DENTAL ASSISTING

The Dental Assistant program, includes and requires 180-externship hours, prepares students to assist medical professionals with dental examinations, sterilize and prepare instruments, provide coronal polish procedures, take and process X-rays, and take impressions of teeth.  

Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to seek one or more certifications like the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety Certification and Coronal Polish.

CAREER PATHWAYS*

Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant, Dental Hygiene Assistant, Dental Infection Control Technician, Dental Front Office Assistant, Dental Aesthetics Assistant, Network Dental Appointment Scheduler 

*Information found in Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wages

FUNDING RESOURCES

The Surprise Economic Development, with support from Surprise City Council, has partnered with Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC), specifically Adult Education, via the West-MEC Alliance to support the City’s residents, employees, and recent high school graduates with the opportunity to attain education to become dental assistants via the Surprise Career Development Scholarship.  This Scholarship is for the Adult Education Dental Assisting program at West-MEC’s Northwest Campus. 

City of Surprise residents, workers employed in Surprise, or graduates of Surprise schools within the past two years are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The process of applying for the scholarship is as easy as applying for the program. The applicant will specify the criteria that applies to them and provide the document(s) that proves the applicant meets their stated criteria. The supporting documents could be a valid government-issued ID that has their address, a current pay stub and/or high school diploma, or official transcripts. Prospective students should express interest and meet and complete the required admissions policy (page 14 of PDF) to initiate the application process.