Prerequisites
Thank you for your interest in the Dental Assisting Program. Our mission is to provide each student with the academic and clinical skills necessary to obtain certification as a Nationally and State Certified Dental Assistant. Upon completion of our program students will be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination and will qualify to take state examinations for becoming Certified Dental Assistants. Note that completion of this program does not guarantee certification. Please call the Health and Public Services Division at (505) 527-7630 for further assistance.
The following classes are prerequisites and are recommended to be completed before application to the program:

Program Content: Certificate (45-47 credits)
NOTE: Courses preceded by an asterisk (*) must be completed before a student can apply to the Dental Assistant program. Courses appearing in italics may be applied toward a bachelor's degree at NMSU.
General Education Requirements (11-13 credits)
*ENGL 111G Rhetoric and Composition (4 cr.)
*OECS 101 Computer Basics, OR
*OECS 105 Introduction to Microcomputer Technology, OR
*CS 110 Computer Literacy (1-3 cr.)
PSY 201G Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)
OEHO 101 Communications for Health Care Students, OR
COMM 253G Public Speaking, OR
COMM 265G Principles of Human Communication (3 cr.)
Related Requirements - 3 credits
OEHO 225 Nutrition for Health Occupations, OR
HNFS 163 Nutrition for Health (3 cr.)
NOTE: Although OEHO 225 lists additional prerequisites/co-requisites, these are not required by the Dental Assisting program.
  • ENG 111G Rhetoric and Composition

Choose one or more:

  • OECS 101 Computer Basics
  • OECS 105 Introduction to Microcomputers
The following classes are prerequisites that may be taken prior to application to the program or during subsequent semesters, but must be completed prior to a certificate of course completion is issued:
  • PSY 201G Introduction to Psychology

Choose one or more:

  • OEHO 101 Communications for Health Care Students
  • Comm. 253G Public Speaking
  • Comm. 265G Principles of Human Communication
If you have already completed the prerequisites listed above you may want to take the following classes to enhance your learning potential:
  • OEHO 120 Medical Terminology (highly recommended)
  • COLL 101 College Success
  • COLL 201 Critical Thinking
  • HLS 150 Personal Health and Wellness
  • COLL 108 Academic Reading and Study Skills
The Dental Assisting Program has limited enrollment and currently accepts twelve (12) students each Spring semester. Completed application packets must be given to the program coordinator or health and public services division secretary no later than the October 15 deadline of each calendar year. The following documents must be properly completed and turned in for consideration:
  1. An application for admission to DABCC must have previously been completed and submitted to the admissions office with the $15 processing fee.
  2. Completed application form for the dental assisting program—failure to sign and complete this form will eliminate your application.
  3. High school transcripts and a copy of high school diploma.
  4. Current official transcripts from colleges or universities (other than DABCC or NMSU) where prerequisites have been studied. Without these transcripts the courses cannot be used as consideration in the selection process.
  5. Unofficial transcripts for all classes taken at DABCC or NMSU.
  6. Proof of county residency, if applicable. A copy of a utility bill, credit card bill, rent receipt, drivers license, or voter registration card are acceptable.
  7. Copy of HOBET (Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test) test results.
Dental Assisting Program
Admission Process and Selection Criteria
Applicants are solely responsible for meeting all deadlines required for admission to the Dental Assisting Program. This includes but is not limited to cut-off dates and times for the application process, orientation dates, and submission of any related information required for program admission. Students are also responsible for notifying the program coordinator of any name changes, or changes to telephone numbers, mailing or residential addresses.
Requirements:
  • High school diploma or GED with minimum GPA of 2.5
  • Minimum college GPA of 2.5 (if applicable)
  • Must have passed all prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better
  1. Complete an Application for Admission to DABCC form and submit with $15 application fee.
  2. Arrange for official high school and college transcripts to be mailed directly from previous schools to the DABCC admissions office (use the Official Transcript Request form, included in the dental assisting program application packet). Submit an unofficial copy of transcripts with your application packet. (GED scores need to be mailed directly from the State Department of Education.)
  3. Submit proof of county residency
  4. Provide copies of current immunization records (including Hepatitis B and a current tuberculosis screening)
  5. Provide a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card
  6. Contact the DABCC admissions office (527-7569) to schedule testing; you will need to take the COMPASS test or provide ACT scores. You may also want to schedule an appointment with the advising office (527-7683). You may begin studies in general education and related requirement courses.
  7. Take the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET). These test results must be received by Martha McCaslin, Dental Assisting Program Coordinator, no later than one week before the application deadline.
  8. Complete all prerequisites and technical (dental assisting curriculum) requirements with a grade of C or better.
  9. Provide documentation of eight (8) hours of observation in a dental office observing a dental assistant. Forms are available from the Program Director for this purpose.
  10. Submit your completed application packet to the dental assisting program coordinator on or before the annual October 15 deadline for consideration to the program.

 

mmccasli@nmsu.edu