Dental Assisting, A.A.S.

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IMPORTANT: Students are required to submit an application and schedule an appointment with a Dental Assisting Program faculty member for academic advisement.

The Dental Assisting Program is a Fall-entry only program with limited enrollment.

The mission of the program is to provide for and support competency-based learning for a multicultural community. As one of nine accredited Dental Assisting Programs in Texas, the program is committed to excellence in helping to meet the diverse needs of both traditional and nontraditional students. The program seeks to provide each student with the essential knowledge and skills necessary to become a functional dental team member and meet the requirements of the national examining entity.

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of San Antonio College, students desiring admission into Dental Assisting program courses must submit all of the following for Fall admission:

• A complete Dental Assisting Program application to the program office.
• Written proof of an advisement appointment with a member of the program faculty.
• An application for formal admission to San Antonio College. (See section two of this bulletin.)
• Proof of meeting the program’s entry-level competencies which are MATH 0300, ENGL 0301, and READ 0303. This can be accomplished by scoring appropriately on the Accuplacer test or taking and passing the courses.

Students entering the Dental Assisting Program will receive notification from the program office by mail and must attend the orientation meeting in the Summer prior to enrollment in classes. New Dental Assisting Program students must submit the following by July 30: a completed program health assessment policy packet which includes a completed updated immunization record including hepatitis B series; PPD/TB; TD; MMR; IPV; DPT and Varicella a current dental examination with interproximal radiographs; and a dental prophylaxis.

Applications that include all the requested information will be considered complete. Only completed applications are reviewed. Applications and forms needed for admission to the Dental Assisting Program are available in the Allied Health Department (NAHC 134).

Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in each course required in the AAS Degree or Certificate in Dental Assisting curricula.

APPROVED Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Site for the Registered Dental Assistant Course (RDA).

San Antonio College is an APPROVED Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Site for the Registered Dental Assistant Course (RDA). The RDA course is offered through the Continuing Education Department to anyone interested in obtaining their RDA. The comprehensive twelve hour course includes infection control, radiology and jurisprudence. This course offers individuals the opportunity to learn new information and review information which was already learned at an appropriate pace.

Dental Assisting students are responsible for application fees required for the TSBDE Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) registration. Students are also responsible for taking the TSBDE nitrous oxide monitoring examination and CPR.

Upon being awarded a degree or certificate, the graduate is eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board certification (DANB) exam. If the examination is passed, the graduate will become a certified dental assistant (CDA).

The Dental Assisting Program also offers a Tech Prep Program degree that consists of a combination of San Antonio College courses and training courses offered by the U.S. Navy. For more information about this degree, contact the Dental Assisting Program at (210) 486-1502.

NOTE: Should a student withdraw, fail, or drop, for whatever reason, he/she is readmitted on a space available basis.

Related Degrees and Certificates:

Dental Assisting, Level I Certificate 

Communications in Dental Assisting Enhanced Skills Certificate 

Associate of Applied Science Degree Plan

Degree Requirements (Total Credit Hours 63)