DH Information Packet

Thorough details on the program and admissions process is provided in the DH Information Packet.  Please download the packet using the button link below.  Be advised, the information packet below has been revised to reflect the following important changes effective October 2021:

  • AP scores will not be accepted for any Dental Hygiene prerequisites. If students have AP credit for Engl Lang/Engl Lit, Math, or Psych - it cannot be accepted. Students must have a college course on record with a grade of C or higher posted on a transcript.

  • Only Comm 103: Oral Comm and Comm 104: Public Speaking can be accepted (SWC DH no longer accepts Comm 174, nor Comm 176).

Dental Hygiene Program Information Packet (PDF)

UPDATE: Dental Hygiene Wet Lab Admission Standard - Waiver Extension

On July 13, 2020, the Director of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Wet Laboratory Admission Standard for Dental Hygiene Educational Programs. Several extensions to this waiver have been issued since that time. The current expired on December 31, 2021.  

The Director of the DCA hereby further extends the Order Waiving Wet Laboratory Admission Standard for Dental Hygiene Educational Programs to March 31, 2022 . This order is effective immediately but may be amended as circumstances require. 

For Spring, Summer, Fall 2020 and Spring, Summer, Fall2021 as well as Spring 2022, semester/quarter biomedical science prerequisite coursework completed via online or other non-wet lab methods will be accepted for entry into the dental hygiene programs.

The full waiver is posted on the DCA Waivers page:
DCA Waiver DCA-21-186: Waiving Wet Laboratory Admission Standard for Dental Hygiene Educational Programs

Contact the Dental Hygiene Program administrative office for assistance in answering any questions or clarification on the information provided in the packet:

Dental Hygiene Program
swcdentalhygiene@swccd.edu
(619) 216-6665 x4862

NOTICE: All students in the dental hygiene program recruit patients for their learning experiences. Patients can be family and friends yet must go through the screening process. The program has a strong foundation of patients as well, and continues to promote free services to the community. Courses that require or may require patient experiences include: DH 108, DH 109, DH 112, DH 118, DH 122, and DH 202. During the summer after graduation, DH 26 Board Prep clinic provides graduates opportunities to continue screening patients for the clinical board examination.