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Application Process

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 including official transcripts with all prerequisite courses and observation/experience hours must be submitted no later than March 31 by 5 p.m. PST. 

Process for the 2026 Application Year

A. Request Your Background Check

We highly recommend starting the process no later than January 2026. 

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

B. Complete Observation or Work Experience

Complete 16 hours of dental hygiene observation or dental-related work experience. You can obtain the form to report your hours in the advising and application checklist.

C. Begin Your Application

Complete the American Dental Education Association Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (ADEA DHCAS®) application by March 31, 2026 at 5 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:

1. Personal Information
2. Academic History
  • There is no need to upload high school transcripts.
  • Order your official transcripts through the ADEA DHCAS portal.
    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.
  • GPA for admissions will be calculated by pre-requisite courses only.
3. Supporting Information

Upload the Dental Hygiene observation/work experience hours tracking form under the shadowing experiences tab.

4. Program Materials

If you have course substitutions, one document is required. If you have submitted and received approval to substitute an alternative prerequisite course to meet application eligibility, you will need to upload under Documents either an email confirmation from the Director or a screenshot from Starfish of the approval from the Director.

  • If you have not completed this step and need course substitutions, email DentHyg@pierce.ctc.edu for a course substitution form and information.  
  • Communications, Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology do not need course substitution requests unless you are asking for a course in a different discipline category, like humanities or anthropology, or if it is less credits than we publish.

Now That You Have Applied

  • In mid-April, the top applicants will be invited for an interview. All other applicants will be notified of non-acceptance.
  • Interviews will be hosted the first week of May.
  • Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance post interviews will be sent by the third week in May.