DENTAL ASSISTING 

(Available at Metairie campus only)

The Dental Assisting Diploma program prepares students for entry-level positions as a chair-side dental assistant and dental business office assistant. The competencies for this course follow the duties and responsibilities of a dental assistant as outlined by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Topics of study include anatomy and physiology, dental health and nutrition, oral histology, tooth form and structure, preventive dentistry, infection control, dental laboratory procedures, radiography, orthodontics, patient care, health care laws and regulations (OSHA and HIPPA), and general dental office administration and management. There is an externship component as a culminating course that enables the student to be placed in an actual supervised dental office setting. The student will be encouraged to attain Louisiana's "Expanded Duty Dental Assistant" certification upon graduation. Upon successful completion of the program and all other graduation requirements, a diploma in Dental Assisting will be awarded.



Additional Admission Requirements for Dental Assisting: Dental Assisting students must be in good health and physically able to perform the duties and techniques required for employment in the Dental Assisting field.  In addition, female students in the Dental Assisting program must be informed that radiotherapy procedures are an integral part of the curriculum, and they will be presented with Blue Cliff College’s Pregnancy Disclosure for review and signature during the admissions process.

Licensing Information

• Licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Regents.
• Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

How can I find out more about this career?

For more information about a career in Dental Assisting, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET website. The Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for the career 31-9091.00 and the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for this program is 51.0601.

What is the total cost of the Dental Assisting Associate diploma program?

The current tuition for a student completing the Dental Assisting Associate Diploma program in normal time is $16,155.  The additional cost for books, supplies, and graduation fees is $1,550 for a total cost of $17,655.

What percentage of graduates completes the program in the normal time frame as published in the catalog?

For students who graduated between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, 79% completed in the published normal time frame. (Students who were extended due to academic issues, leaves of absence or scheduling preferences did not incur additional costs). There were no graduates as reported to Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for the reporting period October 2007- September 2008.

On-Time Graduation Rates
July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011

Dental Assisting Day

Dental Assisting Night

*N/A There were fewer than 10 graduates in this program between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. For privacy reasons, the U.S. Department of Educationrequests that schools not report on-time completion rates or median debt levels for programs with fewer than 10 graduates.

The total graduation rates, by campus, as reported to the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for this period can be found here:

Louisiana
Alexandria, LA
Houma, LA
Lafayette, LA
Metairie, LA
Shreveport, LA

Mississippi
Gulfport, MS

Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

What percentage of graduates found employment related to their field of study?
Blue Cliff reports job placement rates to its accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) every year. The most recent annual reports, by campus, can be viewed here:

Louisiana
Alexandria, LA
Houma, LA
Lafayette, LA
Metairie, LA
Shreveport, LA

Mississippi
Gulfport, MS

Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

How much student loan debt does a typical graduate have to repay after graduation?
The median* loan debt for students who graduated between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 for public debt (Title IV loans) and for private debt (private loans and post-graduate payment plans) can be found below:

Dental Assisting

Textbook Information
Dental Assisting

Contact us today for more information about our Dental Assisting Program.

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