Before you begin, you’ll need to meet key health and safety requirements set by our clinical partners. See what’s required and take your next step.
Dental Assisting
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Assisting prepares students to work collaboratively in a dental setting or transfer to a healthcare related four-year program. Students will be able to assist the dental team in a broad scope of dental procedures, perform office management functions, and provide patient support. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) is also available.
Graduates are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Certification Exams to earn the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential. Additionally, students are prepared for the required Arizona Radiologic Proficiency Certificate (AZRC) and the Arizona Coronal Polishing Certificate (AZCP).
Dental assisting professionals meeting admissions guidelines may be eligible to participate in an Expanded Functions Dental Assisting (EFDA) program in Arizona.
This full-time Dental Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2637; (312) 440-4653).
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Dental Assisting (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3055
Total credits required
60-79.5
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Admission criteria
High school diploma or GED equivalency is required.
Completion of introductory general education courses identified in the program notes with a C or better.
Acknowledgement of ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
Submission of formal application using the online application form with unofficial transcripts. Notification of admission to the program will be sent directly to the student from the program director.
After acceptance into the program, the following background verifications are required:
Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
After acceptance into the program, the following Health and Safety Requirements:
1. Students must submit a Health and Safety Documentation Checklist verifying completion of all requirements and maintain current status throughout the program.
2. Students must submit the Health Declaration Form signed by a licensed health care provider.
3. Students must test negative on a randomly timed urine drug screen.
Current BLS CPR card for Healthcare Providers and maintain current status throughout the program.
Full compliance with the Maricopa Community Colleges Allied Health Program Students Policies.
Notes
This is a full-time program and requires approximately 40 hours per week for classroom, clinical, and homework.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in the following introductory general education courses to be added to the application queue of those waiting to begin the core curriculum:
BIO160 OR (BIO201 AND BIO202)
ENG101 OR ENG107
Oral Communication
CRE101 OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Students are not eligible to enroll in DAE courses until acceptance into the program has been confirmed. Once notification of acceptance is received, students will be required to attend mandatory orientations, which will be scheduled prior to the start of courses. Acceptance letters are sent in late October and late March each year to the student email address included in the student's application or on file with the college. Students may not self-enroll in DAE courses.
What You'll Learn
- Provide direct patient care as allowed by the Arizona State Dental Practice Act.
- Acquire, interpret, and manage comprehensive patient data including medical and dental histories, vital signs, dental radiographs, photographs, other kinds of imaging, and impressions of patients’ teeth for study casts.
- Document diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures performed, referrals, and lab cases.
- Assist general and specialty dentists and other members of the healthcare team during a variety of treatment procedures, as well as in the management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Provide patient support/management, i.e., helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment.
- Teach patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; provide instructions for post-operative care.
- Communicate with diverse audiences, including the dental team, patients, labs, other healthcare providers, insurance representatives, and suppliers.
- Practice OSHA and CDC guidelines for safety and infection control.
- Safely operate and maintain dental equipment.
- Demonstrate office management skills, including inventory, time management, prioritization, multitasking, computer competency, and application of specialized software.
- Exhibit professional behaviors for the dental environment and related professional settings.
- Adhere to professional ethics, legal practices, and rules and regulations set forth by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.
- Apply critical thinking skills to make appropriate decisions.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Community Health Workers
$44,250
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
$125,370
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO201 or BIO201XT |
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | Gateway course BIO201 recommended for transfer | NSI, SQ or NSI, SG or SG | 4 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend COM110 or COM230 | SB, SCB or SB, SCB or L, OCM or SB, SCB | 3 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | For students seeking university transfer, recommend selecting a course that meets both Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] designation and meets an Awareness area (Cultural Diversity [C] and/or Global Awareness [G]/Historical Awareness [H]) | HU | 3 | |
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 or AAA/CPD150AC or CPD104 |
Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success or Educational and Career Planning or Career and Personal Development | 0–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | Take BIO202 if BIO201 or BIO201XT was selected in Term 1 | SG | 0–4 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| EMT101 | Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers | OR Current approved CPR certification at the Health Care Provider level | 0–0.5 | ||
| MA | Mathematics | Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area Recommend MAT14+ for students seeking university transfer |
MA | 3–6 | |
| Elective | Elective | 0–4 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAE112 | Dental Assisting I | Gateway course | 7 | ||
| DAE156 | Dental Assisting II | Critical course | 7 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAE124 | Dental Radiography | This course can be taken in Summer if program was started in Spring | 2 | ||
| DAE131 | Dental Radiography Laboratory | This course can be taken in Summer if program was started in Spring | 2 | ||
| DAE140 | Dental Issues Seminar | 1 | |||
| DAE212 | Dental Assisting III | Critical course | 2 | ||
| DAE256 | Dental Assisting IV | 2 | |||
| DAE260 | Introduction to Clinical Externship | 2 | |||
| DAE261 | Intermediate Skills for Clinical Externship | 2 | |||
| DAE262 | Advanced Skills for Clinical Externship | 2 | |||
| DAE263 | Mastery of Clinical Externship | 2 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY101 or SOC101 |
Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology | SB, SCB or SB, SCB | 3 | ||
| Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
| Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- OCM = Oral Communication
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
- WCM = Written Communication
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=16459320.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Assisting
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
Explore your future in healthcare with resources that help you understand career paths, program requirements, and next steps so you can start preparing with confidence.