About our Program
The Amarillo College Dental Assisting Program provides education and training needed to work as a chairside dental assistant. The program is designed to be completed in 1 year and provides the student with 300 hours of clinical education prior to graduation. The Dental Assisting Program is located at the Amarillo West Campus. Amarillo College students spend their lecture, lab simulation, and pre-clinical portion of their education in a state-of-the art facility with advanced technology.
The Dental Assistant is a valuable member of the dental healthcare team. Amarillo College supports the integrity of the profession by educating students to demonstrate professional behaviors, critically think, analyze, and make sound decisions, as well as, utilize effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
The Amarillo College Dental Assisting Program offers the following:
- 900 hour curriculum; 9 month program
- 300 hours of the curriculum are spent with hands-on-training in the dental facility PRIOR to graduation
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from Amarillo College
- 40 college credit hours earned
- Financial Aid eligibility to those who qualify
- Free tutoring
- Lab and Pre-Clinical simulation in the state-of-the-art facility with advanced technology
- Eligibility to earn the national Certified Dental Assistant credential through the Dental Assisting National Board
- Eligibility to earn the state of Texas Registered Dental Assistant credential
Program Cost
Amarillo College Tuition and Fees Schedule
http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=18&navoid=824
Additional Supply and Equipment Cost
Students accepted into the Amarillo College Dental Assisting Program will have both lab and pre-clinical simulations to enhance their education. Our teams work diligently with dental suppliers to determine the necessary amount of supplies needed at minimum cost. In an effort to help applicants prepare for their education we make students aware of the expected cost by providing a student supply list with cost at orientation. Currently, the cost of supplies and equipment is estimated at $2,000. This includes their dental supply kit, uniforms, and the cost licensure exams and registration. This does not include cost of tuition and college fees, textbooks, or living expenses.
Essential Abilities of a Dental Assistant
In addition to the academic requirements for acceptance into the Dental Assisting program, the following are essential abilities expected of all students:
- Students must demonstrate professional, ethical, legal, and moral attitude and behavior.
- Students must have visual and perceptual abilities sufficient to observe patients, oral conditions, and assessments.
- Students must have high degree of hand-eye coordination.
- Students must have fine motor skills sufficient to lift and operate equipment and provide safe patient care.
- Students must have the auditory ability and other sensory skills sufficient to monitor and assess the health needs os a patient and ensure patient safety.
- Students must have the physical endurance and range of motion that allows them to sit, stand, and move for long periods of time.
- Students must have interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills that allow them to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
The Dental Assisting Program provides the entry level skills needed to work as a chair-side assistant in a dental office. Additional education is given which exposes the student to the skills needed to work in other positions in the dental setting, including the front office duties. The program is designed to be completed in one year. Amarillo College will award a TASP waived certificate.
Classes and laboratory sessions in Dental Assisting are held at the West Campus of Amarillo College. Related required courses are conducted at the Washington Street Campus. Students will spend 20% of their time in dental offices within the community.
Entry into the program is not automatic. There are more applicants than positions available. Take the time to read all the contents on this web site and fulfill all the requirements of the application. This is your responsibility.
Accreditation
The Amarillo College Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) under the followong status: "approval without reporting requirements". The next site visit for the program is scheduled for 2022.
Contact the Commission on Dental Accreditation
Mailing Address:
Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
800-621-8099 or 312-440-4653
