Dental Assisting
Program Description
The Foothill College Dental Assisting Program is an intensive 10-month sequence of instruction. Graduates will be qualified to take the Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) examination administered by the Dental Board of California. Graduates are also eligible to take the Certified Dental Assisting (CDA) examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board. The program offers a combination of lecture, laboratory, and clinical courses in general and specialty dental practices, as well as participation in externships at a local dental school, dental offices, and/or clinics. Students will also be certified in infection control, dental practice act, coronal polishing, dental x-ray, and pit and fissure sealants as part of the program curriculum. The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements." Graduates of the program are in demand and have many different types of job opportunities available to them.
Learn more about the program on the Dental Assisting website.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate entry-level competency skills mandated by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Dental Board of California.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate appropriate precautions for radiation safety and infection control for patients, themselves, and all others in the practice setting.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may have direct patient interaction by working as a chairside dental assistant in a general practice dental office or in any of the other specialty practices including endodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. In addition, dental assistants may work in the front office as a receptionist and/or office manager. Other job opportunities include public health educator or administrator, sales representative, continuing education coordinator, and/or consultant.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
Units Required
- Major: 57
- Certificate(s): 57
Program Application
Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria details, and applications can be found at the Dental Assisting Program website.
Program Prerequisites
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Proof of current Basic Life Support Provider Certification from the American Heart Association.
Associate Degree Requirements
- A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:
- Core courses for the major (57 units total)
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
- Foothill College General Education
- Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
- Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
- Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
- 2
Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.
- 3
Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of "C" or better is required for all core courses used for the degree or certificate. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.
Core and Support Courses
Core Courses
| Fall Quarter | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| D A 50 | ORIENTATION TO DENTAL ASSISTING | 1 |
| D A 51A | INTRODUCTION TO CHAIRSIDE DENTAL ASSISTING | 10.5 |
| D A 53A | INTRODUCTION TO RADIOGRAPHY I | 3 |
| D A 58 | SPECIALTY PRACTICE PROCEDURES | 1 |
| D A 62A | DENTAL SCIENCES I | 2 |
| D A 71 | INFECTION CONTROL & HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT | 1.5 |
| Units | 19 | |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| D A 51B | INTERMEDIATE CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTING | 3 |
| D A 53B | DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY II | 2 |
| D A 56 | DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION | 1 |
| D A 57 | OFFICE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES | 2 |
| D A 60A | DENTAL OFFICE BUSINESS PRACTICES I | 2 |
| D A 62B | DENTAL SCIENCES II | 2 |
| D A 73 | DENTAL ASSISTING SUPERVISED CLINIC | 5.5 |
| D A 100 | LAW & ETHICS FOR THE DENTAL ASSISTANT | 1 |
| Units | 18.5 | |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| D A 51C | ADVANCED DENTAL ASSISTING SKILLS | 3.5 |
| D A 53C | DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY III | 1 |
| D A 60B | DENTAL OFFICE BUSINESS PRACTICES II | 3 |
| D A 62C | DENTAL SCIENCES III | 2 |
| D A 63 | SPECIAL PATIENT POPULATIONS | 1 |
| D A 74 | DENTAL ASSISTING CLINICAL PRACTICE | 5.5 |
| D A 85 | RDA REVIEW | 2 |
| D A 88 | PIT & FISSURE SEALANTS | 1.5 |
| Units | 19.5 | |
| Total Units | 57 | |
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting
- Units: 57
The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the program prerequisites and core courses (general education courses are not required).
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of "C" or better is required for all core courses used for the certificate. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.