Admission Requirements

The Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine Application is now closed on the AADSAS portal. The application will open again for the 2026 application cycle in early May.

Completed ADEA AADSAS Application.

Educational Requirements/Prerequisites 

Below are listed the SDM’s admissions requirements. Download our Admissions Planning Worksheet.

GPA

  • Overall GPA – 2.85
  • Science GPA – 2.85

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. 

Courses – must be lecture courses; lab courses do not count

  • General Chemistry – 2 semesters/quarters*
  • Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters/quarters* 
  • General Biochemistry – 1 semester/quarter* 
  • General Physics – 1 semester/quarter* 
  • General Biology or Zoology – 2 semesters/quarters* 
  • General Microbiology – 1 semester/quarter* 
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology – 2 semester/quarter if these courses are combined Or if taken separately, Anatomy – 1 semester/quarter and Physiology – 1 semester/quarter*
  • English – 1 semester/quarter*
  • Social or Behavioral Science – 1 semester/quarter* 

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. 

Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is not required. 

Other Application Requirements (shadowing, volunteering, letters of recommendation)

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

Shadowing Hours – at least 50 hours
SDM encourages applicants to diversify the procedures the candidate observes.  Virtual shadowing will not qualify.  For individuals that have worked as a dental assistant or dental hygienist within the last three years, shadowing hours will be waived.

Volunteer/Community Service Hours – at least 50 hours within the last 5 years
Activities should not be solely related to medical/dental. Exceptional candidates will have demonstrated consistent and recent experience.

Letters of Recommendation – 3 required

  • 1 science faculty who has graded your work
  • 1 dentist
  • 1 optional (open letter)
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

Prerequisite Waiver for Dental Hygienists

The School of Dental Medicine is pleased to waive any missing science prerequisite courses for applicants who meet the following requirements.

Requirements: 

  • Completion of an accredited dental hygiene program in Washington state within 3-8 year prior to application
  • Meet all admission requirements for general admission*, not including prerequisite courses
  • Must have been awarded a bachelor’s degree in either dental hygiene or a science, such as biology or chemistry
  • Complete and pass PNWU biomedical sciences refresher course prior to starting the DMD program

*If you have worked as a dental hygienist within the last 3 years, shadowing hours will also be waived.

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
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To request a tour of our campus, please visit our PNWU website to register. These tours are scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month, excluding PNWU’s Open House dates. PNWU-SDM tours are intended for those who are not applying for the current admission cycle.

Accreditation

As of August 2024, the SDM has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Contact Us

We welcome all queries. For admissions related questions, please email admission@pnwu.edu. All other inquiries, feel free to contact us at SDM@pnwu.edu, and we’ll get back to you shortly.

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