What Kind of Career Can You Expect?
Dental assisting is a professional rewarding career. Entry-level positions include chair-side assistant, front office assistant, and expanded functions assistant. Often these functions are combined into a single position.

For those who invest energy and effort into their role as dental assistant, there are excellent opportunities for advancement.

A career in dental assisting offers a great deal of personal satisfaction and fulfillment for those who enjoy the work.

What is the Outlook for Job Opportunities and Pay?

A growing public concern for dental care and hygiene, as well as an increase in the number of dental insurance programs, has produced a steady demand for more dental assistants in most areas.

Job openings depend on the establishment of new dental practices in the area or the replacement of assistants who are leaving their jobs. Opportunities are also available in less populous areas.

What Skills, Traits, or Prep Classes Would be Helpful?
– Good written and oral communication skills 
– A desire to serve others 
– Manual dexterity in both hands
– Exactness and precise attention to detail 
– Basic typing or word processing skills 
– Current immunization update 
– Hepatitis B vaccine 
– health oriented personal and professional image

What Will You Learn to Do?
– Assist at chair-side—pass instruments and medication 
– Maintain treatment rooms and assist in dental care delivery 
– Take and process x-rays 
– Sterilize and maintain instruments 
– Pour models of teeth 
– Prepare dental materials and mix restorative materials 
– Arrange appointments 
– Manage the dental office and perform bookkeeping 
– Perform first aid and CPR 
– Promote oral hygiene and public health 
– Understand and use dental terminology 
– Communicate professionally, both in writing and in person

A typical day of training includes six hours of classroom and lab work. Graduates are eligible to take the certification exam given by the Dental Assisting National Board and the five Idaho Expanded Function Exams

Are ready to become a Dental Assistant Student?
Read below.

How to Apply

1. Complete a Boise State application and pay the $30 application fee. Note: If you are a current student at Boise State, you must complete and submit a new application for admission however you will not be charged an additional application fee.  When completing your new application check "Professional/Technical" as program type and indicate " Dental Assisting as your major.         
2. Submit official transcripts
3. Complete the COMPASS placement test at our Boise or Nampa locations. (If you have a recent ACT or SAT score or have attended college before you may not need to take the COMPASS - Call us for details). If required to take the compass, you must have the following minimum program admission scores:
      - 74 in reading
      - 68 in writing
      - 45 in math (pre-algebra)
      - if you have taken an ACT or SAT test or have earned college credits in English and Math courses and have earned a total of at least 14 academic credits you may not have to take the Compass.  Please contact our office to talk with an enrollment specialist.
4. A mandatory job shadowing for 1/2 day at a dental office is required.
5. Submit three reference forms. One reference form should be from the dental assistant that you met when you job shadowed. Note: reference letters should be submitted by fax (208) 426-1029 or by mail directly from your reference to us.
6. Submit pre-entrance Physical exam
7. Submit pre-entrance Dental exam.
8. Submit Immunization record.

Additional Requirements

• An Open house is held for all prospective students. You will be notified of the date.
• For First Aid/CPR classes check with your local fire department or Red Cross.
• Pre-entrance physical and dental exam and all immunizations exams must be within six months of your school start date. The HBV immunization is a series of three injection that take several months to complete.  Students must start as soon as they are accepted to assure immunity PRIOR to assignment in dental offices.

Attendance and Study Requirements

• Students in the dental assisting program must allow 3-4 hours per day for outside study, reading, and homework.
• Attendance is required with penalties for excessive absences and make-up time is required for clinical absences.
• Students with childcare responsibilities need to have reliable care arranged with alternate care for the emergency situations.
• The dental assisting curriculum is demanding but achievable for students who have made arrangements and are well organized.  Students should not attempt to work during the week.  Working students often have a hard time keeping grades up.
• Summer is divided into two session and classes are held in the mornings only.  Additional information on the dates will be shared at the open house.
• The school year schedule is essentially 7:40 AM to 4:00 PM with periodic breaks and a lunch hour.
• Students are reponsible for to “recruiting” their own patients.  Students need five adults x-ray patients, people to teach oral hygiene to and child patients to do sealants on.  No charge is made to the patients.

General Program Information

• Applicants are accepted on a first come first serve basis once the application process is completed.
• Alternates are advised of their status and encouraged to stay in contact with the our Student Services office.

Apply now!