Dental Assisting Certificate/Area of Specialization (3265)

The goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level dental assistants’ in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Dental assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of dental assisting directly influences the public’s health and well being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Administrative dental office responsibilities may include telephone triage, updating and filing patient medical records, scheduling appointments, billing, and bookkeeping. Clinical duties may include taking vital signs, medical histories, preparing patients for examination, instructing patients, performing chairside, radiography, and mixing dental materials as required by the dentist.

All students enrolled in a nursing or allied health program/certificate must complete a criminal background check. In accordance with clinical site requirements, students with a criminal record may be ineligible to participate in a clinical course/rotation/practicum. Delays, for any reason, in obtaining background results may cause an interruption in the clinical rotation sequence or inability to complete program requirements. Additional background screening may be required by individual facilities.

Drug testing may be requested in accordance with clinical affiliation requirements and/or for patient/student health and safety.

A minimum GPA of 2.0 and a "C" grade or higher is required in all science and program-specific courses for graduation. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades may not be used to fulfill health program requirements.

Admission Procedures

Students must meet specific admission requirements for this program and are advised to meet with a counselor and the program director.

Listed below are requirements for admission to the Dental Assisting certificate program:

  • Complete college application
  • Applicants must meet with the program director and counselor to review the program prerequisites and requirements

Admission Procedures' Notes

Applicants must meet with the program director and counselor to review the program prerequisites and requirements.

Applicants who have completed the requirements for admission will be accepted into the program on a space-available basis.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
DAST 1100 Introduction to Dental Assisting 2
DAST 1120 Dental Science and Oral Pathology 3
DAST 1130 Chairside I 3
DAST 1150 Infection Control 2
DAST 1160 Dental Materials 3
DAST 1200 Radiography 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
DAST 1210 Practice Management 2
DAST 1230 Chairside II 2
DAST 1310 Dental Assisting Seminar 1
DAST 1320 Dental Assisting Practicum 1
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours22