Dental Assistant

After successful completion of the Dental Assisting Program, students are eligible for certification in the following areas:

• Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
• Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
• Radiation Safety
• Coronal Polish
• Pit and Fissure Sealants
• Infection Control
• Dental Practice Act
• CPR (Basic Life Support/ 2 year Certification)

The goal of the Dental Assisting Program is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain the academic knowledge and competence necessary to qualify for both the National Certification

Examination and the California State Registered Dental Assistant Examination, and to prepare the student for dental assisting entry-level employment as an integral member of the dental health team.

• To provide a dental assisting program to meet challenges presented by demographic changes of the current decade.
• To promote a dental assisting curriculum that helps build student’s educational and career goals in a success-oriented learning environment.
• To provide students with the academic resources and clinical experiences to perform the functions approved by the California Dental Practice Act for a Dental Assistant and a Registered Dental Assistant with competence and judgment.
• To provide students with academic knowledge and clinical skills in the Dental Practice Act, infection control and CPR.
• To prepare the student to qualify for certification in Radiology Safety, Coronal Polishing and Dental Sealants.
• To maintain a positive communication network between the advisory committee, dental community, and dental assisting program alumni.
• To create a safe learning environment in compliance with federal and California state standards and regulations.

In Compliance with the Dental board of California and the Dental Practice Act, all applicants for the Registered Dental Assistant examination must:

• Graduate from a Board-approved RDA educational Program minimum of 800 hours (approximately 8 months); or take an alternate pathway provided by the board.
• Complete Board-approved courses in coronal polishing, radiation safety and dental sealants before a license will be issued.
• Applicants must successfully pass the RDA and Law & Ethics written examinations.

• Apply to Cypress College to obtain a Cypress College student ID#. The email address used on the Cypress College application will be used within your Health Science Application and for all email interactions between the college faculty and staff, clinical sites, and any other program related email interactions. 
• High School graduation or passing of the General Education Development (GED) or high school proficiency test by the start of the program. OR an Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university. 
• Minimum age of 17 to apply. Must be 18 years old by the end of the program. 
• Evidence of good physical and mental health as determined by medical examination upon admission to the program and prior to enrollment.
• English 100C or ENGL 101C or ESL 110C College Writing with a letter grade of “C” or better, or in progress, beginning January 2025.
  

High School graduation or college degree required to apply to the Dental Assisting program. Applicants still completing high school courses will be required to provide proof of high school graduation no later than June of the year applying. 

English 100C or ENGL 101C or ESL 110C College Writing with a letter grade of “C” or better, or in progress, beginning January 2025.

General Education and Graduation Requirements for Associate Degree option 

The following General Education/Graduation areas are required for the Associate Degree. For options refer to the Associate Degree requirements in the catalog. All general education courses must be completed with a “C” or better. Please refer to the Cypress College Catalog for current Native General Education requirements. 

• Language and Rationality 
• Written Communication (4 units) 
• Analytical Thinking (minimum 3 units) 
• Arts and Humanities 
• Arts (minimum 3 units) 
• Humanities (minimum 3 units) 
• Social Science (minimum 6 units) 
• Physical Activity/Health (1-3 units) 
• Graduation Requirement: 
• Social Justice, Equity and Sustainability (formerly known as Cultural Diversity) 
• Reading Proficiency 

• Before the application opens online, review and follow the required instructions on the Checklist and Sample Application on the Dental Assisting home page. 
• Apply to Cypress College to obtain a Cypress College student ID#.  
• Once a Cypress College Student ID# has been received, submit required official transcripts from other colleges to Cypress College Admissions and Records. Admission and Records will not accept transcripts opened prior to submission, PDF documents sent from a student, unofficial transcripts, or a Cypress College transcript. Note: Official transcripts are not required for the Dental Assisting program.
  

• Digitally (directly from school to school) – send to incomingtranscripts@cypresscollege.edu
  Attn: Transcripts. You can choose Cypress College if that is an option when ordering. 

