report this fact to the Board who may limit the type of procedures that the student may be able to perform. This potential restriction may preclude the dental hygiene student with an infectious disease from performing tasks/procedures essential to the completion of the requirements for graduation from the dental hygiene program.

Communicable Disease – Patient Treatment

Students in the dental hygiene program will provide treatment to patients after competency has been demonstrated in a laboratory setting. Faculty will provide direct supervision and consultation to oversee student and patient safety. To fully develop clinical skills, students must treat all scheduled patients. Treatment will be provided to all patients regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, handicap, or other human condition. If a student has a concern about treating a patient, the student should discuss this situation with the clinical supervisor. Refusal to treat the patient may be cause for dismissal from the program. Please call the Dental Hygiene Department at 979-209-7272, if you need further clarification.

Check the link below for the most up to date information regarding testing.

https://www.blinn.edu/testing/health-sciences-ati-teas.html

ATI TEAS COMPONENTS

• Reading: 55 minutes (45 questions)
• Mathematics: 57 minutes (38 questions)
• Science: 60 minutes (50 questions)
• English: 37 minutes (37 questions)

STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION

ATI TEAS Study Manual and the ATI TEAS Online Practice Assessment A & B are currently available at www.atitesting.com to set yourself up for success. Ask your college and local libraries about access to practice guides and testing databases.

TESTING

Your ATI TEAS must be taken in-person at a testing center near you. The test is offered at Blinn College, but you may also take it at any college or private testing center. Online proctoring is no longer allowed. Exemptions to this rule may be granted by the director as needed for distance problems. You are limited to completing this test 2 times per application cycle (Feb. 1, 2026-January 31, 2027).

TEST VERSION

We will only accept score sheets from Version 7 of the TEAS test.

SCORE REPORT

To acquire your score report for your application packet, please access your ATI TEAS account and print the score sheet(s) officially titled Individual Performance Profile (IPP). Please submit the sheet with all four subject areas, but it is not necessary to include the other sections of the IPP. Instruction on how to access your IPP can be found at ATI Testing help.

We accept the highest score in each category and multiple score sheets may be submitted as necessary. Score sheet must have your name and date of test on it. Scores do not expire.

1. APPLY TO BLINN COLLEGE DISTRICT: If you are not a current student at Blinn College District, please apply at this time. Go to https://www.blinn.edu/admissions/index.html for instructions. Select PDHY (Pre-dental hygiene) as your major and indicate Spring 2027 as your intended semester even though the program does not begin until fall 2027. Request official transcripts from all colleges that you have attended and send directly from the awarding institution to Blinn College District Admissions. Electronic transmission of official transcripts is accepted at Blinn College. If you are in-progress with coursework during the fall 2026 semester, please request transcripts after the fall grades are posted. This will allow time for your transcripts from outside institutions to be evaluated for transfer coursework.
2. Financial Assistance: Blinn College District provides financial assistance towards college costs in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and work study. For more information, contact the personnel in the Office of Financial Aid at 979-209-7230 or visit Financial Aid.
3. Information Sessions: Blinn College Dental Hygiene offers free, in-person information sessions at our campus in Bryan, TX led by a current instructor of dental hygiene. Attending an information session is not mandatory. For dates, visit Dental Hygiene Information Sessions.
4. Deadlines: Complete the Dental Hygiene Program application form, enclose all supporting documents, and mail or deliver no later than Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, 5:00 p.m. to the Dental Hygiene Program office at:

5. Proof of Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Status: Applicants must be “college ready” in all sections based on results of assessment or through exemption. Your TSI standing is generally indicated on your official college transcript. For additional information, visit TSI information.

6. Transcripts and Grades: In addition to the electronic transcripts submitted to admissions, please enclose official transcripts or notarized through a third party transactor in your dental hygiene application packet. Include all colleges you have attended, including Blinn College. Each transcript should remain in its sealed envelope and will generally be marked with a school seal and/or signature on the back of the envelope. Dual Credit students should submit the transcript of the college they attended, not their high school transcript, to receive credit for classes completed. Applications with missing or opened transcripts may be disqualified.

All educational classes must be “C” or above to be considered towards a dental hygiene degree. However, only those courses achieved with a “B” or better are considered when determining the points value for admission. Anatomy & Physiology II must have been completed within the past 5 years (no earlier than fall 2021) and Microbiology must have been completed within the past 3 years (no earlier than fall 2023). Points will not be awarded for classes completed if the appropriate transcript is not included in the application.

7. ATI TEAS: Complete the ATI TEAS test. Scores from the ATI TEAS will not be sent directly to the program. Print your Individual Performance Profile (IPP) score sheet(s) and enclose them in your application packet. The IPP score sheet reports the scores for all 4 subject areas, not just the overall score. Your score sheet must have your name and the date of the test on it. Test scores do not expire, and older results are acceptable in this application. Online proctored scores are no longer accepted. We use the highest score in each category, so you may include multiple score sheets.
8. Recommendation forms: Submit three (3) completed recommendation forms from individuals in the community (employers, members of the clergy, teachers, civic leaders, etc.) unrelated to you that would be familiar with your qualifications for the dental hygiene profession. You must use 3 unique sources. Personal friends are not acceptable. Please attach an envelope to the form for the recommender and use the provided form. Letters/forms must be received in individual sealed envelopes and submitted with your complete packet.
9. Observations: Observation of a registered dental hygienist is a requirement for application. You must observe a minimum of 16 hours. Please have the hygienist(s) document your observation time on the enclosed observation log. Dental assistants must observe, as well. Simply working as a dental assistant will not substitute for direct observation unless you are a dental hygiene assistant. Applicants may NOT observe a dentist providing dental hygiene services. Observation must occur between Feb. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027. No exceptions.

