The Dental Assistant Academy of Charlotte (thedaaofcharlotte.com), based in Charlotte, offers a dental assistant program approximately four times per year. The coursework covers a wide array of topics that range from the basic skills of dental assisting to advanced techniques such as oral surgery and periodontic procedures. Upon successful completion of the program all students will also be certified in four areas: North Carolina dental X-Ray, OSHA/HIPAA, CPR for the health care provider and medical office emergencies. Courses last approximately eight weeks and meet for three-hour sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with six-hour sessions on Saturdays.
The Central Piedmont Community College (cpcc.edu), based in Charlotte, offers a diploma in dental assisting program within its health sciences division. The three-semester program covers a wide variety of subjects such as general studies, dental sciences as well as radiography and advanced clinical practices. Graduates can take the Dental Assisting National Board examination to become a certified dental assistant. The cost of the program (in addition to tuition) includes all uniforms and supplies, fees for national board testing, a physical examination, blood- and drug-screen tests and updated immunizations.
York Technical College (yorktech.com), is a public, two-year institution located approximately 20 miles southwest of Charlotte in the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina. It offers a diploma in expanded duty dental assisting that covers basic skills that range from charting existing dental conditions and interpreting dental X-rays to more advanced techniques such as assisting dentists in chair-side procedures. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and graduates are eligible for certification through the Dental Assisting National Board examination.
The Lake Norman Dental Assisting School (ncdentalassistingschool.com) is located approximately 25 miles north of Charlotte in Mooresville, North Carolina. It provides a 12-week dental chairside assisting program that trains students in a variety of techniques from dental charting to sterilization and infection control. The coursework also includes a 14-hour dental X-ray course that culminates in a radiology certificate for those who pass the dental radiology written exam. Upon completion of the 12-week portion, all students must complete a 40-hour internship at a local dental office. The three-hour classes meet twice a week on either Monday and Wednesday evenings or Tuesday and Thursday evenings.