College of Dupage - IL
Community College of Denver - CO
Des Moines Area Community College - IA
Dallas College, El Centro Campus - TX
Florence-Darlington Technical College - SC
Hocking College - OH
Johnson County Community College - KS
Manor College - PA
Ozarks Technical Community College - MO
San Juan College - NM
Seattle Central College - WA
Tennessee State University - TN
Tennessee Wesleyan University - TN
Texas State Technical College at Harlingen - TX
Tunxis Community College-Allied Health - CT
University of Louisiana at Monroe - LA
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry - NE
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry - TN
Pierce College - WA
Louisiana State University - LA
Wake Technical Community College - NC
Lane Community College - OR
Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH)
The Admission Test for Dental Hygiene is a nationally administered standardized admission test for individuals applying to dental hygiene programs. It is administered to understand the skill levels of applicants and used to assist with admissions decisions. Find additional information about the test in the ATDH Candidate Guide.
Review the provided guide and practice test before taking the test. After reading all the materials, apply and schedule your appointment.
ATDH Resources
Program Locations
Ready to begin? Make sure to review the available resources and read the ATDH guide before submitting your application.
See your ATDH score report, learn how to interpret the results or request an audit.
Recent and Forthcoming Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Fee waivers for 2024 are available and application information is provided below.
In documented cases of severe financial hardship, a limited number of partial fee waivers are available to ATDH examinees each calendar year (January - December). The partial fee waiver covers 50% of the ATDH fee. The partial fee waiver does not apply to any charges associated with rescheduling/canceling a test date or score reporting after the time of initial application. Partial fee waivers are granted on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible examinees who have submitted the required documents. An examinee is eligible to request a partial fee waiver if each of the following criteria are met:
- First-time examinee
- Has not previously received a partial fee waiver
- U.S. citizen or resident alien
- Has demonstrated financial hardship
- Received financial aid from their school
Once you have signed in, select ‘Submit Request’ and then ‘Waiver Request.’
You will be prompted to select the test for which you are requesting a waiver. Select ‘ATDH.’
The ATDH Program will review all partial fee waiver requests and make the final approval/denial decision. After the partial fee waiver request is reviewed, you will receive an email notification of the decision and instructions for submitting an ATDH application online. Please allow up to 10 business days for review of all partial fee waiver requests.
Also, available to download is a list of reference text (PDF).
The review materials for the DAT may be helpful in reviewing for the ATDH. Download a list of DAT reference books (PDF).
Review the ATDH Program Use of Personal Information and Privacy Policy, which includes:
- The Biometric Data Privacy Policy
- Personal information used and disclosed in connection with the ATDH
- Uses and Disclosures of Personal Information in Connection with the ATDH
- Privacy and Security
You can also contact the ADA Department of Testing Services at atdh@ada.org for more information.
ATDH Webinars
The Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH)
This webinar provided important information concerning the fast-growing ATDH, its validity, reliability, and fairness, and how dental hygiene programs can take advantage of this important new tool for use in admission procedures.
View the webinar about the ATDH
Webinar for Program directors
This webinar was presented for Dental Hygiene Program Directors, and includes the following topics:
- ATDH purpose and Governance
- ATDH Development and Validity Evidence
- Examination Content
- ATDH Administration
- ATDH Scoring and Score Reporting
View the Program Director webinar
Webinar for ATDH Candidates
This webinar was designed for candidates who will be taking the ATDH, with the goal of helping such candidates prepare for the examination. It included the following topics:
- Introduction to the ATDH Candidate Guide
- Topics covered by the examination
- ATDH practice questions
- Administration schedule and procedures
- Partial fee waiver
- Q & A
Watch the ATDH Candidate webinar
Additional ATDH information
Perceptual Ability Test Section
Review the instructions (PDF) associated with Perceptual Ability Test questions.
Examinee Information Report
The ATDH was first administered in September 2021. The information provided in this report reflects the most recent data collected. The Examinee Information Report (PDF) contains information about examinees, such as:
- Self-reported gender
- Ethnicity
- Whether they spoke English as a first language
- State of residence
- Science and math-related courses taken in high school and college
- Completed college courses, years of college completed, review courses taken
- Anticipated enrollment year for their dental hygiene program
Updates
Download information below from the March 2023 ADEA Section on Dental Hygiene Education
ATDH Presentation
A presentation on the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene program was on June 5, 2022 at the ADEA Allied Dental Program Directors' Conference
Lend your talents to future applicants. The Department of Testing Services needs volunteer subject matter experts to assist with test construction. Volunteers may also earn CE credit.