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  South College offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs in Knoxville, Asheville, Nashville, and Atlanta to help you become a more knowledgeable and marketable professional. Each curriculum is designed to prepare you for the career of your choice in a challenging and supportive environment. We’re here with you every step of the way, starting with the admissions process.
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  South College offers more than 60 Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs to meet the needs of students across Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. We are constantly developing new academic programs based on local, regional, and national employment trends for our locations in Knoxville, Nashville, Asheville and online. Each curriculum is designed is to prepare you for the career of your choice in a challenging and supportive environment. We’re here with you every step of the way, starting with the admissions process.
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- School of Business & Technology
  School of Physical Therapy
  - Physical Therapist Assistant
  - Doctor of Physical Therapy
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About

Certificate in Dental Assisting

CAMPUSES

SCHOLARSHIPS

What You’ll Learn

South College’s Dental Assisting curriculum provides a strong foundation in Prevention and Nutrition, Basic Dental Sciences, Preclinical Dental Skills, Clinical Dental Procedures, Dental Radiography, Dental Specialties, Restorative and Laboratory Materials and Techniques, and Dental Practice Management.

Upon completion of the Dental Assisting program, students will be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination, seek state certification in radiology, coronal polishing, nitrous oxide monitoring, and sealant application, increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of oral health care, and become a valuable member of the dental care team.

What can I do with a Certificate in Dental Assisting?

Dental Assistant Oral Surgery Assistant Orthodontic Assistant

19%* Estimated Job Growth

Keys to Success

In order to succeed as a Dental Assistant, you’ll need a detail-oriented mind and a knack for solving problems. You’ll encounter unique challenges for each patient and being prepared for these tasks with an open mind will help you succeed in your career.

Being a great communicator is of vital importance – you’ll need to take accurate patient histories, explain your treatments, and help patients understand their care routines.

In addition, having compassion for your patients is an extremely important part of being an effective Dental Assistant. As many as 75% of people have a fear of the dentist – you’ll have to be prepared to help these people through their visit.

Continuing Education

Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene

Additional Information

Mission and Student Learning Outcomes

Helpful Links

Accreditation or Approval

South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of South College.

Various programs have earned programmatic accreditation or approval as well.

Admission Requirements

Consumer Information

Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and submitted to the Commission by October 15 each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.

*The career options listed above are a small sample of potential job titles, and are not meant to be comprehensive. Students may or may not find employment in these positions. Job growth statistics are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016–2026 projections. Note that the Bureau does not publish estimates for all job titles, so in some cases these numbers are an approximation based on similar job titles.

Success at South College

I am a constant question person and their office hours are very flexible. If they are not here they make an effort to meet you. There is a very positive environment here.

- Jennifer Milam, Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant

South College is providing me the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful program and receive the education and training I need to be a successful occupational therapy assistant.

- Stephanie Sienkiewicz, Occupational Therapy Assistant

It was not something I needed to learn to do, it was something I was supposed to do [becoming a nurse]. After 38 years it was just something that was kicking in.

- Charlie Lee, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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