Expanded Duty Dental Assisting

Diploma: Health Science
Credit Requirements: 46 Semester Credit Hours
Full-time

The Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program prepares students for dental assisting procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Graduates are certified in infection control and radiation health and safety and are eligible for certification in monitoring nitrous oxide sedation by the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry. Upon satisfactory completion of the Dental Assisting National Board, graduates are designated certified dental assistants.

Admission Requirements
Applicants will be admitted to this program on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applicants are considered to be qualified for admission to the next available class when they meet all College and program requirements. Classes in this program begin Fall Semester.

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
I. General College Admission Requirements 
Achieve admission to the College by meeting TTC's requirements for diploma programs. Please note that applicants not achieving appropriate test scores will be required to complete courses indicated by placement test scores. 

Note: Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program.

II. Program Admission Requirements
Applicants should ensure that documentation of each of the following admissions requirements is on file in the Admissions office as soon as it is completed. Information may be submitted in person or by mail to:

 Trident Technical College
 Admissions Office, AM-M
 (Student Center, Bldg. 410, Room 110)
 P.O. Box 118067
 Charleston, SC  29423-8067

1. Achieve qualifying scores on the College's placement test, SAT or ACT. Contact an academic advisor and complete all courses indicated by placement test scores.
2. Complete all courses indicated by TTC's placement test, SAT or ACT scores, if applicable.
3. Complete an Allied Health application for the program.
   Note: When the number of applicants qualifying at the same time exceeds the number of spaces available in this program, admission will be prioritized according to the date and time that the Allied Health application was received in the Admissions office.
4. Attend an advising session and obtain a signed statement from a program faculty member verifying attendance. See list of academic advisors published in On Course.
5. Provide proof of high school graduation or equivalent by submitting a copy of your high school transcript, diploma or GED.
6. Satisfy academic probation/suspension requirements, if applicable, by providing proof of a minimum 2.0 GPA on all college course work by submitting official copies of college transcripts to the Admissions office, other than TTC transcripts, OR, complete six semester credit hours with a minimum grade of C in each course, and a cumulative 2.0 GPA. 
7. Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and not be on academic or disciplinary suspension at the time of admission and date of entry into the program.  
8. Achieve the appropriate math score on TTC's placement test.
9. Submit proof of a minimum of five hours of observation of a certified dental assistant or a graduate of an ADA accredited dental assisting program working in a dental practice. The applicant is responsible for arranging the observation time.
10. At the time of entry to the program, show evidence of completion of the criminal background check required by the College.

III. General Admission Procedures for the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program
Prior to admission to the program, provide the TTC program coordinator with a completed, current Allied Health-Student Health Record. Applicants who meet College and program requirements will be considered qualified and will be admitted on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Qualified applicants will be sent a letter indicating the year and semester that they have been admitted.

Note: Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the Expanded Duty Dental Assisting program.

Readmission to a Program
Students who receive a W, D or F in a prerequisite or corequisite course may request consideration for readmission to the program. Readmission to the program is not automatic. Specific policies and procedures for readmission are listed in the Dental Services Department Policies and Procedures Manual. See the Allied Health Sciences overview.

Course Sequence and Progression
To progress to the next Expanded Duty Dental Assisting course, the student must:

1. Achieve a grade of C or better in each professional course.
2. Achieve a grade of C or better in all prerequisites and corequisites for professional courses, and all support classes.