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Certificate: Dental Assisting
Certificate: Dental Assisting
at Portland Community College
Portland Catalog
Dental assistants provide both technical and communication skills to assist the dentist. Sometimes dental assistants work independently to serve patients. With an onsite community clinic, additional off-campus sites, and a wealth of college resources, Portland Community College’s Dental Assisting program offers a strong foundation that enables quick entry into a high-demand field. In just nine months, you can begin a rewarding career in which you care for the dental health of thousands of people. PCC dental assisting graduates are in high demand.
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Costs
Takes
Example Career
Dental Assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Showing wage data for:
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$47,100
$60,050
$72,390
$22.64
$28.87
$34.81
Admissions
- This program admits up to 45 students each year on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Priority for the First 45 Students: The first 45 students who submit their applications with all the required prerequisite courses complete by the end of spring term 2024 and who meet the listed admissions requirements will be guaranteed a seat in the program.
- Waitlist for Applications Submitted after the Initial 45: Any applications received after the initial 45 complete applications will be placed on a waitlist. The order in which they are received will determine their place on the waitlist.
- Incomplete Applications: An application is deemed incomplete if an applicant has courses in- progress during Summer 2024. If an application is incomplete, it will still be considered, but it will be placed lower on the waitlist. In-progress courses must be complete by the start of the Fall 2024 term.
- Duplicate Applications: If a student submits multiple applications, the most recent application submitted will be considered the official application, and the most recent date and time will determine the student's place in the queue.