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Program Details
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Program Details

Certificate in Dental Assisting

Certificate
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

This program is included in: G3

Students learn the skills and knowledge to work as dental assistants. Students who complete the program may take the licensure exam.

Outcomes

(l) To prepare students to perform the following services under supervision of a dentist: chairside assistance, including preparation of impression and restorative materials; exposing and processing intraoral or extraoral dental radiographs; laboratory and office management procedures; dental health education; recognition of emergencies; and patient care as authorized by the Virginia Board of Dentistry. (2) To qualify students for the Dental Assisting National Board Certification Examination.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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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 Students in this program will meet the college's computer competency requirement by successfully completing ITE 115 or CSC 155. Students can also meet this requirement by passing the college's computer competency exam, administered in the testing centers on each campus, in which case they will receive college credit for ITE 115 or CSC 155. Available completely online.
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

PROGRAM NOTES: This program accepts new students in the spring and fall semesters of each year. Students admitted to Dental Assisting will be approved for entry into major/clinical courses (DNA 100 and higher) when they have satisfied the following requirements: 1. All applicants will need to complete the general education prerequisites (SDV 101, ENG 111, PSY 230, ITE 115 and HLT 105) included in the Health Science I Career Studies Certificate. General education courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. 2. College students transferring in all general education course requirements need to contact the program head for information. Students transferring in a partial number of courses must complete relevant components of the Health Science I CSC to ensure all prerequisites are met. 3. The Dental Assisting Certificate program has two program starts during the year, one in the spring semester and one in the fall semester. Students wishing to enter the Dental Assisting Certificate program must have Health Science I CSC courses completed prior to the semester they plan to enroll. 4. After completing Health Science I CSC courses, students will need to interview with the program head to be eligible to enter the Dental Assisting Certificate. Enrollment in the Dental Assisting program is limited, so contact with the program head is imperative. Students enrolling in a fall semester should have the interview completed by the end of June. Students enrolling in a spring semester should have the interview completed by the end of September. 5. A completed Student Health Form must be submitted prior to registering for the first semester of courses. This form will be obtained during the interview with the program head.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

Requires pre-requisite courses to be completed before DNA program entry such as ENG 111, ITE 115, HLT 105, PSY 230 and SDV 101(Intro to Health Sciences).

  • 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 J Sargeant Reynolds Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses PSY 200 is not accepted for this program.
Doing More With Your Degree Prepares for jobs such as Certified Dental Assistant (CDA); Certified Registered Dental Assistant; Dental Assistant (DA); Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA); Expanded Function Dental Assistant; Oral Surgery Assistant; Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant); Orthodontic Technician; Registered Dental Assistant (RDA); and Surgical Dental Assistant.
Program Successes & Highlights We have partnership with Virginia Family Dentistry and various dental private offices in Virginia for On Site experiences and future job opportunities.
Program Credit Requirements
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The table below provides the requirements to complete this program. 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 should consult an advisor or counselor to find courses you can take at your current institution that will transfer to this degree.

Please note that some courses may count towards more than one requirement such as meeting a general education requirement and a major specific requirement. The course will be listed under the first matching requirement. Please contact the institution with questions.

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
Certificate in Dental Assisting
44
Certificate in Dental Assisting
44
Course Grad Req 120
44
Dental Assisting 120
44
SDV 101
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
HLT 105
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ITE 152
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 230
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 100
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 103
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 109
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 190
2
Earn 2 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 134
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 196
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
DNA 130
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 Not Required
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School
Credit for Prior Learning Prior learning is considered
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: J Sargeant Reynolds 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
916
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
100% of students who have earned an American high school diploma or completed a GED or equivalency.
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? https://issuu.com/reynoldscommunitycollege/docs/digital_hs_recruitment_packet?fr=sZmMwOTQ3OTA5NA
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Not Required
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays VCCS degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to most efficiently transfer your current course work. So, you can use this list to find a degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

If you are interested in transferring to a four-year degree view this degree on the Transfer Virginia site to explore degrees aligned with this program at Virginia's 4-year institutions.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Northern Virginia Community CollegeDental Hygiene, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
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 44 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 Certificate in Dental Assisting at J Sargeant Reynolds 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 $163 Per Credit $7,172 $0 $7,172
Fees
Additional Fees $0 Per Semester $0 0 $0 Additional fees per semester of $8.50 for In-State and $32.00 for Out-of-State students.
*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.
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