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Pierce College Dental Hygiene students

Dental Hygiene Centralized Application System (DHCAS)

Pierce College Dental Hygiene program uses the Dental Hygiene Centralized Application System (DHCAS) through the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

The ADEA Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (ADEA DHCAS®) provides you and our program with accurate, streamlined and uniform data. All directions on how to submit official transcripts are on this site and an overview of the process is below.

Application Deadline

The application due date is February 15 of each year. You must have taken the Admissions Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) and sent your official transcripts to ADEA DHCAS by this date.

Process for the 2023/2024 Application Year

A. Schedule Your Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH)

  1. Complete the Admissions Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH).
  2. Highest score earned is used. 
  3. You may use scores from 2023 forward for the current application cycle.
  4. Test Fee = $140.00 paid to ATDH, not to Pierce College.

B. Request Your Background Check

We highly recommend starting the process no later than December 2023. 

  • Go to the Castle Branch Website.
  • Once you have created your account, in the “Place Order” field, enter the following package code: PH45

C. Begin Your Application

Complete the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (ADEA DHCAS®) application by February 15, 2024 at 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).

ADEA DHCAS Directions

Before beginning the application on DHCAS, we highly recommend you watch the training video and visit the Help Center for a Quick Start Guide or questions:

DHCAS Application Sections

The DHCAS application contains four sections. You will complete three of the four sections, we do not require supporting information or letters of recommendation.

1. Personal Information

2. Academic History

  • There is no need to upload high school transcripts.
  • Order your official transcripts to be sent electronically to ADEA DHCAS, not Pierce College.
    CRITICAL: Applicants are responsible to follow-up and ensure that ADEA DHCAS receives the Official Transcripts by the application deadline. Lack of Official Transcripts means we cannot process your application and it will be invalidated.
  • Pre-dental hygiene courses (and other courses) being completed in Winter 2024 must be added to the Academic History. 
  • Winter Official Transcripts must be requested no later March 30. 
    • If validated for consideration for acceptance, instructions will be provided to you via email on where to send your proof of ordering the transcript(s).
  • If you are completing your pre-dental hygiene courses in Winter 2024, you will need to request a new official transcript(s) to be sent to DHCAS.
  • You must identify which pre-dental hygiene courses you want considered for application. It is important to select the correct courses to the correct disciplines.
  • Applicant selection is based only on the pre-dental hygiene courses.

Note that we do not use all coursework for applicant selection; we only consider the pre-dental hygiene courses.

3. Program Materials

Two documents are required for all applicants:

  • Proof of Ordering Official Transcripts through Fall 2024.
    • Proof is crucial in the event that ADEA DHCAS does not receive your transcripts in time, you will have proof that you attempted to order them.
    • Winter Official Transcripts must be requested no later March 30.
    • If validated for consideration for acceptance, instructions will be provided to you via email on where to send your proof of ordering the transcript(s).
  • Proof of Applying to Pierce College Admissions
    • If you are a classified as a "current" student and do not need to reapply to Pierce College Admissions, please upload a copy of the last quarter you attended showing your courses. You can get a screen shot from ctcLink.
    • Current Student is anyone who has completed a course at Pierce College in the past year.
    • Please visit Admissions and complete the admissions process under the category that applies to you (New, Returning, International).

Applicants with course substitutions for Science, Math and/or English pre-dental hygiene courses should contact our Dental Hygiene advising at denthyg@pierce.ctc.edu.