Since most dental hygiene programs are expensive, we recommend you apply for as many scholarships as possible. UVU and the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA) provide many scholarship opportunities. Please take the time to search for these and apply.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is for students who are residents fo specific western states.
Academy of LDS Dentists Scholarships
Having access to the right tools and support can make all the difference. The UVU Career Development Center can help you see how classwork and career preparation work together to make you a better candidate for finding a job in the professional world. Many resources are available on campus to help you make a plan and direct you in ways to distinguish yourself on your resume and interviews.
As an ADHA member you’re connected at the national and local level. You can stay on
top of trends and research with free publications, be your best with high-quality
webinars and CE, and take advantage of powerful advocacy efforts and networking opportunities
that help advance your career. But most importantly, you’ll meet and make friends
with members in your state and across the country. Whether you’re a student, teacher,
well-established dental hygienist or just embarking on your career, a legislator or
political advocate, the benefits of membership are numerous and varied. The key to
getting the most value from your ADHA membership is to use it. Your membership enables
ADHA to bring you the resources and shared knowledge to expand your professional potential
and further your success.
As a SADHA student member, you receive all the benefits of full membership, plus additional
opportunities for personal and professional development. Later, when you make the
transition from student to professional, you can count on the continued support of
ADHA and your fellow members every step of the way.
What are the statistics of students who graduate from the AAS and find jobs afterward?
100% of our students graduate, pass their boards, and find jobs as dental hygienists (some part-time, some full-time).
Do most AAS DH students go on to the BS?
Yes, most of them do. If students have graduated from an accredited Dental Hygiene Program, they can do their BS DH here. See an advisor for more information.
Do students have to apply to get into the BS DH?
Students interested in completing UVU’s BS DH do not need to submit a competitive application but are required to be licensed (RDH) prior to admission. Please speak to the BS DH advisor for more information.
Is there a way to prep for the HSRT?
There is no formal study guide for the HSRT. The HSRT does not test on book knowledge, rather on a student’s ability to use reasoning and logic to resolve questions. A query of ‘how can I prepare for the HSRT’ with a generative AI chatbot may offer some guidance on questions that can be expected on the HSRT.
Is there a certain number of times students can take the HSRT over the years?
Students can only take the test once per application year, but they can apply to the program as many times as they want.
How does the ranking breakdown work for the grades and the HSRT scores?
We use 3 scoring criteria for application: the grades in the prerequisite courses (ENGL, CHEM, Anatomy and lab, Physiology and lab), overall cumulative GPA, and HSRT score. These points are combined, and the top applicants move to the second round which may include an interview process.
Are there any exceptions on the timing of the HSRT or observation hours for missionaries who are coming home right before/after the application due date?
No exceptions are made. The HSRT must be completed Sept-Jan before applying and the observation hours need to be completed in the timeframe 6–12 months prior to applying.
Where is the form to record applicants’ observation hours?
View and download the Dental Office Observational form
Are the HSRT and the HESI Test the same thing?
No. The HESI is a practice exam to help prepare Nursing students for their licensure exams. It is often used to help predict the student's likelihood of success in tests.
The HSRT is a health science reasoning test, and tests critical thinking and decision-making skills. The HSRT is specifically calibrated for trainees in undergraduate and graduate health sciences educational programs. Scores on this instrument have been found to predict successful professional licensure and high clinical performance ratings. This test can be taken in 50 minutes.
Do the HSRT results need to be submitted in a sealed envelope?
HSRT scores can be forwarded electronically by email. Students will upload a copy of their HSRT results when applying.
Can students not in the area take the HSRT somewhere besides the UVU Testing Center?
Yes. Students should contact the Dental Hygiene advisor when they are ready to take the test and he/she will work with them to set up a proctor at a college in their location. If they do this, they will not need a voucher to take the test.
How do I apply to the Dental Hygiene Program?
The application for the UVU Dental Hygiene Program is found on the UVU Dental Hygiene website. Applications are only accepted through our online process. Applicants must have all information gathered before beginning the application, as the program will not save information to be completed at a later time. If an applicant begins the application but does not finish, they may return to the application to begin it again at any time before the application closes. The application portal will close at the specific date/time specified.
How are letters of recommendation submitted?
When completing the online application form the applicant will be asked to submit the names and email addresses for two references. UVU Dental Hygiene will reach out to the references with a brief survey for their recommendation of the applicant. References can send a letter with the request but it is not required.
Who should the letters of recommendation be from?
The online application will ask for the emails of two references. References should be either a current supervisor/employer or an academic instructor.
What’s the schedule like if a student gets accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program?
Classes are held Monday-Thursday, 8-4:30. We try to give students Fridays off but sometimes there will be commitments and requirements from the program on Friday also. Students have summers off. This is a cohort program—students can’t take classes outside of the cohort sequence and are expected to treat the program like a job.
Does licensure substitute for graduating from an accredited program for the purposes of coming here for a BS DH?
No. Students must have graduated from an accredited program to come here for a BS DH. Shalece Nuttall, the Dental Hygiene academic advisor, will handle all questions concerning whether a program is accredited.
If a student has completed all the non-DENT classes prior to starting the program, will they have enough classes to take in the program to be eligible for financial aid?
