General Admission Information
The program administrator and faculty, in cooperation with appropriate institutional
personnel, establish admissions procedures which are non-discriminatory, contribute
to the quality of the program, and allow a selection of students with the potential
to successfully complete the program.
- You must have the ability to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both
written and spoken English. If English is your second language, you ae encouraged
to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) to enhance your success.
- Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance
- ACT reading score of 19 or Accuplacer reading comprehension test of 78 is required
- Graduate from an accredited high school or equivalent with a 2.0 GPA.
- Have a grade point average of 2.0 for all college work
- Have official high school and college transcripts
- Complete application for enrollment in the program
- Students must provide their own transportation to off-campus clinical sites.
Selection Criteria:
There is an established admissions committee which includes the program administrator
and the clinical coordinator.
Applicants are interviewed on a first to apply, first to interview basis until all
roster slots are filled. Applications received after the roster is filled will be
placed on a waiting list for potential openings. There are frequent changes during
the summer months prior to classes beginning in August.
The following criteria standards are used during the selection process:
- Students who have completed the application packet during the application period. If
application is completed after the initial roster has filled, the student will be selected pending space availability.
- Background check and drug screening is required.
Acceptance into the Program:
The program director will inform you of the status of your application by email upon
receipt of all required documents.
Upon selection to the program, you will be required to complete the following requirements:
- Students will be given instructions on the background check procedure which will include
providing vaccination documentation, TB skin testing and drug screening.
- Admission to and continuation in the Dental Assisting program requires you to maintain
a grade of C (75%) or better in all required Dental Assisting courses.
- A selected uniform and adherence to the dress code is required (est. cost $75 - $150).
- American Heart Association CPR/Basic Life Support for Health Professionals training
will be provided in the program during the first month of classes.
Non-Native Speakers of English
Non-native speakers of English seeking admission into Health Professions programs
are required to complete an English as a second language (ESL) listening test. Students
can receive more information or schedule a test through the NWACC testing center.
Call 479-619-4354.
The ESL listening test is designed to assess a student’s ability to understand standard
American English. A score of 92 or higher on the COMPASS ESL listening test (taken
within the last three years) OR a score of 120 or higher on the Accuplacer ESL listening
test is REQUIRED for non-native speakers students seeking entrance into Health Professions programs at NWACC.
The minimum score or higher indicates the ability to understand linguistically complex
discussions, including academic lectures and factual reports. Non-native speaking students seeking career paths in Health Professions scoring below the minimum will
need to retest and successfully pass by July 1st.