National Entry-Level Dental Assistant Program

Your Path to Becoming a Dental Assistant

Prepare for an entry-level position in one of the fastest growing health care fields with a curriculum introducing you to the profession of dentistry.  You will learn all areas of pre-clinical dental assisting and receive training in the professional skills required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. Through lecture and laboratory sessions, you learn the roles and responsibilities of the dental assistant. Skill development includes policies and guidelines, oral and dental anatomy, infection control, dental radiology, instrument identification and use, plus other areas. 

Additionally, this program prepares you to sit for three components of the Dental Assisting National Board Exams (DANB) and the National Entry Level Dental Assistant Certification: Radiation Health and Safety Examination (RHS); Infection Control (ICE); and Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP) which are the three components of the NELDA certification. The DANB exams are administered at Pearson Vue Centers and are not included as part of the cost of this program. 

This noncredit certificate program provides academic credits that can be used towards specific credit-bearing degree program upon completion and enrollment in the credit degree program. Students are eligible for 3 college credits upon completion of this program and passing the corresponding certification exams. For more details, please view our Prior Learning Assessment.

Program Eligibility Requirements: 

Prospective participants must hold a high school diploma or GED; and have current CPR certification by a DANB accepted CPR, BLS and ACLS provider that includes a hands-on exam. (Not all CPR courses include the hands-on exam; check with the provider before taking a course to confirm it will be accepted by DANB.) Community College of Philadelphia also offers an American Red Cross BLS/CPR Certification course that meets the requirement for the Dental Assistant program.

Registration deadline is two weeks prior to the start of class. Registered students must have all documentation completed and uploaded to Electronic Forms in the MyCCP portal prior the registration deadline. Email //csinquiry [at] ccp.edu (csinquiry[at]ccp[dot]edu) with questions or to request more information. 

Required Textbooks:

Books available for purchase at the college bookstore.

CCP - Dental Assisting Bundle

ISBN:9780323866736 This package includes your required course materials  - three print books at a special negotiated discount of 30% off, along with access to free study tools. This bundle package is available only through the CCP book store. 

Books included in the bundle package: 

• Modern Dental Assisting, 13e Hardcover  by Doni L. Bird CDA RDA RDH MA and Debbie S. Robinson CDA MS 
• Student Workbook for Modern Dental Assisting, 13e Paperback  by Doni L. Bird CDA RDA RDH MA and Debbie S. Robinson CDA MS
• Dental Instruments: A Pocket Guide, 7e Spiral-bound  by Linda Bartolomucci Boyd CDA RDA BA
   

Workforce Development Program Scholarships

The Community College of Philadelphia Foundation and its donors are pleased to offer scholarships to students enrolling in select Workforce Development courses. To submit your scholarship application, follow the steps in this Workforce Development Program Scholarship Application Guide.

Payment Plan Available

This program is eligible for a payment plan as a 25% Down payment and 3 Monthly installments. Select this option at time of checkout to pay a 25% deposit at time of checkout, and then be billed (invoiced) in three equal installments. Please note the first installment is due on the month the course starts. *Based on prices as of June 2022: $749.75 [down payment] + $749.75 [1^st installment] + $749.75 [2^nd installment] + $749.75 [3^rd installment] = $2,999 [total cost of the program].

Questions?

Thinking about enrolling but need additional information or assistance with registering? 
//csinquiry [at] ccp.edu (Contact us with your questions here).

"The Dental Assisting Program at Community College of Philadelphia truly started my dental career. What sets CCP apart from other colleges is the cost of tuition and the flexible schedule of the course. The program allowed me to learn a substantial amount of dental knowledge from two inspirational professors. Once I completed the program, I felt confident enough to apply and eventually get multiple job opportunities at various dental offices and to take and pass my Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) exams. I can’t thank the exceptional professors and staff enough for everything. I would recommend this program to anyone!" 

-– Lacey, Dental Assistant Program

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