Receive the foundational education required for an entry-level position in the fast-growing health care field of clinical dental assisting.

  • Academic Division: Career & Technical Education
  • Program Type: Academic Certificate
  • Campus: Cumberland
  • Career Interest: Biology & Medicine, Health & Wellbeing
  • Time Commitment: One-year
  • Special Categories: Selective Admissions
  • Financial Aid Eligible
  • Accreditation: CODA, MSCHE
  • CIP Code 51.0601

Program Learning Outcomes

This Academic Certificate prepares students for an entry-level position in one of the fastest growing health care fields with a curriculum introducing them to the profession of dentistry. They will learn all areas of clinical dental assisting and receive training in the professional skills required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. Through lecture and laboratory sessions, they learn the roles and responsibilities of the dental assistant. Skill development includes policies and guidelines, oral and dental anatomy, infection control, dental radiology, instrument identification and use, and expanded functions. Students must obtain a minimum grade of ‘C' in all Dental courses.

This program prepares students to sit for the three components of the Dental Assisting National Board Exams (DANB) which are the three components of the nationally recognized Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification including:

  1. Radiation and Safety Examination (RHS)
  2. Infection Control (ICE)
  3. General Chairside (GC)

The DANB exams are administered at Pearson Vue Centers and are not included as part of the cost of this program. In addition to the CDA certification, students will be eligible to apply for their New Jersey Dental Radiology Technologist licensure, and expanded functions licensure in the State of New Jersey as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).

Dental Assisting Academic Certificate

Enrollment Instructions

Selective admissions describes programs in which the applicant must meet additional admissions criteria. After completing the general RCSJ application and being accepted to the College, the applicant must submit a separate application (portfolio) for their program of choice. Each program accepts one cohort of students per academic year. Click the link to review the selective admissions requirements for this program.

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