Dental Assisting

Obtain national certification as a dental assistant!

The Dental Assisting program at Bates Technical College prepares students for a rewarding career in a high demand profession in the field of dentistry. If you enjoy working with people, dental assisting could be an excellent career choice for you.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and combines study in the classroom, lab and clinical internships.  During the 11-month program, students gain valuable skills and knowledge employers are looking for in the dental assistant. Students take the Dental Assisting National Board exam throughout the program to obtain national certification as a dental assistant.

Job opportunities in the field are excellent. Whether you want to work in general dentistry, or any one of the dental specialties, there is a high demand for qualified dental assistants.

Contact Information:

Enrollment Services

Downtown Campus

7:30AM - 4:00PM

Program Affiliations:

More about the program:

Students prepare for careers as chair side dental assistants, dental office managers, and infection control specialists. The program is designed in accordance with American Dental Association guidelines and is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. After completing industry-specific competencies, students may take the Dental Assisting national board examination to earn nationally recognized credentials as a certified dental assistant. Note:  General education requirements must be taken 1) prior to entering the program or, 2) before or after the regularly schedule dental assisting coursework.

Degrees & Certificates:

  • Associate of Applied Science: Dental Assisting
  • CIP: 51.0601

Program Lengths:

  • AAS degree program length: 4 Quarters

Faculty and Other Contact Information:

Teri Amundsen

253-680-7309

tamundsen@batestech.edu

Patricia Reno

253-680-7307

preno@batestech.edu

Note: Information is accurate as of its original posting date. The college reserves the right to edit, change, or update information as needed throughout the year. Up-to-date information is available in Student Services.

Prerequisites:

  1. High School diploma or GED
  2. Minimum age for program entry: 18 years of age
  3. Pass a clear national and Washington state background check.  The background check must be completed prior to registering and paying the $50 college registration fee.  

Order your background check at http://www.the-audi-group.com/?page_id=1046.

  1. Documentary evidence of current immunizations and dental evaluation within two weeks of program start date.
  2. Documentary evidence of current American Heart Association, Health Care Provider approved CPR card within two weeks of program start date.
  3. Meet with a Dental Assisting faculty member to receive program-specific required information

Tuition and Fees

At Bates, our tuition is affordable and there are options to help make it even easier to gain an education. Federal aid is available for many of our students. Scholarships are also available through the Bates Foundation.

See if you qualify for other funding through our special funding programs with the Workforce Education office.

  • National Median Salary: $48,050
  • National Potential Annual Job Openings: 100,000

This information is based on data from O*Net, captured on January 2023.

Accreditation

The BTC Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the status of Accreditation without reporting requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4625 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Program Outcomes

  1. Provide patient oral health instruction
  2. Perform clinical supportive treatments
  3. Model professional behaviors, ethics and appearance
  4. Apply infection control and safety guidelines in the dental setting
  5. Collect diagnostic treatment data
  6. Perform dental laboratory procedures

Learn more about this program's Advisory Committee.