SWTX Dental Assistant Program Launches Inaugural Class in Uvalde with CHDI Partnership
The 167-hour, hands-on training course prepares students for entry-level positions in dental offices and health care settings. Coursework includes chairside procedures, infection control, dental radiography, patient care, dental materials and office management.
The program also partners with Community Health Development, Inc. in Uvalde, where students complete their required 40-hour dental clinic externship. The experience allows students to apply classroom training in a clinical setting while building skills for future employment.
Students also study dental terminology, professionalism, ethics, emergency response and Texas dental regulations. Admission requirements include a current TB test, the hepatitis B series, a minimum age of 18, a high school transcript or equivalent, and a driver’s license and Social Security card.
The program prepares students to pursue credentials such as the Dental Assisting National Board Radiation Health and Safety exam and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners jurisprudence assessment for registered dental assistant eligibility.