The dental assisting certificate program is a comprehensive program consisting of lecture, hands-on training in clinical procedures and laboratory sessions. Full-time students will complete 17 credits in the fall semester, 14 credits in the spring semester and 3 credits in the summer. The program starts the last week in August, in coordination with all other University of Alaska Anchorage fall courses, and ends approximately June 20.

Most of the dental assisting classes are offered Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm; however, there are some required evening and weekend hours. The class schedule changes on a yearly basis to accommodate scheduling anomalies and adjunct faculty. Most of the classes will be held in the dental programs suite in the Allied Health Science Building.

The dental assisting program accepts 16 full-time and 2 part-time students to complete the certificate program each year. The certificate program is ideal for those individuals who need vocational training that will allow them to enter the job market in a short period of time.

Certificate Requirements

Fall Semester
DA A101 Essentials of Dentistry - 3 Credits
DA A102 Infection control in Dentistry - 3 Credits
DA A110 Dental Radiography - 3 Credits
DA A110L Dental Radiography Lab - 1 Credit
DA A127 Dental Practice Management & Professionalism - 3 Credits
DA A130 Chairside Techniques I - 4 Credits

Spring Semester
DA A150 Biomedical & Dental Sciences for Dental Assistants - 3 Credits
DA A160 Materials in Dentistry - 3 Credits
DA A195A Dental Assisting Practicum I - 1 Credit
DA A201 Chairside Techniques II - 4 Credits
DA A202 Dental Specialties for Dental Auxiliaries - 3 Credits

Summer Semester
DA A295A Clinical Practicum II - 3 Credits

With additional general education classes available at UAA, a dental assisting certificate can be upgraded to an associate of applied science degree. The AAS degree may offer educational advantages that may not be available with a certificate.