Dental Assisting

This one-year certificate program prepares graduates for employment in the dental setting with an emphasis on current concepts of clinical chairside assisting. A dental assistant may serve as a clinical chairside assistant, receptionist, office manager, or laboratory technician. The Dental Assisting Program inspires confidence by combining relevant instruction in a learning environment.

Why Choose the Dental Assistant Program at UCC?

• Innovative, state-of-the-art dental lab
• Career ready for a job in high-demand in less than 1 year
• Hands-on skills practice combined with classroom instruction
• Nationally accredited program by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• Program includes 300-hour intern experience in a local dental office

"The clinic is beautiful and I love how everything is state-of-the-art. My favorite part was the volunteer hours where I got to build relationships with dentists and specialists. I had a job as soon as I graduated." - Mikayla Cooper, UCC alum

Program Outcomes

UCC’s Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation, in association with the US Department of Education and the Dental Assisting National Board. The program prepares the assistant for licensing exams including the Radiation Health and Safety Exam and the Certified Dental Assistant exam.

After completion of the program and upon receipt of the Radiology Proficiency Certificate students will be eligible to receive their EFDA and EFODA certifications.

Students who successfully complete the Dental Assisting certificate will:

• Demonstrate knowledge and skills required to perform a variety of chairside skills during comprehensive patient care and treatment
• Apply infection control procedures
• Recognize and respond to medical emergencies in the dental setting
• Practice appropriate communication skills to establish professional working relationships in a team-centered dental office environment
• Demonstrate safe working habits with the knowledge in Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication Standard
• Demonstrate ethical conduct, moral attitudes and principles essential for maintaining trust of professional associates, the support of the community, and the confidence of the patient.
• Be prepared to sit for the required state and national licensure exams.

Umpqua Community College’s Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). View or download this document for more about CODA.

Ready to get started?

Step 1

Fill out our request info form. This will alert us that you are interested in the Dental Assisting program.

Step 2

If you are new to UCC (you've never taken a class), apply to UCC. Otherwise, move to the next step.

Step 3

If you are a new student, attend New Student Orientation and take any needed placement tests.

Step 4 

Reach out to Tamara Loosli at 541-440-4710 about the separate Dental Assisting Application.

Program Publications

Contact

Tamara Loosli - Contact
Associate Professor, Dental Assisting
Phone: 541-440-4710

 Learn more how Dental Assisting Program prepares you to be career-ready in just one year

 Watch the CTE Month video

Hands-on experience and support in our local community

Licensure and State Reciprocity

Before enrolling in the Dental Assisting program, students should consider whether the license they need to obtain to work, will be valid outside the state of Oregon. Use this table to determine state to state licensure.