Dental Assisting | Dipl - Western Iowa Tech Community College

This program is designed to prepare you to assume an active role in providing quality dental services under the direction of a licensed dentist. Preparation includes infection control management, chairside assisting procedures in general and specialty dentistry; management of medical and dental emergencies; intra- and extra-oral radiographic procedures; patient education; fabrication of oral appliances; and basic business office procedures.

You'll learn all the skills necessary to practice dental assisting in this two-semester program.

Learn theory in the classroom or online.
Practice skills hands-on in our state-of-the-art lab at the Sioux City campus.
Apply knowledge and skills in multiple clinic settings.

This program has additional entrance requirements. You must complete all requirements for program admission.

Dental Assisting Program Accreditation

The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements". The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 800.232.6108 or at 401 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300, Chicago, IL 60611-4250. The Commission’s web address is https://coda.ada.org/.

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Meet Your Advisor

Entrance Requirements

All students must submit a copy of the following items for application to the dental assisting program:

Official High School, GED, or HSED transcript with date of graduation. For applicants currently in high school, please present a current high school transcript and then later submit the final official high school transcript with the date of graduation.
Official college transcripts of previously attended institutions
ACT Scores (if completed) listed on high school transcript or other official documentation.

All students must meet the following criteria for admission/acceptance into the dental assisting program.

Verification of High School, GED or HSED Graduation.

All students must meet one of the following criteria for admission/acceptance into the dental assisting program:

ACT composite score of at least 19
Completed an associates degree or higher from an accredited institution
High School GPA of 2.7 or higher or HSED score of 55 or higher
Satisfactory completion of ENG 105 and PSY 111 with no grade lower than a C

*Required for A.S. Pre-Dentistry or Dental Hygiene. The college has pre-admissions requirements for BIO 151: Nutrition, BIO 169: Anatomy and Physiology, and CHM-122 Introduction to General Chemistry. Please contact Student Services for more information.

Meet Your Faculty and Staff

Joni Miller CFA, RDA, EFDA, BS
Dental Assisting Instructor
Direct: joni.miller@witcc.edu
Call 712.317.3171
Sioux City Campus, Room L304

Kathryn Ewing
Dental Assisting Instructor
Direct: kathryn.ewing@witcc.edu
Call 712.274.6436
Sioux City Campus, Room L314

Accreditation Information

The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of "approval without reporting requirements".

The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at:
313.440.4653
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
The Commissions web address is: www.ada.org/en

Licensure Information

The Western Iowa Tech Dental Assisting program prepares you for licensure in Iowa and national certification through the Dental Assisting National Board. Western Iowa Tech teaches a global curriculum through a CODA Accredited program allowing you the ability to practice anywhere in the United States. Graduates are directed to contact licensing agencies in the state which you wish to practice for details about state specific licensing and certification.

Iowa Dental Board
400 SW Eighth Street, Suite D
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4687
Phone 515-281-5157
https://dentalboard.iowa.gov/
Contact information for other State and Regional Dental Practice Boards: www.danb.org. Click on "Meet State Requirements."

View Program Licensure Information

Estimated Program Costs

In-state tuition and fees: $7,455.00 * (program total)
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $7,665.00 * (program total)
Educational fees: $97.00/semester
Estimated books: $200.00/semester **
Estimated transportation and personal expense: $1,373.00/semester
Estimated student housing and food: $3,450.00/semester

* This is an approximate cost based on tuition and fees set by the Board of Directors before each school year. Course level fees may also apply. Use our class search page to find more information specific to each class. Additional charges for licensure or credential testing may be a part of your program.
** The cost of books varies per program.