Dental Assisting Public Notice: Third Party Comments
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) will conduct a site visit of Washtenaw Community College’s Dental Assisting program on September 13–14, 2023. Washtenaw Community College is calling for third party comments from interested parties on their dental assisting program.
Who can submit comments?
Third party comments relative to the CODA’s accredited programs may include comments submitted by interested parties such as faculty, students, program administrators, specialty and dental related organizations, patients and/or consumers. Comments must be signed but signatures will be removed from comments before forwarding them to the program. Comments must pertain only to the standards or policies and procedures used in the CODA accreditation process.
When are comments due?
The deadline to submit comments to CODA is Friday, July 14, 2023 (60 days prior to the site visit). Comments about the dental assisting program should be submitted to be directed to Ms. Jamie Asher Hernandez. Please refer to the CODA site for the appropriate email address.
For more information, please see the third party statement or visit the CODA website.
Certificate
This program prepares students for entry-level dental assisting positions in a variety of settings such as private dental offices, dental schools, the military, and dental insurance offices. The curriculum includes the required dental radiography courses that allow graduates to expose dental radiographs in the State of Michigan. The program also prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination, which leads to the nationally recognized status of a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). As a CDA, graduates assist in the treatment of patients. Graduates of the program are also prepared to take the Michigan State Board of Dentistry examination, which gives recognition as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). As an RDA in the State of Michigan, graduates can perform specific intra-oral functions generally performed by a dentist. The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.
This is a high demand program as defined by the Michigan Community College Network.
Students may enroll in this program in one of two pathways. Pathway I is for students with no previous dental experience. Pathway II (ADAEP) is the advanced standing option for the dental assistant with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant who has passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) CDA examination.
Pathway I
This Pathway is for the student with no previous dental experience. Students attend classes in a traditional on-campus setting blended with online components. Students should expect to complete the program in three consecutive semesters.
Pathway II (ADAEP)
This Pathway is for the dental assistant with two or more years of dental assisting experience. The applicant also must be a current Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) meaning that they have passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) CDA exam.
Applicants will receive college credit for passing the DANB CDA examination prior to entry. Students will be required to attend a mandatory two-day on-campus workshop at the beginning of the semester. They will then return to their offices to complete assigned class projects under the supervision of their licensed dentist mentor. The two will work as a team to complete clinical validations for the program. Homework, class assignments, lectures, and tests will be completed using the WCC online Blackboard system. E-mail will enable communication with the WCC course instructor. At the end of the semester, the students will be required to return to campus to complete a clinical final.
Accreditation
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The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda. |
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2023-2024 Academic Requirements
This program prepares students for dental assisting positions in a variety of settings such as private dental offices, dental schools, the military, and dental insurance offices. The curriculum includes the required dental radiography courses that allow graduates to expose dental radiographs in the State of Michigan. The program also prepares students for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination, which leads to the nationally recognized status of a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). As a CDA, graduates assist in the treatment of patients. Graduates of the program are also prepared to take the Michigan State Board of Dentistry examination, which gives recognition as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). As an RDA in the State of Michigan, graduates can perform specific intra-oral functions generally performed by a dentist. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Students may enroll in this program in one of two pathways. Pathway I is the format for the student who is not employed in a dental office. Pathway II (ADAEP) is the advanced standing option for the dental assistant with two or more years of experience as a dental assistant who has passed all three portions of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) CDA examination. These pathways are described in detail at https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/cfdac.php.
Washtenaw Community College uses a limited enrollment process for admission to this program. There are multiple requirements that must be completed prior to submitting an application for admission. For detailed information regarding admission to this health care program, please visit our Health Care website at https://www.wccnet.edu/learn/departments/alhd/. Prerequisite and program requirements along with WCC's point system and scales are reviewed annually and subject to change.
Students are expected to meet the prerequisite and program requirements of the catalog term for the semester in which they first begin the program. Details regarding WCC's admissions process and to download the application can be found on WCC's Student Welcome Center, Health and Second Tier Program, information page: https://www.wccnet.edu/start-now/degree/2nd-tier/.
