Dental Assisting Program Admissions Process
Central Lakes College-Brainerd (CLC) accepts 24 students into the 11-month Dental Assisting Diploma each fall semester (fall start only). The program is hands-on, fast-paced and designed to educate students in chairside skills and expanded functions delegated by the Minnesota State Board of Dentistry.
NOTE: If interested in the 15-month Dental Assisting Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), our Academic Advisor will work with you once you are enrolled in the Dental Assisting classes.
Dental Assisting Program Admission Criteria:
HS GPA 2.6 or higher within the past 10 years OR
Accuplacer NG Reading score: 236 or higher OR
MCA Reading 1047 or higher OR
HS GPA of 2.5 AND MCA Reading 1042 OR
Completion of college course equivalent to CLC’s ENGL 1410 Composition I or higher
NOTE: If you are notified by the Admission Office that your application is “pending”, you must notify the Dental Assisting Advisor at: Advising@clcmn.edu once you have completed one of the criteria listed above.
Step 1: Complete the CLC Admission Application (Online Application) declaring Dental Assisting Diploma as your major/program. The Admissions Office will notify you of your status.
Step 2: New Student Registration and Orientation Session
In February, admitted students will be informed of the time and date of a mandatory New Student Registration and Orientation session (typically in May). If the student does not attend this session or make alternate arrangements with the Program Advisor, the student forfeits their place and the next individual on the Wait List will be granted admission. Attendance at the session may be waived with prior permission from the Dental Assisting Program Advisor for the following extenuating circumstances only:
Student-injury, illness or hospitalization – doctor’s statement required
Family member*– hospitalization– doctor’s statement required
A death in the family** – documentation required
Court ordered appearance – documentation required
Military service – call to active duty – documentation required
Religious observation – documentation required
Study abroad – documentation required
NOTE: documentation for above excused absences must reflect date of absence.
*In the case of hospitalization, a family member is defined as the spouse, minor or dependent children/step-children/foster children (including wards and children for whom the student is legal guardian), or parent/step-parent living in the same household as the student.
** In the case of death, a family member is defined as the spouse or domestic partner, the parents and grandparents of the spouse, the parent/step-parents, grandparents, guardian, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, wards, or step-children of the student.
Dental Hygiene Program Admissions Process
CLC accepts 15 students into the comprehensive, hands-on Dental Hygiene (DEHY) A.A.S. program each fall semester (fall start only). This two-year program, held on the Brainerd campus of CLC, is 82 credits including pre-requisites, which MUST be completed prior to acceptance in the program. This program prepares students to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, a clinical dental hygiene exam, and a laws exam to become licensed as a Dental Hygienist.
Required MnTC Prerequisites (28 credits)
BIOL 2447* Introductory Microbiology (Goals 3,8) OR
BIOL 2457* Microbiology (Goal 3) ………………………….. 4 cr
BIOL 2467* Anatomy and Physiology I (Goal 3) ……….. 4 cr
BIOL 2468* Anatomy and Physiology II (Goal 3) ………. 4 cr
CHEM 1407 Life Science Chemistry (Goal 3) …………….. 4 cr
Any Oral COMM course (Goal 1) ……………………………….. 3 cr
Any ENGL written course (Goal 1) ………………………….. 3-4 cr
Any PSYC course (Goal 5) ………………………………………. 3-4 cr
Any SOCL course (Goal 5) …………………………………………. 3 cr
All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or higher and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the prerequisite courses prior to program start date.
All science courses must have been completed within the past 5 years from program start date. All science courses require a lecture and lab.
STEP 1. CLC admission application (Online Application). Please submit a CLC admissions application and declare Dental Hygiene as your major. You will be placed in “pending” status until your Dental Hygiene application is reviewed (complete steps below).
STEP 2. Request official transcripts from any non-MinnState colleges (with final grades from your most recent semester completed). These must be received by CLC’s Records & Registration Office before February 28. CLC can access other MinnState college transcripts, so you do not need to request these.
STEP 3. CLC Dental Hygiene program application
The Dental Hygiene application window is open January 1-March 1 yearly.
You must submit a Dental Hygiene application for each fall semester you would like to be considered for the program. Log in with username: your starid@go.minnstate.edu and your Star ID password.
After the application window closes, applications will be reviewed and you will be notified of your acceptance or non-acceptance into the program, within approximately one month.
