Mission
The Washtenaw Community College Dental Assisting Program is a one-year certificate program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The program prepares students in an inclusive learning environment for careers in dental assisting. Graduates are eligible for the Registered Dental Assistant state licensure exam.
To achieve this mission, program faculty are committed to the following goals:
- Provide a curriculum that prepares students to function as integral members of the dental team.
- Provide the community with clinically competent dental assistants.
- Prepare students to acquire the knowledge and skills required to obtain state licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant.
Philosophy
These commitments reflect the mission of the College, the DA mission, and certain philosophical beliefs concerning the profession of dental assisting, and the education of dental assistants. These beliefs are to:
- Foster high standards of personal conduct as well as an ethical and moral responsibility.
- Promote dental assisting as a caring profession which demands that the assistant support, teach, and care for a diverse population in a manner that leads patients to self-care.
- Emphasize that the dental assistant is an integral member of the dental health team, helping to increase patient access to dental care, as well as increasing the productivity and efficiency of dental practices.
- Encourage students to participate in activities offered by their professional organization and engage in community service projects.
- Maintain partnerships with dental practitioners to benefit the DA program faculty and students. These partnerships allow the program faculty to: understand and meet the needs of the dental community as well as integrate current knowledge, procedures, and technology into the program.
- Encourage continuous professional development by engaging in lifelong learning.
- Offer students options for program completion that recognize knowledge and skills developed on-the-job in dental offices.