Dental Assistant - DAST.CRT

Accreditation and Program Outcomes

The program in Dental Assisting is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.

Program Goals

• Prepare the student for employment as a dental health care professional.
• Prepare the student to be a safe and competent dental health care professional by being in compliance with both Federal and Massachusetts State Standards and Regulations.
• Prepare the student with academic knowledge and skill competencies to qualify for the Certified Dental Assistant Examination given by the  Dental  Assisting National Board, Inc.
• Provide a curriculum that will offer opportunities for the student to develop competency in basic practice management procedures.
• Prepare the student to perform chairside assisting skills and related laboratory procedures utilized in General and Specialty Dental Practices.
• Provide a curriculum that will offer the student knowledge and concepts of Infection Control Protocol as it pertains to patient and student safety.
• Certify students for performing dental radiography procedures within the State of Massachusetts.
• Provide a curriculum that will give the student the knowledge and understanding of the law, professional duty and ethical behavior of a  Dental  Assistant employed in the State of Massachusetts.

Applying to this Program

• Applications will be accepted on a rolling admission basis, applications will be accepted until the program is full.
• Fall start only, day program only

Admission Prerequisites

• Proof of high school graduation, GED or HiSet-required. Submit official high school transcript or GED, HiSet scores

Preferred Coursework for Admission

•  English
  • Completion of High School English recommended
•  Math
  • Completion of high school pre-Algebra with a grade of C or better; OR
  • Placement examination score at MAT-081 OR
  • Successful completion of Pre-Algebra MAT-078 OR
  • High School Geometry recommended
• Biology
  • High school Biology with a lab;OR
  • College level Biology with a lab (such as BIO 101 or BIO 104)

Notes:

• It is HIGHLY recommended that ENG-101 , BIO-120, ENG 105, MED 102    and PSY 101   be taken prior to Semester 1. Completion of these courses with a grade of C or better, prior to admission, will enable the full time student to complete the program within two semesters.
•  It is mandatory that the student complete ENG-101,  BIO-120,  ENG 105 and PSY 101 with a grade of 73% (“C”) to receive transfer credit for these courses.
• Check Financial Aid information regarding courses offered and those eligible for financial assistance during the Summer Sessions.
• Both BIO 231 and BIO 232 must be taken as a substitute for BIO-120. A grade of 73% (C) is required to receive transfer credit for these courses.​​
• Mid-semester grades for applicable courses in progress in the spring will be considered. Students requesting consideration for required course work being performed at another accredited college must submit a mid-term grade report to the Admissions office along with their application.
• Conditional acceptances will be given for applicants who have incomplete courses in the spring semester. The condition will state what final grade must be earned to gain full acceptance. Students not meeting stated conditions will not be granted admission to the program.

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Students reapplying to the program must resubmit an application, all supporting documents and essay with updated official transcripts. Students will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of one re-admission. Click here  for information about the re-admission policy and process. 

Additional Requirements for Accepted Students

Deposit: If offered admission, a non-refundable $50.00 deposit will be required to secure your acceptance to this Program.

Mandatory Health Records:  All required health records, immunizations, and physicals MUST be filed in the STCC Health and Wellness Center by July 1 of the admission year. The Health and Wellness Center is located in the Building 19 Room 177 (413-755-4230). For additional information and required forms please visit the Health and Wellness Center website at http://www.stcc.edu/healthservices. The college/program reserves the right to rescind the admission status of any student not meeting, as well as not submitting, all post-admission requirements in a timely manner. 

Background Check: College programs involving potentially unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, including fieldwork (a clinical affiliation, internship, externship, or field placement) with a private or public healthcare provider or daycare provider, will be required to undergo state-wide and/or national criminal background checks, including but not limited to: Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI), Seven (7) year residential Search, and FBI Fingerprinting checks. The purpose of the background check is to ensure a safe and protective environment for all clients, particularly members of vulnerable populations.

Students choosing not to consent to the required background checks will be ineligible to participate in fieldwork involving vulnerable populations. Ineligibility to participate in fieldwork may affect a student’s ability to successfully complete the program.

Based upon the results of the background checks, a student may be deemed ineligible to participate in academic or clinical activities, which may impact a student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements. Background checks are reviewed by the College’s CORI Board. The CORI Board determines eligibility to participate in academic and/or clinical activities. Students have the right to appeal the determination of the CORI Board by filing a written appeal with the Vice President of Student and Multicultural Affairs within 10 business days of receiving the CORI Board’s determination.

Furthermore, please be advised that eligibility to participate in College academic and/or clinical activities following a background check does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a professional credentialing examination(s) or for employment upon program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the certification or licensure board for a particular healthcare or other service profession to determine the standards that must be met for credentialing, licensing and/or employment in that field.

