Northwestern College Students interested in transferring to PSC - Please fill out the form below and our team will reach out to discuss your options.
Student Interest Form
The dental assisting program will prepare student with skills necessary to perform
a variety of tasks required to provide quality care
in the field of dentistry such as handling of dental materials, exposing radiographs,
treatment room and patient preparation and
performing office management skills. Clinical externships are completed off-campus
at area dental offices under the supervision of
dentists and dental assistants.
Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the Dental Assisting
National
Board (DANB) examination.
Program Requirements
General Education Core
Area of Concentration (courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher)
Program Total: 31 credits
*No HESI required. Students will have demonstrated competence in most areas tested on the HESI through completing the DA program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 wage data external site and 2016-2026 employment projections
Upon completion of the above items, applicants are required to complete a program intent formon the dental assisting certificate program webpage or from an admissions advisor.
All students enrolled in the dental assisting program will be required to complete criminal background check, 10-panel drug screen and physical examination and demonstrate proof of immunizations and/or immunity by midterm if the second semester of the program. Failure to have all requirements completed will prohibit the student from progressing to the final semester of the program.
Transcripts and the program intent form deadline is June 1st. Priority is given to in- district students.If a student’s criminal background check presents a positive personal history, the
Dean of Allied Health and Emergency Services and/or the Vice President of Academic
Affairs will review the findings to determine if the information would exclude the
student from participating in the clinical experiences required in the program and
thus exclude the student from being admitted into the dental assisting program. Disqualifying
offenses defined in Section 955.160 of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act
is used to determine offenses that would prohibit admission into the program. Details
of disqualifying offenses can be found at
http://www.idph.state.il.us/nar/disconvictions.htm. If the student believes that the information is in error, they may obtain a fingerprint
background check, at his/her own expense, to refute or confirm the initial findings.
Felony convictions may adversely affect their ability to sit for certification exams and to receive employment as a dental assistant.
DANB will review the documentation related to each offense, and make a case-by-case determination in consultation with legal counsel as to the candidate’s eligibility to test, to earn certification or recertify.
Please note some dental facilities may require an additional criminal background check. Cost of all criminal background checks will be at the student’s expense.
All students accepted into the Dental Assisting program must successfully pass a 10-panel drug screening through CastleBranch as a condition of admission into the program. The drug screen must include the results for the following:
Authorization for the drug screen shall be furnished by the student and the student shall be responsible for the required fees. The drug screening must be ordered through CastleBranch, available locations to do the screening will be listed through CastleBranch. The student must complete the drug screening at one of those locations. The results provided from the testing site to CastleBranch for documentation. In the event of a positive drug screen (not cleared by your healthcare provider), you will not be admitted into the Prairie State College Dental Assisting Program. If the initial drug screen is positive, the student may refute the positive results (legally prescribed substances only) and at the student’s expense, complete a more extensive drug test.
Following the initial drug screen students may be subject to random drug screening for reasonable suspicion, or if the student has been out of the program longer than one year. If a random drug screen is positive without documentation of medical necessity, or a student refuses to complete a random drug screen, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program. If a second drug screen is positive without documented medical necessity or the student refuses to complete a second drug screen, the student will be dismissed from the Dental Assisting Program without opportunity for reentering. Any student who fails a urine drug screen or refuses to complete a urine drug screen will be referred to counseling for follow-up. Cost of the drug screening will be at the student’s expense.
All students accepted into the Dental Assisting program must complete a physical examination and demonstrate proof of immunizations and/or immunity. The physical examination must be completed on provided forms. Your physician must thoroughly complete the form.
The physical examination must include the following:
Cost of the physical exam and immunizations will be at the student’s expense.
If a student has chosen not to be vaccinated due to medical, religious or cultural reasons they will be asked to sign an acknowledgement that they are aware that an off-campus learning facility may not accept the student without proof of immunizations. The program will not guarantee an alternate placement if a student is rejected from a clinical site. Documentation from a medical facility and/or clergy will be required if vaccines have not been completed. All other components of the required physical including the TB test must be completed.
NELDA exam cost |
$400 |
2 sets of Navy Blue Scrub Top, Pants and Jacket |
$100 |
Shoes: clean, white, grey, or black gym shoes with rubber soles (minimal coloring on the gym shoe is acceptable). Shoes must be closed-toe and back. Shoes must cover the tops of the foot. |
$30 |
Castlebranch compliance tracker: drug test & background check |
$105 |
Texts for all Dental Assisting courses |
$600 |
Physical Exam and Immunizations ** Cost for physical exam and immunization can vary considerably depending on healthcare coverage. |
$200 |
DA101 |
2 credit hours |
$498 in district |
|
DA103 |
4 credit hours |
$996 in district |
lab fee $75 |
DA104 |
4 credit hours |
$996 in district |
lab fee $75 |
DA298 |
2 credit hours |
$498 in district |
|
Total Tuition & Fees for Semester 1 |
$3670 |
|
|
Registration Fee $10 |
2 General Education Courses 3 credit hours each $174 x 3 credit hours = $1044 |
4 Dental Assisting Courses $174+75 credit hour healthcare course surcharge
DA106 |
4 credit hours |
$996 in district |
lab fee $75 |
DA201 |
4 credit hours |
$996 in district |
lab fee $75 |
DA299 |
2 credit hours |
$498 |
|
Total Tuition & Fees for Semester 2 |
$3544 |
|
|
NOTE: Tuition and Fees are subject to change each year. Travel to/from clinical sites is at the student’s expense. Any additional immunizations or criminal background check requested by a clinical site is at the student’s expense.