• Through mail (unofficial if opened) –
  Cypress College 
  Admissions and Records – Transcripts 
  9200 Valley View St. 
  Cypress, CA  90630 

• Application must be completed online during the month of February. Application deadline.  
• Notification letters are emailed out no later than May 1. 
• Log into the online Health Science Application using myGateway credentials. Submit needed documents following the instructions within the online Health Science application. 
• Determination of acceptance is based upon the selection criteria.
  

• Applicants normally exceed capacity. 
• Qualified applicants will be accepted into the program first come first serve based on the date of a completed Dental Assisting application and supporting documents. Enrollment is limited up to the first 24 qualified applicants. F-1 visa students will not be accepted for admission into any program when applications by qualified U.S. citizens exceed space available (AP 5012 1.4.). 
• Acceptance is based on a confirmation response by the deadline stated in the notification letter from the applicant selected and followed by mandatory attendance at an orientation. 
• F-1 visa students will not be accepted for admission into any program when applications by qualified U.S. citizens exceed space available (AP 5012 1.4.). 

Curriculum 

Semester I (Fall) 

• DA 16C – Dental Materials – 3.0 units 
• DA 61C – Oral Anatomy – Dental Assisting – 3.0 units 
• DA 62C -Preventive Dental Health – Basics – 3.0 units 
• DA 63C – Chairside Assisting I – 3.0 units 
• DA 65C – Radiology/Dental Assisting – 3.0 units 
• DA 66C – Radiology II/Dental Assisting – 1.0 units 

Semester I Units – 16.0 

Semester II (Spring) 

• DA 58C -Clinical Externship I – 1.5 units 
• DA 59C -Clinical Externship II – 3.5 units 
• DA 67C – Dental Specialties – 3.0 units 
• DA 68C – Chairside Assisting II – 3.0 units 
• DA 69C – Clinical Externship III – 2.5 units 
• DA 70C – Dental Office Procedures – 2.0 units 

Semester II Units – 15.5 

Health Science Counselors 

Division of Health Science
Cypress College
9200 Valley View St.
Cypress, CA  90630-5897
(714) 484-7015 

Health Science Applications Office 

Health Science Building/TE3-217 
Cypress College
9200 Valley View St. 
Cypress, CA 90630-5897
healthscience@cpresscollege.edu 

Graduate from a Board-approved RDA educational Program minimum of 800 hours (approximately 8 months); or take an alternate pathway provided by the board. 

Complete Board-approved courses in coronal polishing, radiation safety and dental sealants before a license will be issued. 

Applicants must successfully pass the RDA and Law & Ethics written examinations. 

The applicant must have no criminal record, or the board must determine that a past record poses no threat to the public and or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The applicant must report on the application for licensures, any convictions or pleas of nolo contendere, even if the conviction was dismissed. Making a false statement on an application regarding past conviction is cause for denial of a license, regardless of the nature of the crime or how long ago it occurred. Finger printing is required and checked through the Department of Justice and or the Federal Bureau of investigation. 

The North Orange County Community College District, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State Laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures, or practices. The district is also committed to maintaining campuses that are free of harassment, drugs, and alcohol. 

Review the program webpage for program information and the program application information page for prerequisite requirements and selection criteria.

Complete the sample application to prepare for the online application (see below).

Attend a Health Science Workshop (optional, but strongly recommended).

Speak with a Health Science Counselor about any questions or concerns regarding application (optional).

Apply to Cypress College as a general student and obtain a myGateway Student ID Number (example @01234567). It can take up to five business days. Applying to a Health Science program is a separate application.

Review the myGateway instructions on the Cypress College website.

Be prepared to upload a PDF copy, within the Health Science online application, of one of the following items required to apply to the Dental Assisting program: an unofficial High School transcript showing graduation, a copy of High School diploma, or a copy of an unofficial college transcript with a college degree posted on the transcript. For applicants still completing High School, a copy of the High School diploma must be provided not later than June of the year applying to the Dental Assisting program. 

