A.S. Dental Hygiene Program Applicant Information
Applicant Information for the 2026-2027 School Year
NOTICE: Beginning with the 2026 application, applicants will be required to observe/job shadow a dental hygienist for a minimum of 10 hours. Please complete this form as documentation.
Thank you for your interest in the Dental Hygiene Program at Taft College. Below you will find information about the program that will assist in making your decision.
Applications for the class beginning in the Fall 2026 semester will be available January 15, 2026 and must be received in the Taft College Admissions Office by 3:00 p.m. the last day of February 2026.
Should you have further questions, please feel free to call the Dental Hygiene Department at (661) 763-7885 or the Counseling Center at (661) 763-7748.
Sincerely, Gina Gardner, RDH, MEd
Director of Dental Hygiene
Taft College Dental Hygiene Application is posted in Mid-January
Highlights for 2026 Application
- All program prerequisites must be completed by December of the prior year. Applications submitted to enter fall 2026 must have all prerequisites completed by December 2025.
- No in-progress prerequisites are accepted. All prerequisites must be successfully completed with a “C” or better before submitting an application.
- All prerequisite science courses must be completed by 2018 or later to meet the seven (7) year recency requirement.
- Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or better in all college coursework.
- Applicants must complete a minimum of 10 hours observation/job shadowing of a dental hygienist by December 2025.
- Applicants must meet program requirements in effect at the time of application. Please stay updated on the admission requirements through Taft College Counseling.
PREREQUISITES, GENERAL EDUCATION, OBSERVATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA
Taft College accepts 20 qualified students into its Dental Hygiene Program each fall semester. There are minimum admission requirements that all applicants must meet in order to be considered for acceptance into the program.
The application period for the class beginning in the fall 2026 semester is mid-January to the end of February. Designated dates are included in the application, once posted.
Prerequisites
Applicants must earn a minimum grade of “C” in each of the following prerequisite courses.
As of the 2026 application period…
- All program prerequisites must be completed by December of the prior year. Applications submitted to enter fall 2026, must have all prerequisites completed by December 2025.
- No in-progress prerequisites are accepted. All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a “C” or better before submitting an application for fall 2026.
- All prerequisite *science courses must be completed by 2019 or later to meet the seven (7) year recency requirement.
- A two-semester combination Anatomy and Physiology course may be substituted for the Anatomy and Physiology requirement. A one-semester survey course is not acceptable.
| Prerequisite Course | Semester Units |
| *Human Anatomy w/ Wet Lab | 4-5 |
| *Inorganic Chemistry w/ Wet Lab | 4-5 |
| *Organic Chemistry w/ Wet Lab | 4-5 |
| *General Microbiology w/ Wet Lab | 4-5 |
| *Human Physiology w/ Wet Lab | 4-5 |
| English (Any CSU GE Area A2 Course or CalGETC Area 1A Course) | 3 |
| Mathematics (Any CSU GE Area B4 Course or CalGETC Area 2 Course-Statistics Recommended) | 4-5 |
| Psychology (Any CSU GE Area D Psychology Course or CalGETC Area 4 Psychology Course) | 3 |
| Multicultural/Cultural Diversity/Ethnic Studies (CSU GE Area F Course or CalGETC Area 6 Course) | 3 |
| Sociology (Any CSU GE Area D Sociology Course or CalGETC Area 4 Sociology Course) | 3 |
| Speech/Communication (Any CSU GE Area A1 Course or CalGETC Area 1C Course) | 3 |
*Seven (7) year recency requirement: All completed prerequisite science courses must be completed within the previous 7 years of application
*All sciences prerequisite courses must include a “wet laboratory” component whether it is offered in person or online with take home lab kit or hybrid. A lab must not be entirely virtual. The Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC) defines a “wet lab” in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 16 (16), section 1103(ai) as: “Wet laboratory” is a term used to distinguish classical benchtop experiments handling biological material from computer analysis or other theoretical work. All applicants will be required to submit proof of “wet lab” experiences during science courses taken after January 1, 2022.
General Education/Associate Degree Requirements
- American History and Ideals
- Arts and Humanities
- Lifelong Learning
General education requirements are not required to apply to the Dental Hygiene program, but are required to earn the Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene. It is highly recommended that general education requirements be completed prior to applying to the Dental Hygiene program. Coursework completed at another institution must be comparable to courses offered at Taft College. A Taft College counselor or the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee will determine equivalency.
Observation
Each applicant will be required to observe/job shadow a dental hygienist for a minimum of 10 hours. This observation/job shadow MUST be completed by December 2025. The form needs to be filled out and completed by the hygienist that you observe. It will be uploaded with your application. Please complete this form as documentation.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all college coursework.
The selection criteria is applied to those applicants who have met minimum program requirements.
There is a cumulative total of 200 points possible in the following categories:
- GPA in science prerequisite coursework
- Cumulative GPA in all college coursework
- Number of units completed at Taft College
- Progress towards the completion of general education requirements for the Associate Degree, or CSU Breadth or IGETC certification
- Attainment of a degree
- Related work experience
Contact the Counseling Center at (661) 763-7748 for additional information.
Program requirements and selection criteria are subject to change. Students applying to the Dental Hygiene program must meet catalog and program requirements in effect at the time of application to the program. Contact the Taft College Dental Hygiene Department for current information.
Estimated Program Costs
| Summer Before First Year | Expense |
| Instrument Kit | $2,920 |
| Clinic Kit | $967 |
| Uniforms | $200 |
| Loupes | $1,900 |
| Total | $5,987 |
| First Year | Fall | Spring |
| Units @ $46 | 17 | 14.5 |
| Enrollment fees | $782 | $667 |
| Books | $1,300 | $650 |
| Clinic Fee | $300 | $300 |
| Parking | -0- | |
| ASB card (optional) | $30 | |
| Name tag (2) | $40 | |
| CDHA Membership (2yrs) | $50 | |
| Malpractice insurance | $22 | |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $200 | $125 |
| First Year Totals | $2,724 | $1,742 |
| Second Year | Fall | Spring |
| Units @ $46 | 16 | 12.5 |
| Enrollment fees | $736 | $575 |
| Books | $400 | $400 |
| Clinic Fee | $300 | $300 |
| Parking | -0- | |
| ASB card (optional) | $30 | |
| Malpractice insurance | $22 | |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $150 | $125 |
| Second Year Totals | $1,638 | $1,400 |
| Estimated Program Total | $13,491 |
Total Estimated Cost
$13,491
**Non-Program Expenses 4th Semester Only**
- Optional National Board Review (four days): $425
- Plus hotel and food expense
- National Board Exam (paid in December/January): $565
- ADEX Exam (Clinical): $1,150 +Facility Fee
- https://adextesting.org/adex-dental-hygiene/
- Plus hotel, food, and patient expenses
- CRDTS Exam (Clinical): $1,150 +Facility Fee
- www.crdts.org
- Plus hotel, food, and patient expenses
- CA Law & Ethics exam $32
- DHBC RDH Application: $200
! PROGRAM EXPENSES AND ENROLLMENT FEES SUBJECT TO CHANGE !
*For rules and regulations regarding licensure in the state of California, please refer to the Dental Hygiene Board of California website: http://www.dhbc.ca.gov/
Federal Financial Aid Program
In order to be eligible for federal aid, students are required to enroll in a course of study leading to a degree or a certificate and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Financial aid applications and the Taft College Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available in the Financial Aid Office located in the Counseling Center. Contact the Financial Aid Office at (661)763-7762 if you have questions regarding your eligibility.