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  Oct 02, 2023
 
2021-2022 Catalog [Aug. 2021-Aug. 2022] 
    
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2021-2022 Catalog [Aug. 2021-Aug. 2022] [Archived Catalog]

Dental Assisting (5649) (C.C.)

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Career Certificate (Clock Hour program)

This is a Limited Access program.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Dental Assisting career certificate program is to create competent, ethical, and confident entry-level dental assistants who are prepared to immediately seek employment in dental offices in Northeast Florida and beyond. This is accomplished with a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction at the College and clinical instruction in private dental offices and clinics in the vicinity. A primary goal of the program is to instill in our graduates a commitment to professional development through life-long learning and service to the community.

The Program

This program provides students with the theoretical, practical and clinical skills necessary to get an entry-level position in a dental office, including dental basic sciences, dental radiographic techniques, dental materials, sterilization and infection control, chairside assisting, office management, dental specialties, and expanded functions. The Dental Assisting program has been approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry to offer certification in expanded functions and dental radiology. One class is admitted each August. 

A minimum grade of C or better must be achieved in all professional coursework.

Internships/Externships/Rotations/Fieldwork

Your clinical rotations are scheduled in private dental offices and clinics, including specialty practices such as endodontics, oral surgery, and orthodontics.

The Career

Dental assistants are versatile members of the dental health team who work alongside the dentist in providing patient care. The varying roles of the dental assistant include chairside assisting, front office management, and assisting in a dental specialty office. 

There is a desperate need for talented dental assistants. New protocols help us retain our natural teeth through longer lifetimes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the dental assisting profession to be one of the fastest growing careers through 2022 with a projected increase of 24.5%.

Certification/Licensing

The Dental Assisting program has been approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry at floridasdentistry.gov to prepare students for certification in expanded functions and dental radiology. Program graduates can immediately obtain their Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential by taking and passing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examinations upon graduation. Learn more about the CDA credential at danb.org/en/Become-Certified/Exams-and-Certifications/CDA.aspx and the DANB examination at danb.org/Become-Certified/Exams-and-Certifications.aspx 

Program Accreditation

The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: ada.org/en/coda.

Application Procedure

The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a major criterion in a student’s completion of the program. In order to earn the Career Certificate, students must achieve or surpass the designated exit score(s) on the TABE or qualify for a TABE waiver. Visit fscj.edu/assessment/available-assessments/tabe/tabe-certificate for program exit scores or bit.ly/TABEwaiver for the TABE waiver form. Students with prior coursework, test scores or licensing may qualify for a TABE waiver and can visit or contact any College Assessment and Certification Center to have the waiver processed and added to their individual student record. College Assessment and Certification locations and information can be found at fscj.edu/assessment. For students who do not meet the required TABE scores and need assistance in order to meet the exit requirement(s), the College offers remediation through the Applied Academics for Adult Education (8525) (N.C.)   program. Remediation consists of tutoring, referral to online resources and/or completion of the following coursework in Reading, Mathematics and Language:

Students interested in this program should be advised by the instructor or Program Manager before enrolling in coursework.

To meet the minimum requirements for consideration and acceptance to the Dental Assisting program, students must:

  1. Complete a Florida State College at Jacksonville application.
  2. Complete a Dental Assisting application.
  3. Successful completion of the Background and Drug Screening process upon acceptance into the program.
  4. A physical examination will be required upon acceptance into the program.
  5. Complete an approved course in healthcare provider-level CPR with first aid prior to the start of class.
  6. Provide Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) scores or waiver.
  7. Submit one of the following:
    1. An official (unopened) High School completion transcript (no diplomas) or college transcript
    2. An official copy of GED® test scores (a copy will be made and the original returned to the applicant). Note: Florida State College at Jacksonville transcripts can be unofficial. Transcripts from outside colleges must be official (unopened).

GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service at ged.com. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license from the American Council on Education.

Note: Admissions preference is given to fully qualified candidates who have met all entrance criteria, and have met the exit TABE requirements or have submitted a TABE waiver.  

Application Deadline(s)

Applications are due on May 15 of each year with classes starting in the fall. Admission to this program is limited and is based on academic performance and other criteria. Students are accepted into the program (on a space available basis) until the first day of class. After that, students will need the written approval of the dental assisting instructor.

Need More Information? Contact:

Call (904) 646-2300

More Information Online

Applied Academics for Adult Education (AAE)

Students who have satisfactory test scores are not required to take the following courses:

Curriculum

Professional Coursework

A minimum grade of C or better must be achieved in all Professional coursework.

Total Contact Hours: 1,230

Record of Conviction of a Crime

Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, health care review boards shall refuse to renew a license, certificate or registration, issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to a felony violation of: chapters 409, 817, or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application, terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent five years) or terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent five years). The Florida nursing or allied health licensure or certification application requires disclosure of any criminal history and the disposition of all cases prior to board review. Being convicted of, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any of the listed felonies in Florida Statute 456.0635 or termination for cause from the statutorily-described Medicaid programs will preclude an applicant from obtaining a nursing or allied health license or certification in the state of Florida. Entry and acceptance into the nursing or allied health program does not guarantee licensure or certification in the state of Florida.

Note

Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screen and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

Some practice settings may have additional requirements including health insurance, a volunteer application, references, additional fingerprinting and background check (example Jessica Lunsford Act for school environments), drug testing, flu shot, Covid-19 testing/vaccine and/or an interview prior to the start of the clinical experience. The additional requirements are the responsibility of the student, including expenses.

The cost of the background check(s) and drug screen(s) is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline and/or the start of fieldwork rotation (if applicable).

Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into Limited Access or Selective Access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition and fees.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.  It is the students’ responsibility to renew their annual physical examination as well as TB test.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded a career certificate, students must have met the following requirements.

  1. Fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
  2. Earn the required number of clock hours for the chosen program of study with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale on all courses that apply to the chosen program of study; students must show up on campus in order to meet the clock hour attendance requirements.
  3. Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total clock hours required for a certificate’s program requirements as a student at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
  4. Fulfill all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before graduating.
  5. Earn a TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) score that meets or exceeds the program’s exit requirement, if applicable.
Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.
  • A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
  • Students who enter under the (2021/2022) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2021/2022 academic year. The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
  • Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite requirements and/or corequisite courses listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
 

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