Dental Assistant Certificate, AAS, AAS-T

Program Details PageDental Assistant Certificate, AAS, and AAS-T

Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Dental Assistant Certificate, AAS, AAS-T program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule.

Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the classes. To see which materials are needed for your courses, click this bookstore link (Links to an external site.) and enter the information for each class.

Effective Winter Quarter 2025, RTC will no longer participate in the voluntary CODA accreditation process.

The current cohort Fall 2024 cohort has currently moved to a  “teach-out” phase which will be complete in December 2025. The program will remain in full compliance with all CODA accreditation standards until that time. Successful students will be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination(s).

The next enrollment period is for the Fall 2025 start.  Please contact advising@rtc.edu.

The future entry points for the dental assistant program are in Fall 2025 & Winter 2026.

General Overview

 

When can I start? Fall 2025 (September) or Winter 2026 (January). 

length of the program icon How long is the program?

  • 5 quarters (13 months) and 80 credits for the certificate
  • 6 quarters (16 months) and 90 credits for the AAS degree
  • 6 quarters (16 months) and 95 credits for the AAS-T degree

When do classes meet? Early morning to early afternoons with variances during clinical internships

Are summer classes required? Yes - you will have one required summer quarter.

This program prepares you for employment as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). CDAs work in dental offices performing such tasks as four-handed dentistry, bookkeeping, x-rays, sterilization, infection control, and expanded functions. RTC's Dental Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a division of the American Dental Association.

You can learn more about the DENT program in our $25 class CCP 045 Bridge to Allied Health and Human Services.

What does a dental assistant do?

What is the average salary?

$51,250 annually Links to an external site. in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most dental assistants in King County earn at least $37,180.

Who can I contact with questions?

Overall Materials Needed:

  1. Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers on the RTC campus)
  2. Working internet connection
  3. Pen and paper
  4. Personal health insurance (required start of quarter 1)
  5. Malpractice and general liability insurance ($14.62)
  6. CastleBranch account Links to an external site. (RR67), including a national criminal background check ($106)
  7. Physical exam and immunizations Links to an external site.
  8. Textbooks ($510)
  9. Clinic and lab supplies ($755)
  10. Safety and personal protective equipment ($240)
  11. Uniform ($250)
  12. ADAA (American Dental Assistants Association) membership ($35)
  13. Department of Health RDA credential ($40) 

A complete supply list will be e-mailed to you after you are admitted to the Dental Assistant program.

All DENT courses must be completed with 2.7 or higher. COL 101, Composition, and General Education for the degree require a minimum GPA of 2.0 for graduation.

Materials Warning

Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!

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Quarter 1

 [Fall] Quarter 1 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $2,069 (add $156 if you take AMATH 190 instead of DENT 161)

Description: You earn your first aid / CPR certification, learn about roles in the dental office. You also examine state laws and ethical expectations for healthcare professionals. This quarter has four core classes and one English class.
You may be interested in our Bridge to College Composition support class for COMP 100!
If you plan to earn the AAS-T transfer degree, you should take ENGL& 101.

  Take AMATH 190 instead of DENT 161 if you need a prerequisite for your AAS-T transfer math class.
Learn more about English and math placement options.
 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
DENT 100 First Aid, CPR & Vital Signs YES 3
DENT 101 Dental Profession YES 3
DENT 161
or AMATH 190
Mathematics
or Financial Algebra
NO 3
or 5
COMP 100
or ENGL& 101
Applied Composition
or English Composition (required for AAS-T degree)
NO 5

Quarter 2

[Winter] Quarter 2 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $3,008 including dental exam and dosimeter badge fees
Description: You learn an amazing range of skills this quarter, with lots of hands-on time in the dental clinic: setting up and maintaining patient charts, preparing dental instruments tray, practicing sterilization and disinfection techniques and dental instrument preparation, taking x-rays, identifying head and neck anatomy, and communicating effectively. This quarter has six core program classes.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
DENT 102 Pre-Clinical Assisting I YES 5
DENT 104 Dental Materials I YES 2
DENT 133 Infection Control & Microbiology no new books 5
DENT 141 Dental Sciences I no new books 3
DENT 153 Radiology I YES 3
DENT 171 Interpersonal Communications no new books 2

Quarter 3

[Spring] Quarter 3 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $2,675 including a dental exam fee
Description: You continue to build your assisting skills: learning dental office software, mixing dental fillings and compounds, identifying advanced oral anatomy, understanding dental hygiene, and taking different x-rays. This quarter has seven core program classes.
Notes: You must pass DENT 102 before taking DENT 112; DENT 104 before taking DENT 114; and DENT 153 before taking DENT 154.

