All hands-on and live instructor-led sessions are taught by Ashley Heenan, RDH, a licensed Registered Dental Hygienist with over 20 years of clinical dental experience. Minimum faculty credentials for this program require an active, unencumbered dental license or credential relevant to the subject matter taught (e.g., Registered Dental Hygienist, licensed Dentist, or Expanded Functions Dental Assistant certification) and demonstrated instructional experience.
Dental AssistEd's Become a Dental Assistant Program is an 8-week, 80-hour hybrid certification program for career changers with no prior dental experience. Live instructor-led sessions are held weekly via videoconference, combined with self-paced online coursework covering dental anatomy, patient care, chairside support, infection control, dental imaging, and office administration. Graduates receive job placement assistance to connect with dental offices in Illinois and Indiana.
No prior dental experience is required. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent, complete the program application and pay applicable fees, and provide a valid government-issued photo ID.
There is no fixed application deadline. New cohorts begin regularly throughout the year; upcoming start dates are posted on the institution's website and enrollment is accepted on a rolling basis until each cohort is full.