Dental Hygiene (DEHY) Admissions Criteria:
The admission criteria for the dental hygiene program are as follows:
High school diploma or GED is required to be admitted to the program.
Must meet the requirements for acceptance to CLC and complete the additional DEHY program application. Academic or financial holds at other MinnState institutions may cause a delay in acceptance to CLC.
Applications to the DEHY program are accepted from January 1 to March 1st for the following fall semester.
Official transcripts (with final grades from your most recent semester completed) from any other colleges must be received by CLC’s Records & Registration Office before February 28.
Pre-Requisites and Scoring:
All pre-requisite courses must be completed or registered for at time of application to the program. Only completed courses will receive a score on the application assessment form.
All prerequisites must be completed with a C or higher and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the courses before program start date.
Sciences must have been completed within the past five years from program start date. All sciences require a lecture and lab.
Applicants to the DEHY program will be assigned points for their pre-requisite courses, according to the grade earned.
To receive points for a course, applicants must have completed the course and received a grade before February 28th of the year that the student applies to the program.
If a student has taken a pre-requisite course(s) more than one time, the highest grade in the course will be used for this application assessment. Note: The courses must be equivalent to CLC courses, per official CLC transfer evaluation process.
Four points are awarded for a course with a grade of “A,” three points for a “B,” and two points for a “C.”
Three additional application points will be awarded for being a current licensed dental assistant in the State of Minnesota.
The top fifteen (15) applicants who score the highest will be selected for admission to the dental hygiene program. In the case of one or more ties, an applicant from the group will be selected at random.
If 15 students have not been accepted after the application window closes and there are still openings for the fall class, we will score those students who have applied and are registered for spring courses at the end of spring semester; the same procedure applies after summer semester if the program still is not at capacity.
Once the program is full for the upcoming fall, if a position opens, the next applicant on the list will be contacted for acceptance.
Upon acceptance to the program, the following information must be provided prior to program start date:
CPR: Documentation of MN Board of Dentistry approved CPR with BLS; CPR must be current throughout the program OR completion of EMTS 1130 for 1 cr.
It is best to take CPR in the summer before you start the DH Program so that the 2-year CPR card will last you through the 2 years of program and for your clinical board exam prior to graduation.
Background Check: Any person who has direct contact with patients and residents at healthcare facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health must have a criminal background check completed. Results of the study must be on file in the Dental Department before students begin their clinical experiences. Any student who does not pass the criminal background check will not be permitted to participate in clinical experiences, thereby rendering the individual ineligible to progress in the Dental Hygiene Program.
If you have been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense, you should investigate the impact that the arrest, charge or conviction may have on your chances of employment in the field you intend to study or on your chances to obtain federal, state, and other higher education financial aid.
Please contact the MN Board of Dentistry if you have questions or concerns dental.board@state.mn.us
Tuberculosis Testing: either a two-step TST or single IGRA test is mandatory.
Immunizations Strongly Recommended by CDC: Hepatitis B, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella-Zoster. If a student declines these vaccinations, they must sign a waiver of declination and provide a conscientious objector form.
Job Shadow: highly recommended to complete dental office job shadow to ensure you explore the profession (recommended minimum 12 hours)
Physical Exam: highly recommended to have a comprehensive physical exam, as dental hygiene is a physically demanding profession, with a potential risk of long-term musculoskeletal wrist, neck, and back concerns. Please consult with your medical provider.
New Student Registration and Orientation Session
Upon acceptance into the program, students will be informed of the time and date of a mandatory session. If the student does not attend this session or made alternate arrangements with the Program Advisor, the student forfeits their place and the next individual on the alternate list will be granted admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Attendance at the session may be waived with prior permission from the Dental Hygiene Program Advisor for the following extenuating circumstances only:
Student– injury, illness or hospitalization – doctor’s statement required
Family member*– hospitalization– doctor’s statement required
A death in the family** – documentation required
Court ordered appearance – documentation required
Military service – call to active duty – documentation required
Religious observation – documentation required
Study abroad – documentation required
NOTE: documentation for above excused absences must reflect date of absence
*In the case of hospitalization, a family member is defined as the spouse, minor or dependent children/step-children/foster children (including wards and children for whom the student is legal guardian), or parent/step-parent living in the same household as the student.
**In the case of death, a family member is defined as the spouse or domestic partner, the parents and grandparents of the spouse, the parent/step-parents, grandparents, guardian, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, wards, or step-children of the student.
