Program Requirements

Shot record to include the following:

• Tetanus-Diphtheria or dTap within past 10 years
• Measles, Mumps & Rubella —2 on or after the first birthday
• TB test within past 3 months
• HEP B injection 1st series
• HEP B injection 2nd series
• HEP B injection 3rd series
• Meningitis

NEEDED BY FIRST DAY OF CLASS EVERY SEMESTER:
PROOF OF INSURANCE: (Invoice from TSTC Business Office)

• Malpractice (only once a year)
• Accident
• Needlestick

Other:

• Books for DHYG courses
• Valid Texas driver’s license or Texas identification

Application Process

1. Apply for general acceptance to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Harlingen by submission of Admission Application. Applications to the college may be done online here.
   This is in addition to the Dental Hygiene Application. Please note that International students have additional requirements. Please call 956-364-4690 for further information.
2. Communicate with a TSTC advisor, 956-364-4996 to discuss eligibility to become TSI complete. TSI measures Reading, Writing and Math skills.
3. Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills V (TEAS V) during the month of January 2017. The TEAS V test is a nationally normed test developed to measure basic essential skills in the academic areas of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage that has been proven to be an accurate predictor of success in health occupations. The test will be administered at the TSTC counseling center during the month of January, 2017 for a fee of $70. $45 must be paid by credit card in the student’s name at the time of the test, and $25 test administration fee paid at the cashier’s office and a receipt must be shown for admittance to the test. It is a timed test of about four hours and for the convenience of our students, applicants can take the computer test between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, or Thursdays no later than 5. The test is also offered on Saturdays if arriving no later than 8:30 am at the Testing Center in the Student Center. If you have questions, please call the Testing Center at 956.364.4308. Test dates are from January 5, 2017 to January 30, 2017 with no exceptions. Please don’t wait until the last week to take the test. Retakes are not allowed, and test scores are only valid for one year. Prep materials are available for purchase at atitesting.com. Click on create a new account and follow the screen prompts. You will need to preregister before taking the test at ari.testing.com. Please remember your user name and password for the day of the test. You may also call ATI Testing at 1-800 667-7531 for clarification.
4. A completed TSTC Dental Hygiene Program application must be filed by March 1, 2017 using the form available in this packet or at the program. Applicants must attach TSI verification to the application. Applicants will receive notification of their acceptance into the program by March 30, 2015. NOTE: Prospective applicants are strongly advised to make an appointment and meet with the program chairperson, Ms. Raquel Rico to ensure understanding of the application process.
5. Upon acceptance into the DHYG Program, the following basic program courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better, and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better must be maintained.
   
   These courses MUST be completed prior to beginning the DHYG program in August, 2017:
   BIOL 2301 & 2101 Anatomy and Physiology I
   CHEM 1305 &1105 Intro to Chem
   
   Failure to complete this course by the start of the Fall semester 2017 with a 2.0 or better will result in the loss of the candidate’s acceptance status in the Dental Hygiene Program. The candidate will be dropped from the program and an alternate candidate who has successfully passed the class will be accepted.
   
   IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CANDIDATE COMPLETE ALL NON-DENTAL HYGIENE COURSES BEFORE THE AUGUST START DATE TO FACILITATESUCCESS IN THE RIGOROUS DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM.
6. Students accepted into the TSTC-Harlingen Dental Hygiene Program will be required to return a NON-REFUNDABLE $300.00 deposit which will be applied to the student’s instrument kit with their letter of acceptance by May 1, 2017 to ensure their position in the entering class of the Fall of 2017.