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 112 Pre-Clinical Assisting II no new books 3
DENT 114 Dental Materials II no new books 3
DENT 134 Specialties no new books 3
DENT 138 Business Administration YES 2
DENT 145 Dental Sciences II no new books 3
DENT 151 Preventive Dentistry & Nutrition no new books 2
DENT 154 Radiology II no new books 2

Quarter 4

[Summer] Quarter 4 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,887 including a clinical placement fee
Description: You work with a clinic dentist, using all of the skills you have learned so far, and observe professionals in their offices. You learn about expanded functions (sealants, polish, fluoride, anesthesia). This quarter has three core program classes.
Notes: You must pass DENT 102 and DENT 112 before taking DENT 103. You also must pass DENT 154 before taking DENT 155.

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 103 Clinical Assisting I no new books 6
DENT 105 Expanded Functions no new books 3
DENT 155 Radiology III no new books 3

Quarter 5

[Fall] Quarter 5 Course Information
Approximate Tuition: $2,448 including dental exam and clinical placement fees
Description: You learn to make dental molds and casts and create nightguards, study for your national licensing exam, and prepare your job application materials. This quarter has five core program classes including both of your internships.

It's time to apply for your certificate of completion!

 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 137 Laboratory Procedures no new books 2
DENT 157 DANB Exam Prep no new books 2
DENT 191 Job Seeking Skills no new books 1
DENT 192 Internship I NO 4
DENT 193 Internship II NO 5

Certificate of Completion Estimated Total: $14,000 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

 

Quarter 6 for the AAS Degree

[Winter] Quarter 6 Course Information for the AAS degree
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,436

Description: In this optional sixth quarter, you need to take two general education classes: social science and any General Education elective. Recommendations are listed below.
 
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
PSYC& 100
or ANTH& 235
General Psychology
or Cross-Cultural Medicine (both recommended)
or other social science
varies by class 5
NUTR& 101 Human Nutrition (recommended)
or any General Education class
varies by class 5

AAS Degree Estimated Total: $15,436 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

 

Quarter 6 for the AAS-T Degree

[Winter] Quarter 6 Course Information for the AAS-T degree
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,841

Description: In this optional sixth quarter, you need to take three general education classes: social science, transfer mathematics, and any General Education elective. Recommendations are listed below.
 
It's time to apply for your AAS-T degree

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
PSYC& 100
or ANTH& 235
General Psychology
or Cross-Cultural Medicine (both recommended)
or other social science
varies by class 5
NUTR& 101 Human Nutrition (recommended)
or any General Education class
varies by class 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146
Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
YES 5

AAS-T Degree Estimated Total: $15,841 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

Continue your education! You can choose from applied bachelor programs in healthcare.

Quarter 1

 [Fall] Quarter 1 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $2,069 (add $156 if you take AMATH 190 instead of DENT 161)

Description: You earn your first aid / CPR certification, learn about roles in the dental office. You also examine state laws and ethical expectations for healthcare professionals. This quarter has four core classes and one English class.
You may be interested in our Bridge to College Composition support class for COMP 100!
If you plan to earn the AAS-T transfer degree, you should take ENGL& 101.

