Dental Assisting & Dental Hygiene
Associate of Science
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Associate of Science
During COVID-19, most clinical affiliates mandated vaccinations for all students attending clinical externships at off-campus sites. This was a clinical affiliate requirement and not a Broward College requirement, and declining the COVID19 vaccination prevented students from completing their program of study. At this time, clinical affiliates do not have mandatory COVID19 vaccination requirements. Clinical affiliates currently mandate the Flu vaccine and could reinstate the COVID19 vaccination requirements at any time and if so, students will be required to have the COVID19 vaccinate in order to attend clinical rotations, allowing them to progress in their program of study.
Broward College is the affordable route to gain entry into the field of dentistry. We let you decide what kind of dental care professional you want to be by allowing you to:
As certified members of the dental team, dental assistants provide a wide range of services drawing on knowledge of the dental sciences, specialized, clinically-honed skills, and proficiency in office management procedures.
Graduates of our 12-month Applied Technology Diploma (ATD) Dental Assisting program take the Dental Assisting National Board-Certified Dental Assistant exam to become a Certified Dental Assistant. Clinical training takes place in the on-campus dental clinic, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Broward Dental Research Clinic (BDRC), and in community-based dental offices.
Being a dental hygienist is a highly rewarding experience. Dental hygiene is on the national list of professions with the most potential for need and growth in the next few years. After choosing dental hygiene as your future pathway, you have many options to choose from.
Our unique "1 + 1" program format offers students the added value of becoming both a Certified Dental Assistant and a Registered Dental Hygienist. After completion of our 12-month Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited Dental Assisting (ATD) certificate program, students can apply for the 12-month Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
February 6 - March 20
Selection Based on Points. Total possible points = 18
GPA
HESI Score (minimum 75 Reading/50 Math. Highest score will be used for points)
Military Veteran = 5 Points
Application Criteria Course
Grades Earned in the General Education Courses - Maximum Number of points = 6
In the event of a point tie, the HESI score will be used as a tiebreaker
For the June 2023 Dental Assisting program, admitted students earned 11 to 17 points, with overall GPAs between 2.56 and 4.0 and HESI scores above 84 in both Reading and Math. Alternate students earned between 10 and 11 points with overall GPAs between 2.57 to 3.77.
Please note: The admission selection criteria have changed for the Dental Assisting program and the points were modified for the GPA program.
Prior to admissions, each student is required to successfully complete a drug screening. Please be advised that certain over-the-counter supplements and alternative medicinal products, including but not limited to CBD, THC Cannabinoid, and Cannabinoid Oil may trigger a positive result, consequently, the student will not be able to be admitted to the Health Science program. A Second drug-tested sample is not allowed per Broward College Admissions Procedure A6Hx2-5.01. The links are provided below.
Admissions Policy | Admissions Procedure
Completed an ATD in Dental Assisting, including 50 semester hours from a Dental Assisting Program within Florida that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Program courses must be completed with a minimum grade of a C.
Open enrollment
Unlimited seats
Completion of ENC1101, SPC1608 or SPC1017, POS2041 or AMH2020, SYG2000, CORE HUMANITIES, GEN. ED. MATH, BSC2085, BSC2085L, BSC2086, BSC2086L, MCB2010, MCB2010L, HUN1201 or HUN 1202, CHM1032.
CHM1032 cannot be substituted with higher chemistry unless it contains biochemistry. Course description and learning outcomes would have to be evaluated by our Science Department. The biochemistry course grade will determine the points awarded.
April 30 - June 30
Admission is based on points. Maximum number of points = 36
GPA of Dental Assisting ATD. Maximum 5
Grades Earned in General Education Courses. Maximum number of points = 24
Number of points earned for:
Applies to each of the following courses:
Prior Educational Experience. Maximum number of points = 2
Military Service. Maximum number of points = 5
In the event of a point tie, the overall GPA will be used as the tiebreaker.
For the August 2023 Dental Hygiene program, admitted students earned between 26 and 32 points with overall GPAs between 3.04 and 4.00.
Alternates earned between 16 and 25 points with overall GPAs between 3.09 and 3.82.
Please note: The admission selection criteria have changed for the Dental Hygiene program.
