Dental Assisting, Full-time/Part-time, 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
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
| 1st semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Total | 6 | |
| 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 Total | 17.5 | |
| 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 Total | 13 | |
| 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 Total | 6 | |
| Total Units | 42.5 | |
Part-time
| 1st semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Total | 12.5 | |
| 2nd semester | ||
| DA 122 | Clinical Dental Science (Certificate - Level II - Spring) | 2 |
| DA 123 | Practice Management and Procedures (Certificate - Level II - Spring) | 2 |
| Semester Total | 4 | |
| 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 Total | 11 | |
| 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 Total | 9 | |
| 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 Total | 6 | |
| Total Units | 42.5 | |
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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:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (see requirements for graduation.)
- Complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours within the college.
- Satisfy General Education requirements for the Certificate of Achievement.
- Have no financial or library obligation to the college.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| English | 3 | |
| Required: | ||
| Composition I 1 | ||
or ENG 100 | Composition Enhanced | |
or ENG 113 | Composition I for International and Multilingual Students | |
| Communications | 3 | |
| Required: | ||
| Fundamentals of Speech Communications (This is the preferred communication course for the interpersonal aspect.) | ||
| or | ||
| Composition II | ||
or ENG 114 | Composition II For International and Multilingual Students | |
| Human Relations | [3] | |
| Mathematics | [3] | |
| Certificate Requirements | ||
| 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 |
| 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 |
| DA 135 | Supervised Clinical II | 5 |
| DA 137 | Specialized Dental Assisting | 1 |
| Total Units | 42.5 | |
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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.
