Dental Assisting
Department of Dental and Imaging Technology: (361) 698-2858
The Dental Assisting program trains the student in all phases of dental assisting and was established under the guidelines of the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association in cooperation with the Nueces Valley District Dental Society.
A Dental Programs Advisory Committee assists College officials in the implementation of the curriculum under the standards established by the Commission.
The program is offered in cooperation with local dental offices. These offices provide clinical education in association with the Joint Review Committee and the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting courses, the student will earn a Certificate of Achievement and is eligible to take the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination given by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam administered by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). To earn an associate degree, the student must complete the additional education requirements.
In addition to the admission requirements of the College, applicants must submit the following to the Dental Assisting Program office before July 01 of the year admission is desired:
- A Dental Assisting data sheet
- Official high school or GED transcripts
- Official college transcripts, if applicable
- Unofficial ACT, SAT, or TSI college entrance examination scores
- Copies of all required immunization records
- Copy of confirmation page for PreCheck, Inc background check and drug screening
This selection criteria is weighted to arrive at a score for each applicant. A selection committee, consisting of the program director, representatives of the program faculty, general education faculty, and counseling staff will meet to select the next class. All applicants will be notified by e-mail of the selection committee’s decisions. Applicants not selected are advised to contact Del Mar College’s Student Enrollment Center or Dental Assisting Program Director for advice concerning their academic goals.
Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon a satisfactory background check and drug screening.
Note: The student must pass a background check and drug screening, at student's expense, for security clearance and continued enrollment in the program. If admitted into the program, the student must also attend a mandatory orientation scheduled prior to the first day of class. On the day of orientation, the student must submit proof of physical, visual, and dental examinations.