Dental Assisting

Two Pathways to a Dental Assisting Career

Announcement

The 9-month full time student pathway application for Fall 2025 opens from 11/01/24 to 04/30/25.
The 15-month Apprenticeship student pathway is on hold.

Application Process:

Step 1 – Apply Online for admission to Foothill College to get a 8-digit student campus wide ID (CWID)

Step 2 – Read the Application Instructions carefully before submitting an application to the Dental Assisting Program

Step 3 – Review the Application Sample

Step 4 – Submit an application to the Dental Assisting Program via Allied Healths App in MyPortal

*** Lottery Selection Process: 24 eligible students are randomly drawn and admitted to the program only once a year.

Become a Dental Assistant

Learn about Kimberly and Assia's experience and journey at Foothill College

Dental Assisting Program Info Sessions

For Dentists/Employers

For most current information, view Employer Info Session Zoom recording

Important Session Overview:

Only General Practice apprenticeships are offered at this time.
During the information session, we discussed the difference between the two pathways. The necessary forms to sign up for the apprenticeship pathway will be sent.
Please note: Signing up for the apprenticeship pathway and submitting the forms does not bind the office to taking a dental assisting apprentice. The apprentice will be responsible for interviewing and the office can choose to hire or not hire an apprentice after the interview.
Attendance (or viewing the Zoom recording) to one of this information sessions is required to participate as an apprenticeship office.

View Side-by-Side Comparison between Two Pathways

Program Details

PROGRAM	FULL-TIME STUDENT PATHWAY with full-time course load	PART-TIME STUDENT & EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY with paid dental office work experience
PROGRAM LENGTH	9 Months	15 Month (temporarily suspended until sometime in 2024)
UNITS	57 quarter units (Certificate) 90 quarter units (A.S. Degree)	23 quarter units (Certificate)
START DATE	Starts either on 3rd or 4th week of September each year	Starts either on 3rd or 4th week of September each year
NUMBER OF STUDENTS ADMITTED	24	24
PREREQUISITES	High school diploma or equivalent	DA 200L
REQUIREMENTS UPON ADMISSION	Statement of acceptance Background check Drug testing Physical exam including current vaccinations CPR/BLS from American Heart Association Purchase uniform Purchase dental assisting kit Costs paid by student	Statement of acceptance Background check Drug testing Physical exam including current vaccinations CPR/BLS from American Heart Association Purchase uniform Purchase dental assisting kit Costs paid by Grant funded by California Dental Association
TUITION	$31.OO per quarter unit	Free Enrollment Fee
OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM	Basic fees: appx. $60.00/quarter Parking permit: $30.00/quarter Books: $450.00 total	Books: $450.00 total Parking permit: $30.00/quarter (costs paid by Grant)
CLASS SCHEDULE	Lectures, labs, clinic sessions held M/Tu/W/Th/F Synchronous, asynchronous, virtual, face-to-face 8/9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. View Class Schedule Download PDF version for FT program sample schedule	Lectures, labs, clinic sessions held F/Sat Synchronous, asynchronous, virtual, face-to-face Friday/Sat classes 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. View Class Schedule Download PDF version for PT program sample schedule
INTERNSHIPS	Unpaid internship 300 hours	Employed by dental office Paid on the job training starting at minimum wage 2000 hours
INTERNSHIP DATES	Tu/Thu for January to June	M/Tu/W/Th for 15 months
DEGREES & CERTIFICATES	A.S. DEGREE Certificate of Achievement Infection Control Certification Dental Practice Act Certification Radiology License Coronal Polishing Certification Pit & Fissure Sealant Certification	Certificate from California Department of Apprenticeship Standards Certificate of Achievement Infection Control Certification Dental Practice Act Certification Radiology License Coronal Polishing Certification Pit & Fissure Sealant Certification

