Technical Qualifications
In addition to the academic admission requirements for students entering the Certified Dental Assisting Program, the following mental and physical functions are also expected of all students with or without accommodations:
- Students must have intellectual, conceptual, and critical thinking abilities to access, analyze, reason, and synthesize data in order to draw sound conclusions and make clinical decisions. Students must be able to problem solve as well as obtain, interpret and document information.
- Students must have effective oral and written communication skills in order to accurately transmit information appropriate to the ability of dentists, patients, colleagues, and other healthcare workers.
- Students must have fine motor skills sufficient to lift and operate equipment and provide safe and effective dental assisting care.
- Students must have interpersonal skills such that they are capable of interacting with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Students must have the physical mobility necessary to move from place to place in small spaces as well as a full range of motion, manual and finger dexterity.
- Students must have the physical endurance that enables them to stay on task for a prolonged period while sitting, standing, or moving.
- Students must have the visual and perceptual abilities sufficient for observation of patients, oral conditions, and assessments. Students must have the ability to discriminate between subtle changes in oral conditions, clinically and radiographically. Students must process a high degree of hand-eye coordination.
- The students’ auditory ability and other sensory skills must be sufficient to monitor and assess the health needs and determine the oral conditions of patients as well as maintain patient safety.
- Students must demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors. Students must be able to use reasonable judgment under stressful conditions that impact patient care.
- Students must be able to work independently as a member of a team to maintain the highest standards in relation to quality care. Students must be able to present a professional appearance, maintain personal health, and be emotionally stable.
- Students must be able to demonstrate effective time management and patient management. Students must be able to multitask, prioritize, comprehend, and follow instructions. Students must also be able to comply with a variety of clinical and professional rules and regulations related to safe clinical practices.