Dental Assistant

A Dental Assistant works in a dental office or other dental facility and is considered an indispensable partner on the team. A Dental Assistant performs various administrative and clinical tasks. Dental Assistant program students learn the principles of front and back-office dental assisting. They will be introduced to the anatomy and physiology fundamentals of the oral cavity.

Students will practice and become proficient in various clinical skills, including patient education, chair-side assistance, X-ray procedures, and coronal polishing. The program includes didactic and hands-on laboratory training, as well as a clinical externship component, where each student will be placed in a dental office or facility.

Program goals and objectives.

• Graduate students demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of a competent entry-level dental assistant.
• Provide quality education and training that develops the potential of each student to become a productive, responsible, and professional member of society, as well as a skilled member of the dental assisting workforce.
• Foster open access and a supportive environment to encourage student success in the classroom, laboratory, and externship sites.
• Prepare students to organize, prioritize, and delegate care by communicating effectively with dental team members.
• Adhere to professional standards, incorporating a Dental Assistant’s legal and ethical responsibilities.
• Encourage students to uphold professionalism, integrity, and high standards of excellence.
• Heed professional standards incorporating legal and ethical responsibilities.

All applicants to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts must meet the General Admission Requirements for all Programs, including the entrance exam where required, and the additional admission requirements for this program.

• Be at least 17 to be admitted to the program with a parent’s or guardian’s consent. Applicants must be at least 18 at the beginning of the clinical externship.
• Submit an essay (no longer than one (1) page, double-spaced, typed, or handwritten) that describes the following: • Reason for the applicant’s desire to become a Dental Assistant. • The applicant’s attributes that will support their ability to complete the DA program. • The applicant has the necessary people, routines, and resources to support their efforts throughout the program.

The program information, length, and schedule are subject to change.

The Dental Assistant (DA) program provides a library and classrooms with audiovisual teaching aids, textbooks, and simulators. The Instructor-to-Student ratio is 1:12 in the laboratory, 1:6 in preclinical procedures,1:30 during residential lectures, and 1:25 during online lectures. Classes begin every twelve (12) weeks.

The program comprises seven (7) didactic/laboratory courses in four-week blocks. DA 100-Infection control is taught before the students start any other courses. After completing the DA-100 course, students will take and complete all other courses. DA 200-202, and DA 202-205 are taught in sequence depending on the quarter of the start. Students must complete all didactic/laboratory courses before starting the DA 300 Externship course.

Students must be available for didactic and laboratory coursework from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. Students may be required to accommodate alternative schedules based on facility placement and business hours during the externship. Students must be able to complete the specific rotations on the provided schedule.

Students receive 200 hours of didactic lectures, 384 hours of laboratory instruction time, and 180 hours of clinical externship. This allows students to apply their lecture topics and hands-on lab skills in practical use when placed in a dental facility. Students will take technical courses, which may be offered on campus, online, or in a combination of formats.

The minimum required outside work time for students is 182.5 hours. The curriculum equips students with the technical, clinical, and interpersonal skills required to excel in the dental assisting field. A certificate is awarded upon completion of the program. The expected program completion time is 32 weeks, excluding holidays and vacation times.

Class times can and may be rescheduled on an alternate day of the week (Sunday through Saturday) to ensure on-time program completion and fulfillment of required program hours.

No upcoming start date is published for this program at this campus; contact the campus for the next start.

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $75.00; Tuition $15,617.25. Total program cost $15,792.25. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Total fees per period of enrollment. Period 1: $7,983.63; Period 2: $7,808.62.

Cost of Attendance, 2026–2027 (one academic year). Tuition & Fees $15,717.25; Books $75.00; Transportation $6,960.00; Food & Housing $20,171.00; Personal Expenses $729.00; Loan Fees $98.00; Laptop Fees $450.00; Total Cost of Attendance (One Academic Year) $44,200.25. Individual student costs will vary.

Financial aid. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Direct and Direct PLUS Loans, Cal Grant, Sallie Mae® and Campus Door loans, and veteran benefits, for those who qualify. Each campus has a Financial Aid Advisor. Gurnick's FAFSA school code is 041698.

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Other fees, as applicable. ATI TEAS $120; background check $33–$75; drug testing $74–$148; CPR $55–$80; fingerprinting $81 and up; licensing board fees $200–$500 depending on the exam and license; campus parking permit $25; graduation ceremony fee $20–$50. Some of these fees may be paid by Gurnick Academy for some programs.

Career paths. Dental Assistant.

Certification and licensure. 8-hour Infection Control Certificate; Coronal Polishing Certificate; Radiation Safety Certificate.

School Performance Fact Sheet, calendar year 2024. Dental Assistant – 946.5 Clock Hours at the Modesto campus reported an on-time completion rate of 59% (13 of 22 students available for graduation); a job placement rate of 65% (11 of 17 graduates available for employment employed in the field) (published March 17, 2026).