Overview

Smile Big with An Education in Dental Assisting!

Unlock your potential in dentistry with the CEI Dental Assisting program. Aligned with Idaho State Board of Dentistry standards, our curriculum covers a wide spectrum of skills, from front office management to chairside procedures. Delve into hands-on learning encompassing patient care, infection control, radiology, and beyond. Through supervised externships and clinic opportunities, you'll gain real-world experience, paving the way for a rewarding career as a dental assistant.

Why CEI's Dental Assisting Program?

  • High quality, affordable education
  • High job placement rates – 82% 5-year average
  • Work alongside local dentists
  • Hands on training
    • 8 weeks CEI clinic experience
    • 8 weeks internship in local dental offices
  • Expanded functions training
  • 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio

Key Skills Developed:

You will learn front office and clinical duties, including scheduling patients, patient recall systems, filing, insurance procedures, ordering supplies, infection control, sterile techniques, CPR, first aid, mixing impressions and cements, charting, radiology, sealants, coronal polishing, temporary crowns, and assisting the dentist. This program also offers you hands-on experience in the clinic and supervised externships in area dental offices.

  • Assisting dentists chairside
  • Providing direct patient care
  • Administering front office tasks
  • Digital imaging and x-rays
  • Educating patients in appropriate oral hygiene, flossing, brushing
  • Collecting dental impressions
  • Serving as an infection control officer and developing infection control protocols
  • Preparing and sterilizing equipment
  • Recording patient medical histories and vitals

Program Length

  • Earn an Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) in two full-time semesters (9 months).

NOCTI

NOCTI provides nationally recognized post-secondary occupational competency assessments. Upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting program, CEI dental assisting students will be required to sit for the NOCTI dental assisting competency assessment test.  The fee for the test will be the student’s responsibility.  

Requirements

Application Process

We are excited to assist you with your application and journey to becoming a Dental Assistant! All applicants must complete the following steps to be considered for the Dental Assisting program:

  1. Meet with an Admission Counselor
    New and current CEI students are encouraged to contact an admissions counselor at admissions@cei.edu for guidance and application questions.
  2. Complete the CEI Enrollment Application
    • Complete the general CEI Registration process.
    • Select Dental Assisting as program of study.
  3. Complete the Dental Assisting Enrollment Form
    • Upload signed copy of Dental Assisting Enrollment form in supplemental section of application

Dental Assisting applications are open year round. Submit by July 1st to start the following fall semester.

Important Program Dates

Application Deadline: July 1st
Post-acceptance paperwork: August 1st
New Student Orientation (mandatory):
Second Friday of July
9:00-10:00AM Bldg. 6 Room #131

Additional Program Requirements

After admittance into the Dental Assisting program, the following documentation will be due August 1st. We encourage all applicants to work on the documentation and immunizations prior to applying.

  • PreCheck Background Check
  • TB skin test
    • PPD skin test dates on or after January 1st of application year
  • Proof of Health Insurance
  • BLS CPR Certification
    • Must be American Red Cross or American Heart Association
  • Immunizations
    • Hep B (3 shots) or positive/reactive titer (Series started by August 1st)
    • MMR (2 shots) or positive/reactive titers
    • Tdap (1 shot) – Expires 10 years from the date received
    • Varicella (2 shots) or positive/reactive titer
    • Flu Shot – Due October 1st for current flu season

Immunizations must be on the IRIS report. You can obtain the report from Eastern Idaho Public Health Department. You may be charged a $10 fee to add immunizations to your record or update it.

Student Success

Student Success

Where Are Our Graduates Working?

  • General dentistry
  • Pediatric dentistry
  • Denture clinics
  • Orthodontics
  • Oral surgery
  • Periodontics
  • Endodontics
  • Dental laboratories

How Much Do Our Graduates Make?

Over the last five years, our graduates started out averaging $19,760 to $29,120*
(Based on a 2080-hour work year, wage information is given within the first year of employment)

Placement

  • 82.34% - (Average placement for graduates over the past five years.)
Course Curriculum

Fall Semester/Session - 16 (Weeks)

Course Prefix & NumberCourse TitleCreditsTechnical or Transfer Credit
DTL #121Orientation to Dental Assisting/Office Management2Technical
DTL #124Basic Dental Sciences/Medical Situations 3Technical
DTL #125Dental Operatory Procedures 3Technical
DTL #126 Dental Radiology 3Technical
DTL #129Dental Biology2Technical
OR
MICR #111-1LIntro to Microbiology and Lab (Take this course if you plan to go on to Dental Hygiene)4Transfer
ENGL #101 English Composition 3Transfer
TOTAL16-18

Spring Semester/Session - 16 (Weeks)

Course Prefix & NumberCourse TitleCreditsTechnical or Transfer Credit
DTL #127 Dental Clinic  (Block A)2Technical
DTL #128 Dental Specialties 3Technical
DTL #131Dental Lab Materials/Expanded Functions 3Technical
DTL #132Supervised Work Experience (Block B)5Technical
PSYC #101Intro to Psychology 3Transfer
TOTAL16
Summary ( 32 Weeks)
Technical Credits26-24
Transfer Credits6-10
Grand Total32-34