Course Schedule

TERM	FULL-TIME STUDENT PATHWAY	PART-TIME STUDENT & EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY
FALL	D A 50 Orientation to Dental Assisting (1 unit) D A 51A Introduction to Chairside Dental Assisting (10.5 units) D A 53A Introduction to Radiography I (3 units) D A 58 Specialty Practice Procedures (1 unit) D A 62A Dental Sciences I (2 units) D A 71 Infection Control & Hazardous Waste Management (1.5 units)	D A 200L Guide for Success: A Dental Assisting Prerequisite Class DA 65 Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Clinical Skills I D A 71 Infection Control & Hazardous Waste Management (1.5 units)
WINTER	D A 51B Intermediate Clinical Dental Assisting (3 units) D A 53B Dental Radiography II (2 units) D A 56 Dental Health Education (1 unit) D A 57 Office Emergency Procedures (2 units) D A 60A Dental Office Business Practices I (2 units) D A 62B Dental Sciences II (2 units) D A 73 Dental Assisting Supervised Clinic (5.5 units) D A 100 Law & Ethics for the Dental Assistant (1 unit)	DA 66 Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Clinical Skills II D A 67 Radiation Health and Safety for Apprenticeship D A 57 Office Emergency Procedures (2 units)
SPRING	D A 51C Advanced Dental Assisting Skills (3.5 units) D A 53C Dental Radiography III (1 unit) D A 60B Dental Office Business Practices II (3 units) D A 62C Dental Sciences III (2 units) D A 63 Special Patient Populations (1 unit) D A 74 Dental Assisting Clinical Practice (5.5 units) D A 85 RDA Review (2 units) D A 88 Pit & Fissure Sealants (1.5 units)	D A 56 Dental Health Education (1 unit) D A 51C Advanced Dental Assisting Skills (3.5 units)
SUMMER	Coursework completed	D A 100 Law & Ethics for the Dental Assistant (1 unit) D A 88 Pit & Fissure Sealants (1.5 units)
FALL	Coursework completed	D A 85 RDA Review (2 units)

Timeline for Completion

9-MONTH FULL-TIME STUDENT PATHWAY	15-MONTH PART-TIME STUDENT & EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY
Complete these requirements before admission Statement of acceptance Background check Drug testing CPR/BLS from American Heart Association Purchase uniform Purchase dental assisting kit	Complete these requirements before admission Statement of acceptance Background check Drug testing CPR/BLS from American Heart Association Purchase uniform Purchase dental assisting kit
Fall Quarter 19 units	Fall Quarter 6 units Register for and complete prerequisite DA 200L (1 unit) first six weeks Interview and secure internship office
Winter Quarter 18.5 units	Winter Quarter 7 units
Spring Quarter 19.5 units	Spring Quarter 4.5 units
Graduation Apply to take RDA written licensing exam	Summer Session 3.5 units
	Fall Quarter 2.0 units
	Graduation Apply to take RDA written licensing exam

A Demand for Dental Assistants

large group of graduates

2019 Dental Assisting graduation ceremony.

The demand for qualified dental assistants is high—to work with dentists, dental hygienists and dental technicians, to deliver dental care in a caring and skilled manner. Plus, the technology field of dentistry is always changing. Digital dental x-rays can be seen on a computer monitor within seconds of the exposure. Titanium implants can be used to replace missing teeth, which are stronger and more stable than dentures or removable partials.

What You'll Learn

Whichever pathway you choose, the Foothill College Dental Assisting Program offers a balance of academic, laboratory and clinical courses to prepare our students to work in this rapidly changing field. You'll learn extended functions of coronal polishing and pit and fissure sealants as well as earn an x-ray certificate.

Students who complete the entire program in a satisfactory manner will

Be awarded a Career Certificate in Dental Assisting
Qualify for the California State Registered Dental Assisting Examination.

Dental Assisting Opportunities

Dental assistants can work for a general dentist or in any of the other dental specialties, including oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, children's dentistry, and prosthodontics.

Other job opportunities for qualified Dental Assistants

Public health educators
Private industry consultants or sales representatives

Dental assisting instructors
Dental office managers
Consultants for dental insurance companies

Dental Assisting Quick View

Program: Dental Assisting
Degree/Cert: AS/Yes
Length: 9 months

FT: Full-time
Number Accepted: 24

Program Application Deadline:

Fall 2025: 11/1/24-4/30/25

Approx. Cost of Program: $3,500
National Lic./Cert.: Yes
State Lic.Cert.: Yes
Estimated Annual Salary: $52,000-$72,000 (in CA)

Note: By attending the Dental Assisting Program, you earn 4 extra points toward the Dental Hygiene Application.

DENTAL ASSISTING PROGRAM CONTACTS

Office: Building 5200, Room 5211

Pia StaAna, DDS, Interim Program Director

StaAnaPia@fhda.edu

Nancy Cheung, MPA, Division Dean
cheungnancy@fhda.edu

To meet with the dean, contact the Health Sciences and Horiculture Division

Download 2017 CTE Licensure Pass & Placement Rates

Gainful Employment Disclosures

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