10. Community Service: Community service is not required but is highly encouraged to boost the points total in your application. Community service comes from the heart; where you volunteer is entirely your choice and should be with an entity that is near and dear to you. Points will be awarded incrementally for up to 40 hours. You may use the enclosed form for documentation, or you may provide a signed letter, on letterhead, from a supervisor. Community service must occur between Feb. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027.
11. Verification of Employment: Please provide letters from employers for verification of employment. Points will be awarded for work experience totaling up to two years, either part-time or full-time, in any field.
12. Professional Certifications: Applicants can earn one point for holding a current professional certification or license in a field that requires such certification for employment opportunities. Examples include Certificate of Cosmetology, Electrician, Certified Teacher, etc. Basic registrations such as Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) are not accepted. Please include a copy of your certificate with your ID number visible. Certificates may be verified.
13. Interviews are NOT a part of the application process. All points will be calculated based on the points rubric provided in the application.
14. Additional Documentation: Please do NOT submit unnecessary documentation such as resumes, photos, immunization records, CPR cards, proof of extracurricular activities, or high school transcripts.
15. Submission of Application: Please submit your application packet, which includes the application form, official transcripts, recommendation forms, ATI TEAS, proof of employment, copies of certifications, and community service activities in a 9 X 12 envelope.

The packet must be postmarked or delivered to the Dental Hygiene office no later than Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, 5:00 pm. Failure to meet this deadline will disqualify your application for the fall 2027 class.

Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that the Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program has received all information. Any application that is incomplete will not be considered for the fall 2027 start date.

16. Verification of Delivery: It is highly recommended that you keep proof of mailing and/or request a return receipt if mailing via US mail, UPS or FedEx. Blinn College Dental Hygiene will also send an email to the address provided verifying that your packet has been received within 3-5 business days.

The remaining pages are the forms included in the packet.

(Please complete and attach to the front of your application packet after you review, validate and sign)

Please place a check mark (√) by all those items included in this packet, sign and date this form prior to mailing.

1. Program Application (completed and signed)
2. College Transcripts (enclosed) Transcripts must be official and in sealed envelopes
   Name of Institution
   a.
   b.
   c.
   d.
3. ATI TEAS- (scores enclosed)
4. Recommendation Forms (enclosed) Recommendation forms must be in sealed envelopes.
   Name of Recommender
   a.
   b.
   c.
5. Community Service Log
6. Employment /Military service verification
7. Professional Certification

Section A – General Information

Section B – Work Experience

Section C – Professionalism

Section D – Testing

Section E - Courses and Continuing Education Form

Section F - Miscellaneous

• Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation.
• Dependence on alcohol/drugs and other chemicals
• Dismissal from employment due to unprofessional or dishonorable conduct
• Restriction, suspension, revocation or probation of licensure in another jurisdiction within the past 10 years
• Failure to report disciplinary action received in another jurisdiction.

For further information, contact http://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/criminal-history-evaluation/

* Community Service must occur between the following dates: Feb. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027

TOTAL HOURS:

* Observation must occur between the following dates: Feb. 1, 2026– Jan. 31, 2027

To assure that your records are held in compliance with the law as stated below*, please check one:

The above named applicant is a candidate for admission to the Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program and has named you as a reference. Your comments will be used only by the admissions committee of the dental hygiene program to assist them in arriving at a better understanding of this applicant. Your cooperation in completing this form will assist both the applicant and the Dental Hygiene Program.

*Please Note: FERPA grants a student/applicant access to his/her records as maintained by the department of Dental Hygiene at Blinn College. It also grants a student/applicant the right to waive access. See above for the student’s/applicant’s choice regarding confidentiality.

I would evaluate the applicant as follows:

RECOMMENDATION:

Comment(s):

Please return this form to the applicant in a sealed envelope.

To assure that your records are held in compliance with the law as stated below*, please check one:

The above named applicant is a candidate for admission to the Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program and has named you as a reference. Your comments will be used only by the admissions committee of the dental hygiene program to assist them in arriving at a better understanding of this applicant. Your cooperation in completing this form will assist both the applicant and the Dental Hygiene Program.

*Please Note: FERPA grants a student/applicant access to his/her records as maintained by the department of Dental Hygiene at Blinn College. It also grants a student/applicant the right to waive access. See above for the student’s/applicant’s choice regarding confidentiality.

I would evaluate the applicant as follows:

RECOMMENDATION:

Comment(s):

Please return this form to the applicant in a sealed envelope.

To assure that your records are held in compliance with the law as stated below*, please check one:

The above named applicant is a candidate for admission to the Blinn College Dental Hygiene Program and has named you as a reference. Your comments will be used only by the admissions committee of the dental hygiene program to assist them in arriving at a better understanding of this applicant. Your cooperation in completing this form will assist both the applicant and the Dental Hygiene Program.

*Please Note: FERPA grants a student/applicant access to his/her records as maintained by the department of Dental Hygiene at Blinn College. It also grants a student/applicant the right to waive access. See above for the student’s/applicant’s choice regarding confidentiality.

I would evaluate the applicant as follows:

RECOMMENDATION:

Comment(s):

Please return this form to the applicant in a sealed envelope.