Dental Assisting
Certificate
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Admissions Requirements |
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• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Must take the
college placement test to determine Math and English levels if no
college level courses were previously completed. • A
TEAS composite score of 60 percent is required. • Required TEAS scores must be achieved within two attempts of taking the
test. •
Math: minimum grade of C in MAT 095 or MAT 099 or place into
MAT 099 level or above. • Biology: minimum grade of
C in high school biology or C in BIO 101 (recommended) or other college
biology class. •
Chemistry: minimum grade of C in high school chemistry or C in CHM 090. •
English: minimum grade of C in ENG 100 or place into ENG 101. • Math and
science courses must be taken within five years of application.
• Required grade must be earned within two attempts of
taking and completing the course.
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Next Step |
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A second option majoring in one of three Allied Dental
Services offerings resulting in an Associate in Science Degree. |
The dental assisting certificate program prepares graduates to perform a
wide range of patient care duties in the dental office. Dental assistants
support dentists by obtaining necessary health history information, maintaining
patient comfort during examinations, providing necessary instruments and
materials to the dentist during surgical procedures, taking radiographs, and
casting impressions. The dental assistant manages a variety of office-related
duties including scheduling and confirming appointments, updating patient
records, generating bills, following third-party payments, and ordering supplies
and materials. A significant increase in demand for dental services over the
next three to five years suggests strong employment opportunities in this field.
The curriculum provides students with the theoretical content and pre-clinical
and laboratory experiences necessary to develop the competence and ability to
make judgments regarding intra-oral, chair-side, and laboratory procedures.
Courses in business office procedures and basic computer usage are also
included. In addition, students will be required to complete a series of
clinical rotations arranged by QCC in a variety of general and specialty dental
practices. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to take the Dental
Assisting National Board examination in order to achieve the Certified Dental
Assistant designation.
Upon completion of this program, students will be prepared to obtain employment
as a dental assistant. In addition, students will be prepared to continue their
studies at the associate's degree level in such disciplines as allied dental
services or dental hygiene. A QPA of 2.0 or above and completion of all clinical
hours, competencies, and clinical learning activities/requirements are required
for graduation from the program.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission into the dental assisting program, the applicant must
have a high school diploma or GED. Students must take the TEAS and achieve a 60
percent composite score within two attempts of taking the test to be admitted.
All incoming students must take the college placement test to determine math
and English levels if no college level courses were previously completed.
Students taking the exam must place into MAT 099 level or above or receive a
minimum grade of C in MAT 095 or MAT 099; place into ENG 101 or receive a grade
of C in ENG 100; achieve a minimum grade of C in high school biology, BIO 101
(recommended) or other college biology class; receive a grade of C in high
school chemistry or in CHM 090.
A Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) and Sexual Offender Records
Information (SORI) check is required of all students accepted into the program.
Graduation Requirements
Once admitted into the program, students must achieve certain standards in order
to continue in the program. Students must achieve a grade of C or
higher in all DAS, BIO 140, DHY 125, DHY 131 and DHY 241 courses. Students who
have received a grade below a C in BIO 140, DHY 125, DHY 131 and DHY 241 are
required to repeat the courses and obtain a grade of C or higher by the end of
the cluster/semester in which they are required or required as a prerequisite.
DHY courses with a C or higher grade may be transferred to the dental hygiene
program within two years after completion of the dental assisting program.
Students may need to retake the four core DHY courses if more than two years
has elapsed.
Dental Assisting Bridge to Dental Hygiene Initiative
Dental Assisting Graduates may be eligible to by-pass the Dental Hygiene wait
list if the following criteria are met:
1. Minimum grade point average of 3.3
2. Minimum grades of “B” in all QCC DHY courses
3. Minimum “A-“ in the DAS 151, DAS 153, and DAS 155 courses
4. Two recommendations from QCC DHY core course faculty of which one is from a
full-time faculty member
As of Fall 2009, two seats in the dental hygiene freshmen class will be reserved
for May 2009 dental assisting graduates that meet the above criteria. Prior to
Fall 2009 one to two seats may be reserved for dental assisting graduates.
A Health Careers Center has been established to facilitate the entry of students
to health care programs. All students applying to the Dental Assistant program
can contact the Health Careers Center 508-854-2718.
A total of 38 credits is required for the certificate in dental assisting.
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Courses |
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Cluster A
Clinical Science I
Dental Assisting I
Anatomy of the Head & Neck
Dental Anatomy
Dental Radiology
Dental Materials
Introduction to the Human Body
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Cluster B
Dental Assisting Clinical Practicum |
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Cluster C
Clinical Science II
Practice Management
Introduction to Oral Pathology
Dental Assisting II
English Composition & Literature I |
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