Dental Assisting
You will complete this program in less than a year and work in a team environment alongside dentists, hygienists and other assistants in this rewarding profession. Our graduates have achieved 100 percent job placement in dental offices for the past five years. Classroom and lab work teaches you proper general chairside skills, radiographic and laboratory techniques and effective oral/written communication skills. Through the program's clinical rotations in local dental offices, you'll gain experience working with diverse populations in healthcare.
Dental assistants assist healthcare providers with sterilization of instruments, preparing materials, office administration and assisting with dental procedures including fillings, crowns and extractions. Many of our graduates find this healthcare field rewarding with good working hours, salary and benefits. If you enjoy working with people and caring for their dental health in a positive team environment, this career is the perfect fit for you. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the Iowa Dental Board state registration exams to become a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). Graduates are also eligible to take examinations prepared by the Dental Assisting National Board to become a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
Accreditation and Awards
The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements." The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312.440.4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. View the Commission's website.
Paying for the Program
Tuition and Fees
Out-of-State Tuition and Fees
Program Supplies
Financial Aid & Tuition Assistance
There are many options available for tuition savings. Credit programs may have opportunities for Financial Aid eligibility, while non-credit programs have separate tuition savings available on a per-program basis.
Kibbie Grant Eligible
Last-Dollar Scholarship
NICC Scholarship Eligible
Vo-Tech Grant Eligible
Learn more about Financial Aid.
Career Outlook
Enrollment Process
- Apply for admission.
- Submit official high school, high school equivalency and/or college transcripts to the Admissions Office of the campus you plan to attend.
- Complete ACCUPLACER® reading and writing assessment and ALEKS® math assessment for course placement. Assessments may be waived based on previous college coursework or submission of valid ACT® or SAT® test scores. ACCUPLACER® scores are valid for three years, and ALEKS® scores are valid for two years.
- View the Program Admission Checklist.
In addition to the College enrollment process, applicants must be a high school graduate or equivalent and achieve a minimum ACCUPLACER CLASSIC® reading score of 70 or ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION® reading score of 250. ACT® scores are also acceptable.
Health sciences programs have additional admission requirements including background checks, health records and training requirements. Please review these requirements for program admission.
Program Information
View a sample schedule for this program of study.
Review program courses, admissions and academic requirements.
Additional Information
Gainful Employment Information
View gainful employment information for this program.
American Dental Assistants Association
Students will have the opportunity to become student members of the American Dental Assistants Association, which also provides membership in the Iowa Dental Assistants Association and the Dubuque District Dental Assistants Society.
Licensure and Certification Disclosure
Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. Use this state guide to identify the states in which NICC program requirements fulfill the state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.
MSD Information
Northeast Iowa Community College is committed to protecting the health of students, staff, visitors and patients. Any person enrolled in a healthcare program with a clinical component may be exposed to environmental hazards and blood and body fluids. NICC complies with all OSHA standards and follows CDC Guidelines for Standard Precautions during all patient contact.
Dental Assisting Clinic
Dental Assisting students have the opportunity to put learned skills into practice under the direction of volunteer dentists and NICC faculty which provides services to referred patients.
Program Completion Data
| Fiscal Year | # Students Enrolled | # Students Completed | Percentage of Student Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 16 | 11 | 69% |
| 2018 | 25 | 18 | 72% |
| 2017 | 18 | 15 | 83% |
Iowa Dental Board Registration Exam Results
(Jurisprudence, Radiography, Infection Control)
| Completion Year | Pass Rates |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 100% |
| 2018 | 100% |
| 2017 | 100% |
Transfer Information
The Dental Assisting program maintains formal transfer agreements with the institutions listed below. Students are encouraged to speak with their transfer college or university to verify that their planned courses at NICC will meet necessary requirements. Learn more about transferring from NICC.
Program Contacts
- Email: klostermannd@nicc.edu
- Phone: 844.642.2338, ext. 2227
- Location: Peosta
- Email: kohlmeyerje@nicc.edu
- Phone: 844.642.2338, ext. 2304
- Location: Peosta