College of Dupage

Dental Assistant

This program prepares students to take on significant responsibility as a member of a dental healthcare team. Dental Assistants work in an array of locations including dental offices, hospitals, clinics, dental schools, and professional sales. Dental Assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in delivery of quality, oral healthcare. A career in dental assisting offers many challenges and a stimulating work environment. Dental Assistant responsibilities include: assisting with and providing direct patient care, sterilizing instruments, taking impressions and performing office management tasks. Dental assisting offers flexible hours, excellent working conditions, and personal satisfaction.

The Dental Assistant program will be offered through COD’s partnership with MK Education in Downers Grove, an instructional organization dedicated to the advancement of both pharmaceutical and allied health positions. The College of DuPage has partnered with MK Education (formerly MrxI Corporation) for over ten years to create and serve the people in our community.

Study consists of 280 hours.

120 hours didactic: Classroom training meets two evenings a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the college dental hygiene lab.

Externships
Fall 2011 Externship dates are November 7 to December 2, 2011
 
Hands-on experience is an essential part of healthcare training for any specialty of healthcare, especially dental medicine. In this program, you will have the opportunity to complete 160 hours of hands-on training in a dental clinic or office.  (Facility subject to availability)

Please Note

• Externships most often take place during normal business hours.
• Successful completion of the externship is required to graduate this program.
• Externship dates will be given in the beginning of class to ensure ample time to inform employers of your training, if needed, as time off from work may be required depending on your schedule.

Fee
$2999.00 includes all textbook and material fees.

Course Prerequisites

• High school diploma or GED
• Adequate English (written & verbal skills)
• No prior criminal background

*Other requirements may be necessary (i.e. background check & drug testing)

Additional Skills Required
Because of inherent requirements of the profession, the following minimum abilities, i.e., essential functions, are expected of the student:

• Psychomotor skills (eye‐hand coordination and finger dexterity) sufficient for safe and successful practice of dental assistant duties.
• Visual acuity (normal or corrected vision) sufficient for safe and successful practice of dental assistant duties.
• Drug testing and a criminal background check may be required for employment.

Job Outlook
Salary: $27,000—$41,000/year Salary may vary depending on hours, certification, experience and location.

The job outlook for dental assistants is excellent. Employment in this field is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2016. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that it will be the third fastest growing occupation for which a degree is not required.

This program is on the College of DuPage approved list for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  For more information, call Continuing Education coordinator Gail McPike at (630) 942-2524, McPike@cod.edu; or contact Bree Abbas at MRxI Corporation, (630) 929-8604, bree@mrxicorp.com.

New for Spring 2011 Semester
To register call: (630) 942-2208

Code # HLTHS 0005 504, Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in OCC 128A, plus, Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Dental Hygiene Lab, Jan. 24 to May 9, 2012, plus externship.