Fortis Institute, formerly Allied Medical and Technical Institute, is located in downtown Scranton. It offers an expanded function dental assistant diploma program that is intended to prepare students for entry-level dental assisting positions. The program prepares students to assist dentists at the chair-side level and for additional duties such as placing dental restorations under the dentist's direction. The program features classroom instruction, practical and field experience and a 10-week externship at a local health-care facility. Graduates of the program are qualified to obtain certification as an expanded function dental assistant.
Penn Foster Career School is located just north of downtown Scranton and offers an online dental assistant program. The program prepares students for assisting dentists and other dental professionals and managing dental office operations. Students complete various courses such as dental terminology and anatomy, infection control, law and ethics, and records management. The program prepares dental assistants to pursue employment in various dental facilities such as private dental practices and government health agencies.
Luzerne County Community College is located about 25 miles south of Scranton. It offers a dental assisting certificate program, dental practice management associate's degree and expanded function dental assisting diploma program. The certificate program generally takes two semesters to complete and prepares students to become competent members of the dental health care team. The associate's degree is a two-year program that enables dental assisting students to advance their education and pursue the role of a dental office manager. In additional to dental assisting courses, students complete courses in medical office procedures, computers and keyboarding, and social science. The diploma program is typically completed in one semester and enables students to gain the knowledge to specialize as an expanded functions dental assistant.
A variety of factors should considered when selecting a dental assistant school, including accreditation, cost of tuition, length of programs, courses and materials, and availability of courses. Students must decide the desired program length and end credentials such as diploma, certificate or associate's degree. Diploma and certificate programs generally take one year to complete and associate's degree programs typically take two years. The programs may also vary in the topics covered. When selecting a dental assistant school, students must research the availability of courses such as day, evening, weekend and online options to find the right program to fit into busy schedules. Tuition costs are usually lower for public schools in the home state of the student.