Dental Assisting High School Concurrent Program | NorthWest Arkansas Community College

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Dental Assisting


Man and Two Women Hover Over Patient in Chair

Through NWACC's high school concurrent dental assisting courses, you will receive training in patient care and office skills and become an integral part of the dental health care team. 

Through the courses, you'll learn how to assist dentists and increase the efficiency in delivering oral health care. Classroom, laboratory and clinical instruction will provide you with a broad background in all aspects of dentistry.

You will become proficient in patient care, such as dietary counseling, monitoring vital signs, administering and monitoring nitrous oxide, taking impressions, and providing post-operative care and instructions. You will also obtain office skills such as customer service and computer proficiency. 

Internships will be provided in area offices under the guidance of dentists and assistants in the community. You will need to be able to provide your own transportation to and from the various clinics.

By successfully completing this program, you will earn 9 NWACC credit hours and a certificate of proficiency.

Application & Admissions


Courses, Cost, Certificates & Careers

Concurrent dental courses include:

  • Dental Science I (Concurrent Credit Health Science I)
  • Dental Assisting Procedures (Concurrent Credit HealthScience II)
  • Preventative Dentistry (Concurrent Credit Health ScienceIII

Location of courses:

  • NWACC Bentonville campus
  • Ledbetter (Farmington)

NWACC offers this high school concurrent dental assisting program through its Secondary Career Center. Through the center, courses are free of charge and certification fees are waved for currently enrolled high school students.

By taking all concurrent dental assisting courses, you can earn the following certifications from NWACC before graduating from high school:

  • Certificate of Proficiency in Dental Assisting

Other certifications you can earn:

  • American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers
  • HIPAA Training Completion Certificate

With additional training, you can find job opportunities as:

  • Registered assistant
  • Dental hygienist
  • Dental lab technician
  • Dental equipment technician
  • Dentist