Vocational Certificate Program

THE CAREER: Dental assistants are versatile members of the dental health team who work alongside the dentist. In many states, dental assistants are assigned patient care responsibilities beyond the duties traditionally performed by the dental auxiliary.

THE PROGRAM: This program provides students with the theoretical, practical and clinical skills including dental basic sciences, dental radiographic techniques, dental materials, sterilization and disease control, chairside assisting, office management, dental specialties and expanded duties. The dental assisting program has been approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry to offer certification in expanded duties and dental radiology. One class is admitted each August.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Submit the following:

1. official high school transcript/GED® test scores,
2. completion of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) with a minimum of a 10.0 score in reading, mathematics and language, and
   
3. completion of application form for dental assisting program.

Professional Courses
 

Course Number and Title	Contact Hours
*VPI 0100 Reading Skills
*VPI 0200 Mathematical Skills
*VPI 0300 Language Skills
DEA 0745 Radiology I	80
DEA 0022 Introduction to Microbiology	32
DEA 0746 Pharmacology and Dental Office Emergencies	32
DES 0103 Dental Materials	64
DES 0020 Dental and Head/Neck Anatomy	48
DEA 0023 Preclinical Procedures	112
DEA 0001 Clinical Practice I	48
HCP 0605 Health Careers Core	90
DEA 0211 Radiology II	64
DES 0044 Oral Pathology	32
DEA 0301 Dental Nutrition	16
DEA 0311 Dental Health Education	32
DEA 0801 Expanded Duties	80
DES 0501 Practice Management	32
DES 0400 Anatomy/Physiology for  Dental Assistants	32
**DEA 0029C Clinical Practice II	136
DEA 0850C Clinical Practice III	300
Total Contact Hours	1,230