Dental Assisting Certificate

Certificate
Health Sciences Division

Program Code: DENC1

Office: Curtice-Mott Complex CM2313

Phone: (810) 762-0317

Clinical dental assistants are directly involved in patient care, working with dentists, and as expanded functions dental assistants, who provide certain intraoral procedures. Michigan requires both education and licensure for those persons performing expanded functions on patients. Graduates of this program will complete requirements that qualify them to take the Michigan State Board Examination for licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and the National Board Examination to be a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). This program is accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and the State of Michigan.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

All of the following must be met in order to become eligible:

1. Be admitted to MCC and declare intent to enter the Dental Assisting Program.
2. Demonstrate College level reading comprehension on the ACCUPLACER placement test within the last 5 years, OR a minimum score of 20 on the reading portion of the ACT within the last 5 years. A satisfactory grade in RDNG 030  or ENGL 100  within the last 5 years will also meet this requirement.
3. Provide proof of high school graduation or GED.
4. Submit a current CPR card. The card must be either the BLS Health Care Provider (American Heart Association) or the Professional Rescuer (American Red Cross).
5. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 in eligibility requirement courses (see #6 for specific courses).
6. Complete ENGL 101  or ENGL 103  (English Composition), BIOL 150  (The Human Body) or BIOL 151  and BIOL 152  (Human Anatomy and Physiology), and COMM 131  (Fundamentals of Communication), with a “C” (2.0) grade or better.
7. Submit a Supplemental Application for the Dental Assisting Program after all of the Eligibility Requirements listed above have been completed.

Note: Conviction of a criminal offense may make graduates of the Dental Assisting Program ineligible to take their licensure (RDA) exam. All applicants for a health profession license or registration in Michigan are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal background check. In addition, some clinical sites require students to complete criminal background checks and submit to drug screening procedures prior to the clinical experience. All background checks and drug screenings are at the student’s expense.