Dental assistants play a critical role in delivering high-quality oral health care and are essential members of the dental care team. The profession is well suited for individuals who demonstrate strong communication skills, possess manual dexterity and seek a career with meaningful responsibilities and opportunities for growth.
The Dental Assisting program is dedicated to providing knowledge, practical skills and professional values to support public health initiatives and advance the dental profession. Faculty are committed to providing a comprehensive, student-centered educational experience that promotes critical thinking, independent judgment and professional conduct, with the goal of maximizing each student's academic, clinical and personal development.
The program features advanced technology designed to enhance student learning and clinical training:
The sites with which Wake Tech has contracted to provide clinical training require that all students assigned to their sites provide a criminal background check to Wake Tech and that the college notify the clinical site of any individuals who have criminal records.
The sites have the discretionary right to refuse to permit a student having a criminal record from receiving training in their facility, and this determination is made by each of the sites individually, without input from the college. Most clinical sites will not review or make a determination on pending cases that have not been resolved.
The background check includes every county where an applicant has lived during the past 10 years. "Criminal record" includes any of the following:
Students must comply with the requirements of clinical facilities regarding immunizations. Proof of immunity is mandated with rare exceptions, and only if there is a documented medical reason such as pregnancy, allergy or a life-threatening reaction.
Potential employers are welcome to post job openings at no cost on Handshake, Wake Tech's career services platform. Opportunities may include positions for dental hygienists, dental assistants, front office staff and related roles.
Additionally, the Dental Assisting program maintains a private alumni Facebook group where job openings are shared with graduates who are active on the platform. To have a job opening posted in this group, email the job details to Assistant Professor Cindy Daniels at [email protected].
Wake Tech academic programs (credit and non-credit) that are designed to lead to professional licenses are tied to North Carolina or national certifications. If you intend to pursue professional licenses outside North Carolina once you have completed your academic program at Wake Tech, please refer to the Professional Licensure section of the college's distance education authorization page for additional information.
The Dental Assisting program is accredited by the American Dental Association and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has been granted the accreditation status of Accredited Without Reporting Requirements. The commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
A copy of the Dental Assisting Accreditation Standards is available online, along with the CODA Policies and Procedures, including guidelines for filing complaints. CODA can be contacted at 800-232-6108 or at 401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The commission's website is https://coda.ada.org.
Wake Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Wake Technical Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Wake Technical Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).