2024-2025 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook

Dental Assisting (A.A.S.)

Location(s): OTC Springfield Campus


A.A.S. Degree: 61 Hours

The dental assisting profession offers a variety of career opportunities in a general or specialty dental offices. Dental assistants often spend much of their day working closely with patients and dentists. OTC’s dental assisting program strives to provide opportunities for students to discover their talents and abilities and to achieve individual excellence.

The dental assisting program is a selective admission program. A separate application process is required for acceptance into this program.  Upon acceptance, the students may take the “program specific courses.” Graduates receive a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree designed to prepare them for the national certification exam, administered by The Dental Assisting National Board and the Missouri Expanded Function Permits, issued by the Missouri Dental Board.

A grade of “C” or better is required for all dental assisting program required courses.

A new class begins each fall and spring semesters. The application deadline for the program is June 15 for the fall start and October 31 for the spring start.  Additional information may be found on the Application Packet webpage link found on the Dental Programs webpage.

The dental assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association located at 211 E Chicago, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611. 800.232.6108  https://coda.ada.org/

 

General Education Requirements - 16 Credit Hours


The Missouri Department of Higher Education has identified a common set of general education courses that have been adopted statewide. These courses are called the “CORE 42.”  CORE 42 courses are guaranteed to transfer to any Missouri public college or university to satisfy general education requirements.

Courses in knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo indicates courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

Courses that do not have this designation may still transfer to public and private colleges and universities in Missouri and elsewhere, but students are encouraged to check the transfer equivalency website of the institution to which they plan to transfer to confirm.

Please refer to the MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

Written Communications - 3 Credit Hours


Institutional Electives - 6 Credit Hours


The 6 elective hours for this category can consist of any course numbered 100 or higher from any area of study that a student is eligible to enroll.