The one-semester Dental Assisting Certificate program prepares graduates to perform a wide range of patient care duties in the dental office. Dental assistants support dentists by obtaining necessary health history information, maintaining patient comfort during examinations, providing necessary instruments and materials to the dentist during procedures, taking radiographs, and casting impressions. The dental assistant manages a variety of office-related duties including scheduling and confirming appointments, updating patient records, generating bills, following third-party payments, and ordering supplies and materials.
Graduates will be eligible to apply for a dental assisting license in the state of Massachusetts. Graduates can then go on and become Certified Dental Assistants by taking the Dental Assistant National Board exam, Pathway II after fulfilling the requirement hours in the field.
The Admissions Office and the Dental Assisting Coordinator will share up-to-date information about the program and answer questions about the curriculum, program expectations, support services, and the admissions process. Attendance at an information session within one year of application is required for all applicants to the Dental Assisting program.
Info Sessions are held virtually via Zoom throughout the year. Please register for an upcoming session below:
Dental Assisting applicants must submit the following materials to the Admissions Office to qualify for admission.
Your application will be considered incomplete until all materials are received. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All admissions materials must be sent directly to admissions@gt5cheats.com
The Dental Assisting program is offered each semester and is limited to 12 students per enrollment cycle. Students who are accepted and meet the minimum course prerequisites are eligible to register. Due to limited space, acceptance to the program does not guarantee a seat in the program for a given semester.
Applicants must possess a minimum of college-level reading (ENL108: Critical Reading & Thinking or ESL201) or meet satisfactory placement on the Accuplacer exam at the Testing Center.
The mission of the Dental Assisting Program is to guide selected individuals through an educational experience to become personally, professionally, and socially effective dental assistants.
Upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting Certificate program, graduates will be prepared to:
1. Practice and apply safe and aseptic delivery of patient care.
2. Communicate effectively with patients and health care professionals in coordinating and providing patient care including the use of technology and practice management techniques.
3. Utilize critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills in the provision of evidence-based practice, under the direction and supervision of the dentist.
4. Apply the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) Code of Professional Conduct in all endeavors and conduct themselves with the highest levels of professionalism, ethics and personal integrity.
5. Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care.
6. Provide care to all patients using an individualized approach that is culturally sensitive, compassionate, and patient-centered.
7. Internalize the value of lifelong learning and understand the importance of remaining current as the dental health care delivery system and technology change.
8. Participate in preventive dental care and support oral health.
a. All applicants and students must possess computer skills for student success.
b. All applicants and students must possess the manual dexterity and visual capacity to perform all required technical procedures and properly manipulate materials and dental instruments.
c. Students must be able to communicate in an effectual manner. Students will be required to read and comprehend technical material, as well as write technical reports in a clear and concise manner.
d. All students must be able to verbally communicate effectively, and respectfully with patients, co-workers, and other dental personnel.
Each applicant needs to assess his/her own ability to meet the above technical standards.
Students must achieve a minimum score of 75% final average and must be in attendance 90% of the lab sessions (unless there is an excused absence) to be eligible to register for their externships and to sit for their final exams.
Location: Nickerson Administration Building, Ground Floor
Office Hours: On-Campus: Monday-Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm
Text or Call: 774.330.4311
E-mail: admissions@gt5cheats.com
Fax: 508.375.4089
Don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly Admissions team for any questions or assistance you need. We look forward to hearing from you!