The Dental Assistant program is longer a first come, first serve acceptance. The program uses a selection process. The following information will guide you through the process:

Admissions Process

• Review the Dental Assistant information on the website and the Program Admissions Criteria below
• Attend a Dental Assistant Information Meeting
• Apply to SCTCC and declare a HCT/Dental Assistant Major
• Plan which classes to take and in what order, based on your schedule, class availability and prerequisites classes.  Know your program prerequisites and which classes you need to take.  See Program Checklist.
• Contact or meet with the HCT/Dental Assistant Enrollment Specialist each semester if you are uncertain of which classes to take or if you need help understanding if you meet the Program Criteria.

Dental Assistant Program Admission and Acceptance Requirements

• Applicants considered for admission to the dental assistant program MUST have all the general education/general studies courses completed prior to the start of the program. Preference will be given to students with all general education/general studies prerequisite courses completed by February 1st of the year they are applying for. Applications will be accepted from the 3rd Tuesday of September until February 1st of the year the applicant is applying for or until the program is full.
• Applicants without prerequisite courses completed may apply as a Health Care Technician/Dental Assistant emphasis student. This will allow the student to take the prerequisite courses.
• Official transcripts must be attached to the college application (visit www.sctcc.edu to obtain an application form.)
• Applicants must be a high school graduate or GED equivalent.
• A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher from the prerequisite courses is required and a GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in the general education coursework to be considered for admission.

Acceptance Requirements (AAS degree- Diploma)

• Rubric Guidelines- Point System used for Applicants (.PDF)
• Dental Assistant FAQs (.PDF)

Prerequisites and general educations courses can be transferred from other schools to SCTCC. Please contact Lana Feddema at 320-308-1595 for course equivalency from other colleges and universities. 

Note: The class of 30 students is selected in the spring with preference to those students that have completed all the prerequisites. The applicants who do not have all prerequisites completed by the February 1 deadline will be considered for admission. These students will be placed onto the alternate list upon SCTCC receiving an official transcript of successful completion of courses. These students will be placed according to their GPA of completed coursework.