This question cannot be answered without seeing the classes a student has already completed. We advise the applicant to speak with a Dental Hygiene advisor.
Do students have to be current UVU students to apply to DH?
Yes. Applicants must be admitted to UVU and have a UVUID before applying to the Dental Hygiene Program. It can take several weeks to complete the UVU admittance process so applicants should plan to get it done early.
When students take the prereqs somewhere else, do they need to make sure the prereqs are the same number of credits they are here?
Prerequisites from other institutions are not required to be the same number of credits. For example, if a student’s lecture/lab combo is 3 credits at their university while ours is 4, that’s fine as long as the credits transfer as the correct lecture and lab classes.
Do applicants get extra points on their application for doing the MTECH dental assisting program?
Applicants who have completed the MTECH Dental Assisting Program receive extra points towards the admittance process.
What are some backup majors in case students aren’t accepted into Dental Hygiene?
Students may also consider Public Health, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, other Dental Hygiene Programs (SLCC, Dixie, Weber are other USHE schools). The Utah College of Dental Hygiene is also available.
What major is Pre-Dental Hygiene?
The new degree is called BS Health Sciences with the pre-dental hygiene attribute.
Does a student need straight As to get in?
A student might be competitive with a few Bs but having all As helps. Applications are scored on final grades in the prereq classes plus their HSRT score.
What should a student do after they’ve done all the prereqs?
Can AP scores be used as the prereqs and how are they scored?
AP scores can be used for the prereqs. The breakdown is 5 = A, 4 = A-, 3 = B+
What happens if a student takes the prereqs more than twice?
Students can still apply, but the DH program will just look at the second attempt, even if students take the class again after that.
Do AP test scores count as one of students’ two chances to take a class?
Yes.
Can the prereq science courses be taken together?
The science prereqs are challenging. We discourage students from taking them together unless they absolutely have to in order to apply by a certain deadline. It is never recommended to take anatomy and physiology together.
Can QL 1900 credit be used for the math prereq?
Yes, as long as it was a stats or college algebra course, which is stated on the transcript. Math for the real world won’t be accepted. Also, the program requires a final grade to rank, which means if a student tested high enough to get their math waived, they still have to take a course to get a final letter grade.
Can students have either Stat 1040 or Math 1050 for the BS Dental Hygiene as well as the AAS?
Yes, either is accepted.
Is there a recommended sequence for the prereq courses?
There is no recommended sequence for prereqs, as too many variables affect the sequence.
Can a student take Chem 1110 if they are tested into Math 1055?
Yes. If the student has tested into Math 1055, they can take that at the same time as Chem 1110 without an override to do it.
Do the Dental Hygiene prereqs expire?
The CHEM, ZOOL 2320 and 2325, ZOOL 2420 and 2425 expire as prerequisites after 7 years.
Does it matter if prereqs come from UVU or are transferred from another college?
It doesn’t matter where prereqs come from as long as the classes transfer over correctly.
Is there a physiology lab at BYU that can be transferred as UVU’s Zool 2425?
PDBIO 363: Advanced Physiology Lab will count for the DH program even though it transfers as EL 3900.
What grade is needed for the Comm 1020/1050, Soc 1010, and Psy 1010 classes?
Students need to get a C- or better for the classes to count.
Will DH accept Chem 1210 in place of Chem 1110?
Yes.
Can students redo just the lecture or lab of a class if they got a good grade in one and a bad grade in another?
If the lecture and lab are separate courses and have their own individual grade, DH will look at them as separate grades when ranking them. For instance, if a student takes the LAB portion twice, DH would use their second lab grade in the ranking. However, if they took the lecture only once, DH would use that one lecture grade in the ranking. Some universities combine the two (lecture and lab) and students only get one grade. In this case, this one grade would count as their first attempt. This applies to UVU students and transfer students.
Does AP Chem count for DH?
AP CHEM with a 3, 4, or 5 score is acceptable in place of CHEM 1110 for the DH program. Questions about CHEM transferability can be sent to the pre-dental hygiene advisors or the CHEM advisor in the College of Science.
Does DH accept transfer online anatomy/physiology classes?
As long as they transfer properly as UVU classes, yes.
Does Mat 1000 serve as a prereq to Chem 1110?
Yes. The catalog currently lists Mat 1010, but it has been confirmed with the Biology Dept that the following math classes will serve as prereqs: Mat 1000, Mat 1010, Mat 1030, Mat 1035, Mat 1050, and Mat 1055.
If a student’s Engl 1010 is waived from their ACT, what do they take?
Students may use Engl 2010 in place of 1010 if they want. They can also take Engl 1010.
Will MATH 1100 or 1210 work in place of stats/college algebra?
Yes. As long as a course has the QL attribute and isn’t a Math for the Real World class, we accept it.
Are higher-level classes weighted differently than lower-level ones, and are classes weighed differently from different colleges?
No and no. If a student is taking Calc instead of Math 1040/50, it will be weighted the same even although it may be more difficult. All credits from other colleges will be weighted equally.
Does it matter if a student has a high school diploma vs. a GED?
DH accepts either a high school diploma or the GED.
Does the DH program have any scholarships?
Yes, a few private scholarships are available. These are awarded by a scholarship committee within the college.
If a student is accepted to the DH program, can they defer their admission?
Students may not defer admissions once accepted to the DH program.
