Become a Dental Assistant - Dental Assisting Programs

Dental Assisting is a growing, competitive field and an excellent education from an accredited school can give your career a boost. Becoming a Dental Assistant is not only a rewarding challenge, but a smart career move.

Dental Assistants perform a wide range of tasks in the dental office including patient care, office and laboratory duties, appointment scheduling, maintaining equipment sterility, and taking patient x-rays. In addition, Dental Assistants also work alongside dentists during cleanings and dental procedures, and offer assistance to the dentist by providing necessary tools and equipment, as well as attending to the patient. They also provide patients with instructional information regarding postoperative care and general oral health.

Arizona College’s Dental Assisting students train in our Dental Lab where they utilize tools like those they will be using in the field.  Arizona College offers a comprehensive Dental Assisting program with lectures and labs to prepare graduates to pursue their Dental Assistant certification in Arizona. Offering flexible schedules with sessions that start every five weeks, let Arizona College help you on your way to a new and exciting career in Dental Assisting.

Timeline for success:

• In the State of Arizona, certification is required to expose x-rays on a patient.
• After students have successfully completed our Radiology Course and Lab, they may take the Radiation Health and Safety exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Certifications & Exams:

• Students will be able to test for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) certification after completing the Radiology Course and Lab, and test for the Infection Control (ICE) certification after completing the Infection Control Course and Lab at Arizona College.
• Students can apply for the exam(s) through the Dental Assisting Program Director at Arizona College or on the Dental Assisting National Board’s (DANB) website at www.danb.org.
• Fees are due with the application ($175 each exam, or $250 if the RHS/ICE exams are taken together)
• Expect 3-4 weeks for application processing.  Once approved, the student will receive a testing notice to sign up at a local testing center.
• Students can purchase study outlines and practice examinations by visiting the DANB website.
• After testing, an unofficial pass/fail report will be provided, and the official results will be mailed in 3-4 weeks.
• The General Chairside Exam (GC) is available to students after they have completed a minimum of 2 year’s experience in the field.

How much will each step cost?

• If the RHS/ICE examinations are taken together the application fee is $250
• If the two exams are taken separately, each exam is $175
• The General Chairside exam fee is $200.

Are there any “deal breakers” that will prevent me from being able to complete a step (felonies, misdemeanors, etc.)?

• The Dental Assisting National Board will review applicants who have felonies or misdemeanors on a case by case basis.