Drug Screening Policy for Clinical Placement: The School of Health & Patient Simulation is committed to high quality education and providing excellent clinical experiences to students in the health professions. Students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences in order to maximize the learning environment and ensure patient safety. Thus a student’s performance at all times must be free of any impairment caused by prescription or non-prescribed drugs or alcohol use. Students enrolling in Health Professions programs are required to undergo and pass a drug and/or alcohol screening analysis in order to be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. Students assigned to clinical education experiences at our contracted facilities may also be required to undergo and pass random drug screening analysis in order to remain at that clinical facility and in the program. Students who fail a screening, or refuse to submit to a screening within the designated time frame will be ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program. Students with a positive drug test may challenge the results of the test within five (5) business days of notification of the drug test results. This challenge must be in writing and delivered to the college’s Director of Health Services. Students may re-apply for re-entry into a health program after one year. Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case by case basis.

Students who are notified of a negative-dilute result will submit to a random drug test within 24 hours of the previous test in order to confirm the negative status of the screening. Additional random testing may also be required under the guidelines listed in your program’s handbook. A student who claims that he/she tested positive due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the medical review officer (MRO) from the drug testing lab shall be required to provide evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts within five (5) business days of notification of the drug test results to the college’s Director of the Health and Wellness Center. Failure to complete this notification will result in the student being ineligible for clinical placement, which will affect their status in the program

Students who test positive for marijuana are unable to continue in a clinical placement, which will affect their status in the health program. A student who has a prescription for Medical Marijuana and tests positive for marijuana will be reviewed on a case by case basis in order for the college to determine the availability to provide accommodations and clinical placements due to the federal restrictions on the use of marijuana and clinical site placement policies.   

Programmatic Technical Standards: Technical Standards reflect performance abilities and essential skills that a student must demonstrate in order to successfully complete the requirements of a specified program.  These Standards must be satisfied by all students in all aspects of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including in the classroom, laboratories, and externship. If you are an individual with a documented disability who seeks reasonable accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at (413) 755-4785 or stop by Building 19, Room 141 as soon as practicable for information concerning the College’s accommodation process. Additional information can also be found on the Office of Disability Service’s website: https://www.stcc.edu/resources/academic-support/ods/. Please note that Program Technical Standard forms found in your admission acceptance packet must be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center by July 1. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 19, Room 177 and can be reached at (413) 755-4230.  

Health Program Latex Policy  

Program Requirements and Advancement

• Minimum Grade Requirements: To continue in the progression of courses offered in the Dental Assistant program, a student must obtain a grade of “C” (73%) or better in all courses. Students not meeting the minimum grade requirement of “C” (73%) will be withdrawn from the program.
• Upon successful completion of the program, the student graduates with a Certificate in Dental Assistant and is eligible to take the Dental Assistant National Board Examination.
• CPR Certification: This must be completed prior to the first day of class.  Students are required to maintain CPR certification (American Heart Association BLS OR ACLS) throughout the entire program. Certification must be valid and a copy of certification must be submitted to the Health & Wellness Center on or before August 15 of the admission year.
• First Aid Certification:  Students are required to maintain First Aid certification (American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid) throughout the entire program. Certification must be valid and a copy of certification must be submitted to the Health and Wellness Center on or before August 15 of the admission year.
• CPR and First Aid Certification is available through STCC.  Information can be found through Workforce Development, Health Care Training at:  www.stcc.edu/wt
• Bloodborne Pathogen Policy: Dental Assisting Students provide services in the oral cavity where they come in contact with blood and saliva. Although diseases may be encountered, research indicates risks are negligible when optimal infection control is practiced. It is required that all students complete the Hepatitis-B vaccine prior to treating patients.
• Hazardous Materials: Students should be aware that during this program they will be exposed to ionizing radiation and hazardous substances.
• Transfer: General Education courses taken in the Dental Assisting curriculum can typically be transferred to another educational institution.  These courses include:  English Composition ENG 101,  Oral Communication ENG 105, General Psychology PSY 101. Final approval is always at the discretion of the receiving institution. Dental Assisting (DAS) core courses would require evaluation by the receiving institution to determine transfer credit.
• Additional Costs:Dental assisting students must purchase a kit which is non-refundable and is comprised of essential materials and supplies. In addition, other expenses will be required as the academic year progresses.
  • Dental Assisting Kit: $600.00 - $800.00
  • Textbooks for Summer, Fall and Spring Semesters: $1,300.00 - $1,500.00
  • STCC Uniforms: $150.00 - $200.00
  • White Leather Uniform Shoes: $100.00 - $150.00
  • Name Badge: $10.00 - $15.00
  • Maroon Lab Coats: $50.00 - $100.00
  • STCC Identification Uniform Patch: $5.00 - $10.00
  • Certification Examination- $425.00 if all three examinations (Radiology, General Chairside, Infection Control) are taken at the same time, OR;
    • Radiology Exam-$250.00, if taken alone
    • General Chairside Exam-$250.00, if taken alone
    • Infection Control Exam-$250.00, if taken alone
• Campus Parking: Cost varies with parking area
• Lock for locker $5.00 - $10.00
• Notebooks, three-ring binders (one for each lecture course), pens, pencils, colored pencils, paper, stapler, paper punch, clear plastic ruler, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss/tape, small standing mirror, permanent black marker, graph and tracing paper. $75.00 - $125.00
• Required Immunizations
• Personal vehicle or reliable means of transportation to/from clinical affiliation sites
• **Please note that these estimated costs are subject to change.

(DAST.CRT) Curriculum

Department Personnel