Dental Assisting, Full-time/Part-time, CoA

Program Code: Dental Assisting-CoA

Note: This degree/certificate leads to professional licensure. Licensing requirements vary by state/territory and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. Please visit our Professional Licensure Programs page for full details on State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.

Program Description

The TMCC Dental Assisting Program is a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) approved one-year (three semester) Certificate of Achievement program of classroom/laboratory instruction and clinical experience. The TMCC DA program prepares students to work as a clinical dental assistant and to take the nationally recognized Certified Dental Assisting board examination.

Accreditation information is available on the Dental Assisting Website

Dental Assisting Career Map

Recommended Course Schedule

All certificate courses are to be taken in the sequence indicated. A grade of 75% or better is required in all certificate courses. Contact program coordinator for details.

Full-time

Plan of Study Grid
1st semesterUnits
These General Education courses are required to be completed and can be taken before, during or after the dental core courses.
English 2 3
Communications 2 3
 Semester Total6
2nd semester
DA 110 Orientation to Dental Assisting 2
DA 111 Dental Radiography I 3
DA 112 Dental/Head and Neck Anatomy 3
DA 115 Dental Health Education 1
DA 116 Preclinical Dental Science 1.5
DA 117 Dental Materials and Techniques I 2
DA 119 Dental Chairside Procedures 5
 Semester Total17.5
3rd semester
DA 121 Dental Radiography II 2
DA 122 Clinical Dental Science 2
DA 123 Practice Management and Procedures 2
DA 125 Supervised Clinical I 5
DA 127 Dental Materials and Lab Techniques II 2
 Semester Total13
4th semester
IMPORTANT: This is a Summer semester. The courses are only taught in summer.
DA 135 Supervised Clinical II 5
DA 137 Specialized Dental Assisting 1
 Semester Total6
 Total Units42.5

Part-time

Plan of Study Grid
1st semesterUnits
These General Education courses are required to be completed and can be taken before, during or after the dental core courses.
Communications 3
English 3
DA 110 Orientation to Dental Assisting 2
DA 112 Dental/Head and Neck Anatomy (Certificate - Level I - Fall) 3
DA 116 Preclinical Dental Science (Certificate - Level I - Fall) 1.5
 Semester Total12.5
2nd semester
DA 122 Clinical Dental Science (Certificate - Level II - Spring) 2
DA 123 Practice Management and Procedures (Certificate - Level II - Spring) 2
 Semester Total4
3rd semester
DA 111 Dental Radiography I (Certificate - Level III - Fall) 3
DA 115 Dental Health Education (Certificate - Level III - Fall) 1
DA 117 Dental Materials and Techniques I (Certificate - Level III - Fall) 2
DA 119 Dental Chairside Procedures (Certificate - Level III - Fall) 5
 Semester Total11
4th semester
DA 121 Dental Radiography II (Certificate - Level IV - Spring) 2
DA 125 Supervised Clinical I (Certificate - Level IV - Spring) 5
DA 127 Dental Materials and Lab Techniques II (Certificate - Level IV - Spring) 2
 Semester Total9
5th semester
IMPORTANT: This is a Summer semester. The courses are only taught in summer.
DA 135 Supervised Clinical II (Certificate - Level V - Summer) 5
DA 137 Specialized Dental Assisting (Certificate - Level V - Summer) 1
 Semester Total6
 Total Units42.5
2

See program recommendations or requirements. 

Special Admission Requirements and Procedures

For program application and admission information, please visit the Dental Assisting Program Admission Procedures page.

Program completion time varies and depends on number of units taken per semester. Please contact the program coordinator at 775-673-7125 for more information.

The Dental Assisting Program offers a:

  • Certificate of Achievement – Can be completed in 10-12 months, see certificate worksheet.
  • Associate of Applied Science – Can be completed in 2 years, see degree worksheet.

Admission to the dental assisting AAS degree program and the certificate program is limited with special requirements and procedures.

Student progression in the program is contingent upon attaining a grade of “C” or better in all dental assisting curriculum. Courses are to be taken in the sequence outlined on the worksheet.

For additional program information please contact the program coordinator at 775-673-7125, or visit the Dental Assisting Program web site.

Program Requirements

Certificates of Achievement are a set of courses that can serve as a stepping stone to an associate degree or allow students to enter the workforce.  Certificates of Achievement have a general education component.

To earn a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

  1. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (see requirements for graduation.)
  2. Complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours within the college.
  3. Satisfy General Education requirements for the Certificate of Achievement.
  4. Have no financial or library obligation to the college.
General Education Requirements
English3
Required:
Composition I 1
Composition Enhanced
Composition I for International and Multilingual Students
Communications3
Required:
Fundamentals of Speech Communications (This is the preferred communication course for the interpersonal aspect.)
or
Composition II
Composition II For International and Multilingual Students
Human Relations[3]
satisfied through embedded curriculum in the following: DA 110, DA 112, DA 125
Mathematics[3]
Mathematics requirement is satisfied through embedded curriculum in the following: DA 111, DA 117, DA 119 DA 121, DA 123, DA 127.
Certificate Requirements
DA 110Orientation to Dental Assisting2
DA 111Dental Radiography I3
DA 112Dental/Head and Neck Anatomy3
DA 115Dental Health Education1
DA 116Preclinical Dental Science1.5
DA 117Dental Materials and Techniques I2
DA 119Dental Chairside Procedures5
DA 121Dental Radiography II2
DA 122Clinical Dental Science2
DA 123Practice Management and Procedures2
DA 125Supervised Clinical I5
DA 127Dental Materials and Lab Techniques II2
DA 135Supervised Clinical II5
DA 137Specialized Dental Assisting1
Total Units42.5
1

It is recommended that the following courses be taken prior to entering the Dental Assisting Program. "C" or better required. 

Program Outcomes

Students completing the certificate will:

PSLO1: Perform basic side chair functions to facilitate completion of restorative and advanced operative procedures as allowed by the state dental act.

PSLO2: Demonstrate knowledge of radiation safety and proficiency in exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs.

PSLO3: Demonstrate knowledge of infection and hazard control in the lab/workplace.

PSLO4: Perform basic office procedures necessary to assist in managing the dental practice.