Admission Requirements for Dental Assisting Program

1. If not already a Prairie State Student, complete the PSC college application 
After completing the PSC college application, please participate in the on-demand Dental Assisting Program Informational Session. You can access this session by emailing Dawn Piper that you are interested in applying to the DA program.
2. Job Shadow Requirement: Before applying, students must job shadow in a dental office of their choice for 8 hours total and provide a job shadow form signed by the dentist to admissions.
3. Math Requirement: Successful completion of PSC’s MATH 091 or MATH 093 with a C or better; or PSC’s Assessment Exam placement score at Math 094 or higher.
4. English Requirement: Successful completion of PSC’s ENG 099 with a C or better; or PSC’s Assessment Exam Placement Score at ENG 101 level.
5. Submit an official high school transcript or high school equivalency transcript.

Upon completion of the above items, applicants are required to complete a program intent form available on the application portal. Students can access the portal on the Selective Admissions webpage. Transcripts and the program intent form deadline is June 1st. Priority is given to in- district students.

Upon Completion of the above items, applicants are required to complete a program intent form available on the dental assisting certificate program webpage or from an admissions advisor.

In order to be successful in the dental assisting certificate program, a student must have skills and abilities essential to perform the functions of a dental assistant in the dental field. Students applying to the dental assisting certificate program must be able to perform these skills and abilities upon admission to the program with or without reasonable accommodations.  A health care provider must verify the student’s ability to complete these skills and abilities. The Essential Skills and Abilities of a Dental Assistant are as follows: 

Physical Strength and Endurance

• Stoop, bend, squat, reach overhead while maintaining balance 
• Ability to push/pull and lift objects more than 50-100 pounds
• Perform patient care for 8-12 hours; stand for prolonged periods of time

Motor Skills

• Manual finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination
• Physical abilities (including standing, walking, bending, range of motion of extremities) to move from room-to-room and maneuver in small spaces
• Gross and fine motor function sufficient to manipulate instruments to provide safe and effective dental care
• Tactile sensitivity sufficient for the use and control of small instruments

Communication Skills 

• Abilities sufficient for effective interaction with others in spoken and written English
• Ability to accurately transfer gathered data into a patient record
  Ability to read and understand technical and professional materials  
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, confidentiality and respect when speaking with patients, peers, faculty and staff

Sensory Capabilities, Hearing, and Visual Requirements

•   Normal range hearing, either corrected or uncorrected, for functional use 
• Normal or corrected visual acuity sufficient for observation of oral conditions and to determine changes in patient status through visual observation 
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness 
• Ability to discern subtle changes in radiographic density and see in darkroom conditions 
• Ability to clearly see the patient's teeth from a distance  

Intellectual, Conceptual and Cognitive Skills

• Ability to concentrate on moderate to fine detail with frequent interruption
• Ability to attend to multiple functions and patients often for an extended period of time
• Critical thinking and problem solving ability sufficient for clinical judgement 
• Ability to select and use technical principles, ideas, and theories in a problem-solving situation and adjust procedures accordingly
• Ability to work independently and as a team

Professional Attitude and Demeanor

• Ability to present professional appearance 
• Ability to implement measures to maintain own physical and mental health and emotional stability 
• Emotional and mental health necessary to effectively apply knowledge and exercise appropriate judgment 
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability 
• Ability to practice honest and ethical behavior and accountability
• Ability to self-evaluate
• Ability to demonstrate respect for individuals of diverse ethnic, social, emotional and intellectual  backgrounds, religion and/or sexual orientation
• Ability to conduct self in a professional manner at all times