Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Dental Assisting, Certificate

Certificate
Northern Virginia Community College

This curriculum is designed to prepare students to perform chairside assisting, minor laboratory, and basic office procedures. Students learn the theory and skills to assist in the dental operatory through course work in the areas of chairside assisting, radiology, dental materials, dental and biomedical sciences, as well as clinical practice. Graduates can perform certain additional tasks allowing them to become productive and valued members of the dental health team. Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB). After successful completion of this examination, the credential Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) is awarded.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
Click here for details
External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

Students must:

  • Comply with all General Admission Requirements for Allied Health Programs.
  • Have a high school diploma or GED.
  • Take or place into MTH 133 or Math Unit 3 or higher.
  • Pass ENG 111, NAS 150or BIO 141andBIO 142and SDV 101 with a grade of 'B' or higher prior to admission into the program.
  • Be willing to repeat courses or to complete evaluative testing for credits earned more than ten years ago.
  • View an information session located on the Dental Assisting web site https://www.nvcc.edu/medical/divisions/allied/dental-assisting.html.

Special Accreditation Status: The Dental Assisting program maintains their status of accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Students who successfully complete the program are considered to be graduates of an accredited program for purposes of certification and regulations as set forth by state licensing boards. 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 60611-2678. The Commission's web address is: www.ada.org/100.aspx.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Infectious Diseases Statement: By nature of the profession, students accepted into the Dental Assisting program may be exposed to blood and body fluids while practicing dental skills or providing services during clinical, preclinical, and laboratory sessions. Policies and procedures have been established to ensure the working environment is safe in order to minimize disease transmission. Prospective students may request a copy of the policy on bloodborne infectious diseases by calling 703-822-6627.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Northern Virginia Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Dental Assisting, Certificate
43
Dental Assisting, Certificate
43
1200 Plan GPA/Cum GPA
43
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
AND
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 32 credits may be applied to this program.
SDV Requirement (Prerequisite)
1
SDV 100
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
ENG Requirement (Prerequisite)
3
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
All Prerequisites must be completed with a B or higher
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
BIO Requirements (Prerequisite)
4
BIO 145
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY Requirement
3
PSY 200
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
CST Requirement
3
CST 229
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA Requirements
29
Requirement Notes
Requirement Notes:
All DNA courses must be completed with a C or Higher
DNA 100
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 108
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 110
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 113
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 134
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 114
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 119
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 120
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 130
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 140
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 190
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html

Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript.
Credit for Prior Learning NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/prior-learning/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Northern Virginia Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
43891
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Dental HygieneAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Applied Science Degree in Dental HygieneAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
31-9091.00Dental AssistantsPerform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.Healthcare Support Occupations
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 43 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Dental Assisting, Certificate at Northern Virginia Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 3 semesters or 1.5 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $219 Per Credit $9,417 $0 $9,417
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.