Program Objective:

The objective of the Dental Assisting program is to provide quality educational training designed to meet the current and future needs of the Dental Health Industry. To accomplish this, the following guidelines are established: assist students to choose, prepare for, enter, and be gainfully employed as Dental Assistants; offer a program which emphasizes sound fundamentals while responding to the needs of the Dental Assisting industry; provide courses to meet current and specific needs of the student and this industry.

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Health Science career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills,

Occupational Outlook

O*NET Program Detail

Curriculum Framework

Master the Dental Hygienist Exam Click Proceed then choose Career Tools|Medical/Nursing

Program Outlook:

The Dental Assisting Program provides students with the technical knowledge and skills for employment as Dental Assistants. Instruction is designed to prepare students to successfully pass the Dental Assisting National Board Examination. Instruction includes a combination of classroom theory and practical experiences through practice on patients in dental clinics. Students are eligible to join HOSA.

Program Content:

The content includes, but is not limited to, dental office and patient management, basic dental laboratory procedures, dental and general anatomy, dental terminology, nutrition, dental instrument and equipment utilization, microbiology, dental pharmacology and anesthesia, chairside assisting and expanded functions, dental office emergencies/CPR, dental radiography, maintenance and asepsis of dental operatory and instrumentation, dental specialty procedures, employability skills, leadership and human relations skills, ethics and jurisprudence, dental materials and preventive dentistry.

Length of Program:

The average length of this program is 1230 (approximately 14 months) for adult students attending part time. Actual time is dependent upon enrollment status and the length of time the student requires to achieve competencies. This program contains occupational completion points designed to prepare students for a position.

Admission Requirements:

• Students must be at least 16 years old and not attending high school
• Application
• Interview by a guidance counselor
• Fees for supplies and textbooks are required.

Entrance Dates:

This program operates on an open-entry, open-exit basis. Students may enter the program anytime during the school year. Entrance is dependent upon space availability. Call (305) 557-1100 for more information.

Graduation Requirements:

• Completion of all Occupational Completion Points (OCP’s)
• Satisfy Minimum Basic Skills Requirements
  Mathematics 10     Language 10     Reading 10
• No financial obligations
• Students must complete the Clearance packet to received to receive their program certificate

Program Cost:

• In-state residents—$2.56 per hour (Subject to change)
• Out of state resident—$10.25 per hour (Subject to change)
• $20.00 application fee
• Material fee—Varies by program
• Identification Card fee—$5.00 per trimester
• Students must purchase books/kits and/or uniforms, if applicable

Program Hours:

Monday through Thursday 4:00 pm—9:00 pm

Approximately Total Cost:

$3,846.00

Employment Requirements:

• Requirements vary per state; on-the-job training or postsecondary training in dental assisting are recommended
• Students are strongly encouraged to earn the Dental Assisting National Board Certification.

Career Opportunities:

Dental Assistant, Front Desk Receptionist, Office Manager.

Salary:

The average wage for this career in Florida is $19.79 hourly or $41,170 annually.

Job Outlook:

Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030.