Admission Requirements

Educational Requirements/Prerequisites 

Below are listed the SDM’s admissions requirements. We have provided a handy SDM Admissions Planning Worksheet that you can download and record your status regarding the prerequisites. 

1. Credit hours: 

• Minimum of three years (90 semester or 135 quarter credit hours) at a regionally accredited college or university; however, preference is for applicants who will be completing or have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 

2. Courses: 

• General Chemistry – 2 semesters/quarters* 

• Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters/quarters* 
• General Biochemistry – 1 semester/quarter* 
• General Physics – 2 semesters/quarters* 
• General Biology or Zoology – 2 semesters/quarters* 
• General Microbiology – 1 semester/quarter* 

• Human Anatomy and Physiology – 1 semester/quarter of a combined course or two individual courses (separate from the General Biology/Zoology requirement)* 
• English – 2 courses (6 credits) 

*Note that these must be lecture courses. Lab courses do not count. 

We do not select or give preference to a particular undergraduate major or field of study. Our admissions committee encourages diversity in the majors of our applicants. 

3. Dental Admissions Test (DAT): 

• The DAT is not required. 

Technical Skills Requirements 

There are specific minimum core performance standards, or technical standards, needed to be a dental clinician. The SDM has created a policy regarding these standards. Please see the policy linked below.

Technical Standards Policy

Other Requirements 

• Demonstrated interest and commitment to providing care to those in rural and/or medically underserved communities. 

• At least 50 hours of shadowing in general dental and specialist practices (pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery). At least 25 hours should be in specialty practices. Prior dental work experience will be considered towards shadowing hours. Applicants with prior dental work experience are asked to contact the SDM early in the application process to discuss their experience.
  • Please use this form to record your shadowing experiences. We will request a copy of this form from applicants during the admissions process.
  • Please use this form to record your community service experiences. We will request a copy of this form from applicants during the admissions process. 

Letters of Recommendation

The requirements for letters of recommendation:

• Two letters from any two science-course faculty from the required courses
• One letter from a non-science course faculty
• One letter from a community service coordinator/advisor/supervisor or work supervisor
• You may submit up to three additional letters from shadowing doctors, other faculty, etc.

Details on what we would like to have included in the recommendation letters will be provided to applicants.

The three additional letters of recommendation will need to be emailed by the letter writers directly to Admission@pnwu.edu or mailed to the Admissions Department (mailing address is below). Please do not send them to SDM.

Admissions Department
200 University Parkway
Yakima, WA 98901

For applicants who have the other letters of recommendation in AADSAS, those letters will be sent over with their application.

Advanced Standing Students

The SDM currently has no advanced standing (a dental degree from a non-CODA accredited school) program. If we develop an advanced standing program in the future, we will update the website accordingly.

School of Dental Medicine Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements
Admission Prerequisite Mapping
Cost to Apply
The Interview
Notification
Helpful Links

Pathway Programs

Dental Hygiene Admissions
Master of Arts, Medical Sciences (MAMS)
Pathway Programs with Partner Colleges and Universities