Certificate in Dental Assisting

Train for a Rewarding Career in Dental Assisting

If you have good people skills and an interest in the dental field, a career in dental assisting can be interesting and rewarding. As a dental assistant, you work closely patients and dentists to ensure that routine exams and minor surgical procedures run smoothly. Your responsibilities might include sterilizing instruments, taking X-rays and being a chairside assistant to the dentists. Demand for Dental Assistants is high across the country and is expected to grow faster than the average against other occupations through the rest of the decade. And California employs more dental assistants than any other state, while both Washington and California are in the top ten for states with the highest paid Dental Assistant salaries.

Dental Assisting Classes and Curriculum

The Certificate in Dental Assisting program provides you with the knowledge and technical skills you need to find an entry-level position as a Dental Assistant. In classrooms and labs, you will learn how to perform preventative dentistry, take and process X-rays, control infections, manage a dental office, and use computer technology to enhance your potential for employment. In addition, you will complete assignments such as reading, exercises, problem solving, projects, research, papers, and presentations.

Dental Assisting topics that you will cover include:

Dental Office Administrative Procedures
Orthodontics and Prosthodontics
Dental Emergency Procedures
Preventative Dentistry
Radiography
Dental Sciences
Dental Care Delivery and Techniques

View the complete list of Dental Assisting courses in the Charter College Handbook.

Dental Assisting Certifications

To work as a Dental Assistant in the State of Washington, you must register with the Washington State Department of Health. This includes filling out an application form and paying a registration fee. To work as a Dental Assistant in the State of California, you must apply for a Registered Dental Assistant License with the Dental Board of California, which includes a written exam, proof of dental assistant training, and a registration fee.

Dental Assisting Externship Requirement

As part of the Dental Assisting training program, you are required to complete a 180-hour externship program at a local dental office (depending on campus).

Dental Assisting Program Length

40 weeks or 10 months

In as little as 10 months, you can get started on a rewarding career as a Dental Assistant. Charter College starts classes every five weeks providing unparalleled flexibility, and our unique learning approach helps you to graduate on time.

Dental Assisting Blended Learning Delivery Method

The Certificate in Dental Assisting program is available in a blended learning format. The combination of classroom and online learning gives you the flexibility to balance your classwork with family, work, and other commitments.

Dental Assisting Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this Dental Assisting program, you will be able to:

Perform the clinical skills, diagnostic procedures, and appropriate operational functions of dental assisting as defined by state and local regulations and/or licensure requirements
Understand environmental issues, including bloodborne pathogens, as they relate to infection control and dentistry
Demonstrate skills and attitudes that contribute to safe working conditions in the dental office
Expose, process, mount, and evaluate diagnostic radiographs
Understand the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior necessary to perform as a competent entry level dental assistant in a variety of settings
Identify and describe the legal and ethical standards, guidelines, and regulations pertinent to the dental field and dental assisting
Demonstrate the importance of professionalism, communication, and collaboration skills in the professional setting
Perform appropriate administrative tasks effectively

Prepare for Entry-Level Dental Assistant Careers

The Certificate in Dental Assisting program prepares you to handle the duties and requirements of entry-level Dental Assistant positions. You can seek employment in dental offices, dental laboratories, or dental support organizations.

Charter College Campuses that Offer Dental Assistant Training

The Certificate in Dental Assisting program is available at Charter College in Canyon Country, Lancaster, and Oxnard, CA. It’s also available in Pasco, Fife, and Vancouver, WA.

No High School Diploma? No Problem.