Accreditation/Certification

This program is accredited by the American Dental Association. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to take the national certification exam offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Third Party Comments:

The program is responsible for soliciting third-party comments from communities of interest such as students and patients that pertain to the standards or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. An announcement for soliciting third-party comments is to be published at least 90 days prior to the site visit. The notice should indicate that third-party comments are due in the Commission’s office no later than 60 days prior to the site visit. Please review the entire policy on Third Party Comments in the Commission’s “Evaluation and Operational Policies and Procedures” (EOPP) manual.

Commission On Dental Accreditation Policy On Third Party Comments

The Commission currently publishes, in its accredited lists of programs, the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission posts its spring and fall site visit announcements on the Site Visit Process and Schedule area of the Commission’s website for those programs being site visited in the current and next year. Special site visits and initial accreditation site visits for developing programs may be scheduled after the posting on the Commission’s website; thus, the specific dates of these site visits may not be available for publication. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are encouraged to contact the Commission office. The Commission will request written comments from interested parties on the CODA website.

The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies’ discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the Department’s requirement on the use of third-party comment regarding program’s qualifications for accreditation or initial accreditation, the following procedures have been developed.

Those programs scheduled for regular review must solicit third-party comments through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers at least ninety (90) days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of sixty (60) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission by calling 1-312-440-4653 or by email.

All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. Signed or unsigned comments will be considered. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency.

All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least fifty (50) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee fifteen (15) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Negative comments received after the established deadline of sixty (60) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while on-site.

Programs with the status of initial accreditation, and programs seeking initial accreditation must solicit comment through appropriate notification of communities of interest and the public such as faculty, students, program administrators, dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers utilizing the procedures noted above.

On occasion, programs may be scheduled for special focused or special comprehensive site visits and because of the urgency of the visit, solicitation of third-party comments within the ninety (90) day time-frame may not be possible. However, third party comments must be solicited at the time the program is notified of the Commission’s planned site visit, typically sixty (60) days in advance of the visit. In this case, the timeframe for solicitation of third-party comments will be shortened. The notice should indicate the deadline of thirty (30) days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that signed or unsigned comments will be accepted, that names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program, and that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. All relevant comments will have names and/or signatures removed and will then be referred to the program at least twenty (20) days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the visiting committee ten (10) days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the visiting committee while on-site. Negative comments received after the established deadline of thirty (30) days prior to the site visit will be handled as a complaint.

Individuals who are interested in submitting third party comments, may contact the Commission office for submission guidance. Third party comments should be emailed to the appropriate Commission staff; comments should not be sent to the Commission office via the US Postal Service.

Revised: 2/22; 8/19; 8/18; 2/18; 2/16; 2/15; 8/13; 8/12, 8/11, 7/09, 8/02, 1/97; Reaffirmed: 8/13; 8/10, 1/03; Adopted: 7/95

60-DAY DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF COMMENTS IN THE COMMISSION OFFICE. Please email comments to the appropriate CODA staff. Staff emails are found at: https://coda.ada.org/about-coda/coda-staff

Admission

Enrollment in the dental assisting program is limited to 24 students. The admissions process is competitive. No assurance is given that all applicants who complete the admissions process will be admitted into the program.

Admission Documentation Requirements

• Copy of High School diploma or GED certificate
• Completion of 4 hours volunteerism/observation in any healthcare setting (dental observation is preferred) documented on office letterhead.
• One professional letter of recommendation.
• Admission packets due on the last Friday of August unless otherwise noted.

Please access our online application to submit your materials.

Short interviews will be conducted the Friday following the submission deadline and are required for admittance into the dental assisting program. You will be contacted to schedule your interview.

Within a week after the admission interviews you will receive a letter from us letting you know if you have been accepted into the program. If you are not accepted, you may apply the next year. If you are accepted into the program, we will be having a mandatory orientation/registration meeting.

A National Background Check is required with results that are acceptable for clinical sites prior to the first day of fall classes. New Student Orientation. You will be responsible for the cost of the initial background check. Once you are admitted to the program, expect the following:

A 10-panel drug screen within 30 days of clinical internship at your cost as required by selective clinical sites.

Additional Application Requirements

Program start: Fall (competitive entry)
Pre-requisites: No, English and Interpersonal Communication can be taken prior to or while in the program.
Program length: 3 quarters
Number of students each start: 24
Contact: Mrs. Pat Norman 509-533-7301
Applications deadline: The last Friday in August
Admission Interviews: The first Friday in September
Please note: It is strongly recommended that students seek advising from Dental Assisting Department prior to applying