  Take AMATH 190 instead of DENT 161 if you need a prerequisite for your AAS-T transfer math class.
Learn more about English and math placement options.
 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
DENT 100 First Aid, CPR & Vital Signs YES 3
DENT 101 Dental Profession YES 3
DENT 161
or AMATH 190
Mathematics
or Financial Algebra
NO 3
or 5
COMP 100
or ENGL& 101
Applied Composition
or English Composition (required for AAS-T degree)
NO 5

Quarter 2

[Winter] Quarter 2 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $3,008 including dental exam and dosimeter badge fees
Description: You learn an amazing range of skills this quarter, with lots of hands-on time in the dental clinic: setting up and maintaining patient charts, preparing dental instruments tray, practicing sterilization and disinfection techniques and dental instrument preparation, taking x-rays, identifying head and neck anatomy, and communicating effectively. This quarter has six core program classes.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
DENT 102 Pre-Clinical Assisting I YES 5
DENT 104 Dental Materials I YES 2
DENT 133 Infection Control & Microbiology no new books 5
DENT 141 Dental Sciences I no new books 3
DENT 153 Radiology I YES 3
DENT 171 Interpersonal Communications no new books 2

Quarter 3

[Spring] Quarter 3 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $2,675 including a dental exam fee
Description: You continue to build your assisting skills: learning dental office software, mixing dental fillings and compounds, identifying advanced oral anatomy, understanding dental hygiene, and taking different x-rays. This quarter has seven core program classes.
Notes: You must pass DENT 102 before taking DENT 112; DENT 104 before taking DENT 114; and DENT 153 before taking DENT 154.

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 112 Pre-Clinical Assisting II no new books 3
DENT 114 Dental Materials II no new books 3
DENT 134 Specialties no new books 3
DENT 138 Business Administration YES 2
DENT 145 Dental Sciences II no new books 3
DENT 151 Preventive Dentistry & Nutrition no new books 2
DENT 154 Radiology II no new books 2

Quarter 4

[Summer] Quarter 4 Course Information
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,887 including a clinical placement fee
Description: You work with a clinic dentist, using all of the skills you have learned so far, and observe professionals in their offices. You learn about expanded functions (sealants, polish, fluoride, anesthesia). This quarter has three core program classes.
Notes: You must pass DENT 102 and DENT 112 before taking DENT 103. You also must pass DENT 154 before taking DENT 155.

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 103 Clinical Assisting I no new books 6
DENT 105 Expanded Functions no new books 3
DENT 155 Radiology III no new books 3

Quarter 5

[Fall] Quarter 5 Course Information
Approximate Tuition: $2,448 including dental exam and clinical placement fees
Description: You learn to make dental molds and casts and create nightguards, study for your national licensing exam, and prepare your job application materials. This quarter has five core program classes including both of your internships.

It's time to apply for your certificate of completion!

 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
DENT 137 Laboratory Procedures no new books 2
DENT 157 DANB Exam Prep no new books 2
DENT 191 Job Seeking Skills no new books 1
DENT 192 Internship I NO 4
DENT 193 Internship II NO 5

Certificate of Completion Estimated Total: $14,000 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

 

Quarter 6 for the AAS Degree

[Winter] Quarter 6 Course Information for the AAS degree
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,436

Description: In this optional sixth quarter, you need to take two general education classes: social science and any General Education elective. Recommendations are listed below.
 
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
 
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
PSYC& 100
or ANTH& 235
General Psychology
or Cross-Cultural Medicine (both recommended)
or other social science
varies by class 5
NUTR& 101 Human Nutrition (recommended)
or any General Education class
varies by class 5

AAS Degree Estimated Total: $15,436 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

 

Quarter 6 for the AAS-T Degree

[Winter] Quarter 6 Course Information for the AAS-T degree
Approximate Tuition and Fees: $1,841

Description: In this optional sixth quarter, you need to take three general education classes: social science, transfer mathematics, and any General Education elective. Recommendations are listed below.
 
It's time to apply for your AAS-T degree

Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
PSYC& 100
or ANTH& 235
General Psychology
or Cross-Cultural Medicine (both recommended)
or other social science
varies by class 5
NUTR& 101 Human Nutrition (recommended)
or any General Education class
varies by class 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146
Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
YES 5

AAS-T Degree Estimated Total: $15,841 plus the cost of immunizations and health insurance

Continue your education! You can choose from applied bachelor programs in healthcare.

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