Dental Assisting Technical Certificate

For more information, contact the Health Sciences division at 615-230-3330.

This technical certificate program is one year (twelve months) and is composed of didactic and clinical instruction. It is designed and organized to promote the personal and professional growth of each student. The main objectives of the program are to prepare the student to function in the dental setting and to academically qualify for the Dental Assistant National Board certification examination and the Tennessee Board of Dentistry registry examination. The program in Dental Assisting is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

Students desiring entrance into the Dental Assistant program must have the following on file:

Meet admission requirements for the College based on the admission or readmission status the applicant is seeking.

1. Application to Health Sciences Careers
2. Complete documents located in the Program Information Packet
3. All students will be required to complete a criminal background check upon formal acceptance in a Health Sciences program. Please take a look at our Background Check Requirements and steps on how to get your results submitted.

This profession may expose the student to blood borne pathogens.  Therefore, the Dental Assistant Program follows all rules and regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  The student is required to be immunized against infectious diseases as required by the clinical affiliates and OSHA regulations or complete a refusal document with the guidelines of the regulations.  Clinical affiliates may refuse clinical rotation access to students who fail to obtain the required immunizations.

The application deadline is May 15. Applicants are admitted into the program each August. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early. The Dental Assistant courses begin in August and end the following August. Any questions about the program or the admissions procedure should be directed to the Program Director.

The Dental Assisting Technical Certificate is embedded within the Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences, Dental Assisting concentration and within the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science, General Studies areas of emphasis.  Courses in this certificate may be used to award these degrees.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate the basic skills to be a competent dental assistant.
2. Students will define the terminology unique to dental assisting.
3. Students will illustrate comprehension of professional, ethical standards for dental assisting.
4. Students will apply and demonstrate the basic knowledge of dental assisting in the dental setting and the career options.
5. Students will apply and demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills within the parameters of dental assisting.

CIP Code: (31) 51.0601.00    SOC Code: 31-9091.00