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Dental Hygiene Department Requirements

Background checks

Note: Only students who are accepted into the program need to complete a background check.

Clinical agencies affiliated with the Dental Hygiene Program and state licensing applications require a criminal background check and a security fingerprint check. Additional requirements and/or disclosures may become necessary while enrolled in the program. Any fees associated with these mandates will be the student’s responsibility.

Health Records

Note: Only students who are accepted into the program need to submit health records and complete a physical examination.

All students must have a completed Health Record and Physical Examination form on file prior to entering the clinical setting. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up-to-date immunizations and meet the health record requirements. Annual TB skin tests are required and additional immunizations may be required by clinical agencies, such as COVID-19 vaccine, flu shot. Due to the rapidly changing clinical requirements in regard to the COVID-19 vaccination, contact the program director for the most current requirements and process. Health restrictions which prohibit student performance of total patient care may prevent admission to or completion of the program.

Individuals with Bloodborne Infectious Disease:

It is the responsibility of all healthcare workers (HCW) who perform exposure-prone procedures to know their bloodborne pathogen status, specifically related to Hepatitis B virus (HbV), Hepatitis C virus (HcV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Further, it is the responsibility of the faculty, staff or student who tests positive for HIV or HbV or HcV to report test results to the program director and the chair of the Risk Management Committee at Johnson County Community College. An expert review panel will review the circumstances, if any, under which the individual may continue to perform exposure-prone procedures.

CPR Certification

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Health Care Provider certification is required by the program prior to the fall semester. (This is not required at the time of application.) A course for dental hygiene students is held each summer, prior to the first day of the fall semester.

Both American Red Cross and American Heart Association Health Care Provider certification will fulfill this requirement as long as both one and two rescuer procedures, obstructed airway procedures for infant, child and adult, and AED are completed.