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Dental Assisting

Our program, which includes 150 externship hours at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and surrounding dental businesses, will thoroughly prepare each individual to enter the dental field. The program is designed to provide the clinical and administrative skills necessary to enter the dental field or become a Certified Dental Assistant.

Dental Training

Students will complete the dental assisting program in nine (9) months. During the program, students will study dental anatomy, preventative dentistry, radiology, and more. Our goal is to challenge each student to be the most well-rounded candidate possible.

The Dental Assisting program prepares students to take the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Exam offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT) as well as the Dental Assistant Radiographer exam through the Ohio State Dental Board.

Planning a Career in Dentistry

A career as a dental assistant comes with some unexpected benefits. The versatile work environment will be filled with new challenges on a daily basis, including maintaining patient records and assisting the dentist during procedures and examinations. This keeps every day interesting and continues the education process while working with dentists, surgeons, and other professionals. In combination with the hands-on learning, the rewarding feeling of helping others is an advantage that keeps employees motivated. Furthermore, this role is often the start of a lengthy career that includes promotions and job growth.

Explore the application process to find out how to get started on your next career path.

What You’ll Learn

Preventative Dentistry
Basic Chair-side Procedures
Specialty Chair-side Procedures
Basic Laboratory Skills
Advanced Laboratory Skills

Radiology
First Aid/CPR
Dental Office Procedures
Job Development

Check out full curriculum here

Certifications

Students have the opportunity to earn the following industry-recognized credentials:

Registered Dental Assistant - American Medical Technologist
Dental Assistant Radiographer - Ohio State Dental Board
Healthcare Provider Certification (CPR/AED) - American Heart Association
HIPAA
OSHA - Bloodborne Pathogens
National Career Readiness - ACT

Program Costs*

Tuition/Fees: $11,992

Cost Per Clock Hour - $13.32

Books/Supplies: $533

* Costs are subject to change for 2023-24 school year.

Technology Requirements

All necessary technology is provided to students in each classroom and lab during normal class hours. Students who wish to access school email or Canvas (our learning management system) outside of normal class hours will need access to the internet and a personal device.

Please see the book ISBN and price information guide for more details.

Admission's Requirements

Age 18 or older

High School Diploma or GED

Background Check

Health Record Requirements

Students must provide proof of the following immunizations at their enrollment appointment:

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) - must have received 2 vaccines
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Tetanus or Tdap - vaccine must not be older than 10 years or expire during enrollment
Hepatitis B titer test - indicating immunity

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening

Students must receive a 1-Step Mantoux Tuberculin skin test. The injection and reading must be documented by the healthcare professional providing the service. If you have tested positive in the past, a chest x-ray will need to be completed with negative results documented by the healthcare professional providing the service.

ALL TB screening documentation must be submitted to Student Services PRIOR to attending new student orientation.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccination

Students must receive the flu shot and provide proof of the immunization to Student Services by the instructor-provided deadline. This should be completed no earlier than Fall of the same enrollment year, so as to receive the newest available vaccination.

WorkKeys® Assessment

The WorkKeys® Assessment is administered as part of the registration process. Students will complete the following sections:

Applied Math - critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving techniques.

Graphic Literacy - skills needed to locate and use information from charts, diagrams, etc.

Workplace Documents - ability to understand written text to complete a task.

Each assessment is scored individually on a possible range of <3 - 7.

Section	Required Scores
Applied Math	3
Graphic Literacy	3
Workplace Documents	3

Students are scheduled an appointment to complete the WorkKeys® Assessment upon submission of the Adult Learner Registration Form and $75 non-refundable registration fee. Learn more about how the ACT® WorkKeys® Assessment can work for you.