Admission Requirements for Pathway I (On Campus):
Each year approximately 24 students are accepted to Pathway I for a Fall start on
a first-qualified, first-admitted basis.
1. Admission to WCC.
2. Participation in a mandatory information session. Contact Jodi Neuman at [email protected]
3. Program prerequisite courses: HSC 101 or HSC 124 with a minimum grade of C+/2.3.
Students who have completed BIO 109 or BIO 111 will have the admission requirement
for HSC 101 or HSC 124 waived.
4. Academic Reading Level of 6 (College Level).
5. Academic Writing Level of 6 (College Level).
6. Verification of high school diploma or its equivalent, or post-secondary degree.
7. 18 years of age by May 15th of the year of program completion.
8. Signed Student Competencies Form (see application packet). WCC reserves the right
to request, before or during the program, that students successfully demonstrate specific
physical and cognitive abilities related to the program.
Admission Requirements for Pathway II (ADAEP):
Each year, approximately 12 students are accepted to Pathway II for a Fall semester
start on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis.
1. Admission to WCC.
2. Contact Tina Sprague in the Dental Assisting Department at [email protected]
3. Academic Reading Level of 6 (College Level).
4. Academic Writing Level of 6 (College Level).
5. Current and valid CPR card.
6. Pass all three portions (GC, RHS and ICE) of the Dental Assisting National Board
(DANB) Certified Dental Assisting (CDA) Examination or graduate from an American Dental
Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Accredited Dental Assisting
program.
7. Students must be employed in a dental office at least 24 hours per week as a chairside
dental assistant. The participating dentist must validate the student's skills (see
the Student Agreement of Participation and Dentist Agreement of Participation forms
in the admission packet).
Continuing Eligibility for Pathway I (On Campus):
1. Complete orientation checklist within the DA Pathway I Orientation Blackboard Site
2. Students must purchase an account from a college-designated vendor to obtain a
criminal background check and submit health records to the department by the deadlines
provided at the mandatory orientation session.
3. Additional background checks may be conducted at any time during the program. Students
may be required to have drug testing as well as additional criminal background checks
and/or fingerprinting prior to the start of a clinical sequence as requested by specific
clinical facilities. Any student found to have a positive drug screen for drugs prohibited
by State of Michigan or Federal law (including marijuana) or controlled substances
will be dismissed from the program. Failure to receive an acceptable criminal background/fingerprinting
at any time, will result in dismissal from the program.
4. Students must complete any other health requirements as designated by the clinical
sites.
5. All Dental Assisting (DEN) and support courses to the program must be completed
with a minimum grade of C/2.0.
6. Students who are dismissed from the program may not be eligible to reapply to the
program.
Continuing Eligibility for Pathway II (ADAEP):
1. Complete orientation checklist within the DA Pathway II Orientation Blackboard
Site
2. Continual employment working a minimum 24 hours per week as a chairside dental
assistant during the program is required.
3. All Dental Assisting (DEN) and support courses to the program must be completed
with a minimum grade of C/2.0.
4. Students may be required to have drug testing as well as criminal background checks
and/or fingerprinting as requested by the Dental Assisting Department. Any student
found to have a positive drug screen for drugs prohibited by State of Michigan or
Federal law (including marijuana) or controlled substances will be dismissed from
the program. Failure to receive an acceptable criminal background/fingerprinting at
any time, will result in dismissal from the program.
5. Students who are dismissed from the program may not be eligible to reapply to the
program.
- Division
- Health Sciences
- Department
- Allied Health Department
- Advisors
Concentrations
Semester 1 (Fall)
Semester 2 (Winter)
Semester 3 (Spring/Summer)
- Total Credits Required
- 35
DANB Exam
First Semester
- Total Credits Required
- 35
Footnotes
Dental Assisting Certificate and Degree Completion
Students completing the Dental Assisting courses outlined above will obtain a Certificate
in Dental Assisting. Students may also complete an associate degree by using the same
core dental assisting courses in addition to completing the general education requirements
and electives for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Occupational Studies.