One or two years, 3 hours per day
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Course Information:
Do you notice people’s smiles? Do you want to be a part of a career that helps put smiles on people’s faces? A career as a dental assistant will provide you with a stable, respected job that can be obtained after your high school graduation and make you smile. Students will study dental anatomy, dental terminology, nutrition, and oral diseases. Skills will be developed in sterilization, operative procedures, radiographs, and patient management. Students will gain leadership skills developed through HOSA participation. Upon successful completion of the two year program, students may be qualified to take the state certification exam in radiology.
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Certifications Available: (Learn more about Certifications)
*National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) - 3 Tests, ($400)
-DANB Infection Control
-DANB Anatomy, Physiology, & Morphology
-DANB Radiation Health & Safety​ (or RHS alone $300)
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*AHA BLS CPR Certification for Healthcare Providers (recognized but not a graduation qualifier)
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*see Graduation Pathways Eligible Industry Certifications
Job Opportunities:
• Dental Assistant • Office Manager • Dental Lab
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Get Involved:
Join our Career -Technical Student Organization​ ​(CTSO) - HOSA: Future Health Professionals!
Learn leadership skills, compete in culinary events, earn scholarships, and much more!
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$$$ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Check out the IN CTE Career Guide​​​ and see the in-demand occupations in Indiana!
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I fell in love with dentistry the first day I began working as a dental assistant. I went back to school, became a dental hygienist and finished a Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene. I am currently enrolled at Purdue in the Leadership Development Program and hope to complete my Master's in Education in the next few years. As you can see, I am a life long learner. I hope to instill this passion for learning and dentistry in all of my students. My goal is for each student to take away from the class the desire to succeed in their next venture in life. They will learn the skills necessary to continue in college or start their career as a dental assistant.