Dental Assisting applicants have the option to send official transcripts from other colleges to Cypress College Admission and Records. Submitting official transcripts for the Dental Assisting application is not required if you upload proof of high school or college graduation within the Health Science online application. Admission and Records will not accept transcripts opened prior to submission, PDF documents sent from a student, unofficial transcripts, or a Cypress College transcript. Allow 5 or more business days for transcripts to be processed. All transcripts must be submitted and processed by the official transcript due date.

To digitally send a transcript (directly from school to school) – 

Use incomingtranscripts@cypresscollege.edu or choose Cypress College (if the option is provided during the ordering process)

To mail official transcripts to Cypress College use this address:

Cypress College
Admission and Records-Transcripts
9200 Valley View St.
Cypress, CA 90630

NOTE: If you sent official transcripts to Cypress College before being provided a Cypress College or Fullerton College student ID number (same number is used for both colleges), you must contact Cypress College Admission and Records and request for your transcript to be uploaded to your ID number in the transcript database.

Log into the online Health Science Application using myGateway credentials (8-digit student ID, also called a “banner ID,” and an accompanying password).

Fill in the Health Science online application for the chosen program. Only one application is allowed per application period. It is the applicant’s responsibility to fill in the application fully and correctly.

Upload a PDF document within the Health Science online application to show proof of high school or college graduation, if needed. Possible items: an unofficial transcript showing a college degree has been awarded, an unofficial High School transcript showing graduation, or a copy of High School diploma.

Once completed, click the submit button. A confirmation email will be sent containing the application number and other information.

Failure to provide a complete application will result in an ineligible application.

Exception: For applicants still completing High School, a copy of the High School diploma must be provided no later than June of the year applying to the Dental Assisting program. A copy of the High school document should be emailed to healthscience@cypresscollege.edu.

An applicant’s account will be locked once an application is submitted online. Updates or changes can be completed during the program’s next application period.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to log into their Health Science online application prior to the official transcript due date to ensure that all required items are checked off as received. 

Allow five (5) business days for official transcripts to be checked off within the Health Science online application AFTER Cypress College Admissions and Records has received the official transcript. 

If the transcript processing time has passed and an item has not been checked off within the Health Science online application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact Cypress College Admission and Records to confirm that the most current version of the official transcript was received AND uploaded to the Cypress College transcript database.

Any required items not checked off within the Health Science online application after the official transcript due date will not be updated. NO EXCEPTIONS.

The Health Science Applications Office will contact all applicants with a notification letter email no later than May 1 for fall consideration. The notification letter will be sent to the email address used on the application. Please do not contact the college for a status update before the notification letter date unless instructed to do so by the Health Science staff or faculty.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the Health Science Applications Office by May 2 if a notification letter email was not received. The deadline to respond is about three business days. Failure to respond to an Accepted and Alternate status notification letter email will result in the application being marked as declined and will be removed from the roster. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Applicants can view their status and application comments by logging into their Health Science Application.

Ineligible applications: It is the applicant’s responsibility to inquire about the reason their application was ineligible and correct any errors during the next application period.

If an applicant would like to discuss the application once applicants have received the notification letter, please contact a Health Science Counselor during business hours: Health Science Express Counseling-Cranium Café Lobby, or call (714) 484-7015 for appointment (if available) or Counselor hours of availability for virtual “walk-ins.”

Eligibility to apply (all answers must be “Yes”):

Will be 18 years of age at the time of program completion? 

High school graduation or passing of the General Education Development (GED) OR high school proficiency test by the start of the program OR an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college/university?

List high school name on application. If using a college degree, list college on application and upload the unofficial transcript with degree posted on transcript, within the online Health Science Application. List full college name on application. DO NOT list districts or abbreviations. Accepted abbreviations are UC for University of California and CSU for California State University. Accepted examples: UC Irvine, CSU Long Beach.