My Path
>
Training
>
Dental Assisting Certificate
Dental Assisting Certificate
at Grand Rapids Community College
West Michigan Catalog
Few careers offer the diversity and flexibility that dental assisting does. There are opportunities for part-time and full-time employment as chair side, office, and laboratory work assistants. Most dental assistants work in private dental offices. Others, however, may work in dental schools, hospital dental departments, public health departments, dental laboratories, or public and private dental clinics. There are also opportunities to work in the offices of dental specialists such as pediatric dentists and orthodontists. Registered dental assistants are often in short supply, making GRCC graduates highly employable. Students can enroll in the program using one of two methods. Option A is for a student without a CDA credential. Option B is for a student with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant who has passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) and holds a current CDA credential. These students will receive college credit for the CDA credential and be granted advanced standing in the dental assisting program.
Leads to
Costs
Takes
Example Career
Dental Assistants
Showing wage data for:
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$35,470
$46,540
$61,060
$17.05
$22.38
$29.35
Admissions
OPTION A - students without a current Certified Dental Assistant credential. Fall semester, twenty-four students are admitted to the program. In order to be eligible for admission into the Dental Assisting Program, students must:
- Be admitted to Grand Rapids Community College.
- Have documentation of high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development) Test.
- Have a high school and college GPA of at least 2.3.
- Must demonstrate math, reading and writing competency all must be within the last five years. Dependent on demonstrated competencies, a reduce timeframe may apply (for specific details/scores visit the Dental Admission Requirements).
- Complete a preliminary criminal background check form and pass the background check.
- Be 18 years of age when they begin the program. OPTION B - (Advanced Standing) students with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant and also hold a current CDA credential (passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) will receive college credit for this credential and be granted advanced standing in the dental assisting program. Fall semester, twelve students are accepted in Option B.
- Be admitted to Grand Rapids Community College.
- Pass all three sections of the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB) and provide current documentation from DANB.
- Contact the Dental Auxiliary Program Director at 616-234-4240.
- Present current CPR card at the Health Care Provider Level through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Other vendors and online certification are not acceptable.
- Be employed in a dental office as a dental assistant. Students will complete clinical process evaluations and competencies under the supervision of their licensed dentist employer.
- Attend mandatory orientation sessions at the beginning of the semester in which the student starts.
- Complete Option B Student Application Packet.