To be eligible to apply you must first be fully admitted to IU Fort Wayne. Admission to the CDA program is limited to students selected by the Dental Admissions Committee. Applications and required documentation are reviewed and class selection is determined following the priority application date each year. The CDA program begins each August and completes the following June.
Admission to IU Fort Wayne is the first step. Complete the IU Fort Wayne undergraduate application. Official transcripts from high schools and colleges attended must be provided. An IU Student Identification Number is needed to complete the application for the assisting program later. The IU Fort Wayne deadline for fall applications is August 1; yet, students are encouraged to apply no later than March 1 to be fully eligible for institutional aid. Eligibility for CDA program application selection can only occur after university acceptance.
Applications will be accepted each year through the priority application deadline of June 15th. You must apply and be accepted to IU Fort Wayne first as your IU student ID number is required on the CDA application form.
OFFICIAL high school transcripts (9-12 grades) for all academic work completed are required. If applicable, submit a copy of TASC scores or GED certificate and scores. Final official transcripts for all academic work completed must be received by the CDA program before an admission decision can be made.
If currently enrolled in college courses or have attended a college, university, or vocational program, submit an OFFICIAL transcript from both high school and college. Final official transcripts for all academic work completed must be received by the CDA program before an admission decision can be made.
Dental Office Observation Documentation: All applicants must observe a dental assistant in a minimum of two different general dental offices for a minimum of 4 hours total or two hours at each dental office. Each office will need to verify observation hours. Documentation of observations is required to be submitted with the application via the program's clinical observation form. Applicants may be exempt from completing observation hours if they provide documentation of at least 2 weeks of dental office employment.
Temporary Alternatives to Clinical Observations
Due to the current situation with COVID-19 and the health risks involved in participating in clinical observations at this time, Fall 2020 applications will not require an observation verification form.
In place of an actual observation we have provided a list of resources below for applicants to thoroughly review. Please review each of the links below and prepare a brief, written summary. In your own words, describe 1) the daily responsibilities of a dental assistant, and 2) how reviewing these materials confirmed your desire to pursue dental assisting as a career. Submit your summary with your program application.
Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
American Dental Association (ADA)
The program application, dental assisting observation forms and all official transcripts must be received by the dental assisting program by the application priority date of June 15. Applications and documents received after this date will be considered until the admission cohort is filled.
Due to the current situation with COVID-19, IUFW/PFW campus is closed until further notice. As such, we are temporarily permitting Fall 2020 applicants to submit their program application, and other required documents, via email. Please send completed applications and documents directly to Professor Staci Schory, Interim Director of Dental Assisting, at srschory@iu.edu, before the June 15, 2020 deadline.
Download the application Download the clinical observation form
The Dental Admissions Committee reviews all qualified applications and evaluates English, Science and the Cumulative GPAs. The applicant must have earned at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in each of these areas. Both high school and college GPAs are considered and evaluated equally. Applicants must have at least two courses in English and two courses in Life Sciences to be considered complete for evaluation. Applicants are ranked by GPA. The Admissions Committee members will review applicant information by the end of June.
Common courses accepted in English: English Composition, Literature, Etymology, Speech, Medical Terminology, Latin, and Journalism course work.
Common courses accepted in the Life Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology as a Biological Science.
Once admitted to the dental assisting program, but before starting classes, you must complete the following:
Courses must be taken in-person and include CPR, and a hands-on exam.
Please submit completed application with all required documentation to the Division of Allied Dental Education.
Attention: CDA - Application
Indiana University School of Dentistry - Fort Wayne
Division of Allied Dental Education
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Neff 150
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
Please contact the IU Fort Wayne CDA program if you have questions regarding the application process or criteria for acceptance at (260) 481-6837.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY FORT WAYNE
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
