Program Information

The Certificate of Completion in Dental Assistant Program consists of part-time and full-time educational tracts. The part-time tract includes fall and spring semesters and winter intersession over a two-year period. The full-time tract includes fall and spring semesters and winter intersession over a one-year period. Upon completion of the dental assistant program, the student will earn a Certificate of Completion.

Students are encouraged to take the additional requirements needed to fulfill the Associates in Science Degree (see the Riverside Community College District Catalog), the graduate will earn an Associate in Science Degree.

Each fall semester, up to 30 candidates meeting all qualification requirements will be selected for admission into the Dental Assistant Program. See Selection Process for Admission into the Dental Assistant Program for more information on this process.

 

Dental Assistant

This program prepares individuals to provide patient care, take dental radiographs (x-ray), prepare patients and equipment for dental procedures, as well as discharge office administrative functions under the supervision of dentists and dental hygienists. This includes instruction in dental record-keeping, general office duties, reception and patient intake, scheduling, equipment maintenance and sterilization, dental radiography, pre and post-operative patient care and instruction, chair-side assisting, taking tooth and mouth impressions, and supervised practice. DENTAL ASSISTANT (M) MAS621/MCE621.

 

Application to the Program

Students applying to the Dental Assistant Program must have all eligibility requirements completed at the time of application.

1. Eligibility is open to students meeting the qualification requirements.
2. Students must apply to MVC prior to applying to the Dental Assistant Program.
3. Applications will only be accepted by the Dental Assistant Program. Applications must be mailed to the Moreno Valley Campus or hand delivered to the Dental Assistant Program office.
4. Meeting minimum requirements for the program does not guarantee admission into the program.
5. Failure to meet the deadline for showing proof of a valid CPR Certification card (BLS Healthcare Provider Course), verification of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination, immunizations, and TB testing will result in forfeiting admission into the program.

Application Filing Period

• Application deadline for Part Time Spring 2012: November 1, 2011 - January 6, 2012

• Application deadline for Full Time Fall 2012: March 1, 2012 - June 1, 2012

Students will be accepted into the program in the spring semester only if there are available spaces.

 

Requirements for Eligibility

1. MVC application on file and eligibility to attend MVC
2. A qualifying first time score on the RCCD's "Ability to Benefit" test (this is part of the MVC Assessment Test)
3. Valid CPR certification (BLS Healthcare Provider)
4. Must attend a mandatory orientation session. Dates will be distributed once selected into the program
5. Pertussis vaccine

Additional General Education Requirements

1. Students accepted into the Dental Assistant Program will need to show proof of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination, immunizations, and TB testing by the start of the program.

Full-Time Students

Certificate Program
Required Courses (39 units)	Units
FALL
DEA-10 Introduction to Dental Assisting and
Chairside assisting	4
DEA-20 Infection Control for Dental Assistants	2
DEA-21 Introduction to Radiology for Dental Assistants	2
DEA-22 Introduction to Supervised Externships	1.5
DEA-23 Introduction to Dental Sciences	3
DEA-24 Dental Materials for the Dental Assistant	2
ENG-50 Or Higher +	4
WINTER
DEA-30 Intermediate Chairside Dental Assisting	2
DEA-31 Radiology for Dental Assistants	1.5
DEA-32 Intermediate Supervised Externships	1
SPRING
DEA-40A Advanced Chairside Surgical Dental Assistant	4
DEA-40B Advanced Chairside Orthodontic
Dental Assistant	3.5
DEA-40C Advanced Chairside Restorative
Dental Assistant	4.5
DEA-41 Dental Office Procedures	4

 

+ This course may be taken prior to entrance into the Dental Assistant Program.

The Associate in Science Degree in Dental Assisting will be awarded upon completion of the degree requirements, including general education and other graduation requirements as described in the college catalog.

 

Part-Time Students

Required Courses (39 units)	Units
First Fall Semester Courses
DEA-10+ Introduction to Dental Assisting & Chairside Assisting	4
DEA-20 Infection Control for Dental Assistants	2
DEA-21 Introduction to Radiology for Dental Assistants	2
ENG-50+	4
First Winter Intersession Courses
DEA-31 Radiology for Dental Assistants	1.5
First Spring Semester Courses
DEA-41 Dental Office Procedures	4
Second Fall Semester Courses
DEA-22 Introduction to Supervised Externships	1.5
DEA-23 Introduction to Dental Sciences	3
DEA-24 Dental Materials for Dental Assistants	2
Second Winter Intersession Courses
DEA-30 Intermediate Chairside Dental Assisting	2
DEA-32 Intermediate Supervised Externships	1
Second Spring Semester Courses
DEA-40A Advanced Chairside Dental Assisting in Surgery	4
DEA-40B Advanced Chairside Dental Assisting in Orthodontics	3.5
DEA-40C Advanced Chairside Dental Assisting in Restorative Dentistry	4.5

+ This course may be taken prior to entrance into the Dental Assistant Program.

Selection Process for Admission into the Dental Assistant Program

1. Preference will be given to those students meeting the RCCD and MVC residency requirements (i.e. applicants residing within the District boundaries).
2. If a student is not offered a space in the program, a new application will be necessary for the following year.
   • Up to thirty-two candidates will be randomly selected to begin the program in the fall semester.
3. The following are the priority given to those candidates meeting the minimum requirements:
   • First Priority Selection: Students meeting RCCD residency requirement and other eligibility requirements. If there are more than 30 applicants that meet these requirements, then a random drawing of 30 applicants will occur to select the 30 students for admission in to the Dental Assistant Program. An additional 30 applicants will be randomly selected to be on the waiting list for admission for that year only. They will be assigned a waiting list number according to the order they are selected.
   • Second Priority Selection: Students all eligibility requirements but not the RCCD residency requirement. This category will be used only if there are not enough applicants to fulfill the needs of the program in First Priority Category. The number of students selected from the second priority selection pool of applicants will depend on the number of applicants needed to fulfill the program and waiting-list slots.

Health and CPR Requirements

Students selected for the program will be admitted pending submission of a valid CPR Certification card (BLS Healthcare Provider Course), verification of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination, tetanus, MMR, and TB testing. The CPR card must be kept current throughout the program.

 

Dental Assistant Program Expenses/General Information:

(All expenses are approximate, not necessarily all-inclusive and are subject to change.)

1. Uniforms/scrubs/gowns: $95 for the program.
2. Books and supplies: $800 for the program.
3. Health Services fee: $14 per year.
4. Student Fees of $10 per year.
5. Enrollment fee of $36 per unit.
6. Students must have current CPR card (BLS Healthcare Provider Course).  If the CPR card expires prior to completing the program, re-certification is required. This must be a "hands-on course", online courses do not qualify.
7. Students must purchase predetermined supplies that will be disclosed at the new student orientation.
8. Malpractice insurance: $50 for two years.