Prior to admissions, each student is required to successfully complete a drug screening. Please be advised that certain over-the-counter supplements and alternative medicinal products, including but not limited to CBD, THC Cannabinoid, and Cannabinoid Oil may trigger a positive result, consequently, the student will not be able to be admitted to the Health Science program. A Second drug-tested sample is not allowed per Broward College Admissions Procedure A6Hx2-5.01.
Admissions Policy | Admissions Procedure
Additional programmatic admissions criteria can be reviewed at the Health Science Admissions site.
Academic Year | Enrolled | Completed | NBDHE Certification Pass Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2016 - 2017 | 17 | 17 | 100% |
2017 - 2018 | 19 | 19 | 100% |
2018 - 2019 | 20 | 19 | 100% |
2019 - 2020 | 19 | 19 | 100% |
2020 - 2021 | 15 | 14 | 93% |
2021- 2022 | 20 | 20 | 100% |
2022 - 2023 | 20 | 19 | 100% |
Academic Year | Enrolled | Completed | DANB Certification Pass Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2016 - 2017 | 36 | 32 | 97% |
2017 - 2018 | 35 | 26 | 99% |
2018 - 2019 | 36 | 36 | 100% |
2019 - 2020 | 33 | 32 | 97% |
2020 - 2021 | 36 | 29 | 81% |
2021- 2022 | 20 | 19 | 93% |
2022-2023 | 36 | 27 | TBD |
Dental Assistant
Career Path
Attending and graduating from Broward College's Dental Assisting Program gives the dental assistant several different career pathways, from private practice dental offices to the armed forces and public health. Many hospitals have incorporated dental clinics within their institutions to provide dentistry for patients who are confined to the hospital or for outpatient services to patients with a specific disease. After earning the Applied Technology Diploma (ATD) in Dental Assisting, the dental assistant can work in a dental office performing all the dental assisting expanded functions outlined by the Florida Board of Dentistry. The CODA-accredited, DANB-certified dental assistant can also decide to earn the Associate of Science Degree in Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene.
This program meets public institution criteria as a Gainful Employment Program as stipulated by the US Department of Education; as such, the college is required to disclose the following information:
Job Placement Rate
Job placement rate of all program graduates in the State of Florida according to the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP): 51%
Job placement rate of Broward College graduates who find work within the field after receiving their certification: 44%
Median Pay
The median pay per year is $34,500 per year and $16.59 per hour
Job Outlook
The job outlook is projected to grow 25% from 2012-2022, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Find Dental Assisting jobs now
On-time Completion Rate
The completion rate of students who have graduated from the program of study within the full-time attendance time frame.
Program Length: 12 months
On-time Completion Rate: 97%
Dental Assisting Success Rates
99% pass rate 2017-2018 program graduates in the Dental Assisting National Board first attempt.
100% pass rate 2018-2019 program graduates passed the Dental Assisting National Board's first attempt.
CIP Code | Program Title | Aligned Job Title | Avg. Annual Salary | SOC Code | O*NET Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Department of Education's Classification of Instruction Program (CIP) Code to the U.S. Department of Labor's Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) Code Linkage | |||||
0317010100 | Dental Assisting | Dental Assistants | $38,660 | 319091 | Dental Assistants (31-9091.00) |
Dental Hygienist
Career Path
Wherever you practice your profession, the strong academic and clinical components of our program will prepare you for ongoing success in the field of dental hygiene. Our program will give you success in the pathway of your choice and in the following employment opportunities:
Median Pay
$70,210 per year and $33.75/hr.
Job Outlook
The job outlook is going to increase by 33% between 2012 and 2022 which is much higher than average. The average increase for all occupations is 11%.
All Broward College dental hygiene graduates may contact the department at 954-201-6779 for information and job listings. Student information for the year of graduation is required.
On-time Completion Rate
The completion rate of students who have graduated from the program of study within the full-time attendance time frame.
Program Length: 12 months
On-time Completion Rate: 100%
Dental Hygiene Examination Success Rates
94% of the 2014-2015 Broward College students who completed the program passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
94% of the 2015-2016 Broward College students who completed the program passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
100% of the 2016-2017 Broward College students who completed the program passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
100% of the 2017-2018 Broward College students who completed the program passed the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
CIP Code | Program Title | Aligned Job Title | National Avg. Annual Salary | SOC Code | O*NET Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1317010200 | Dental Hygiene |
Dental Hygienists |
$77,810 | Dental Hygienists (29-1292.00) |
If you are a person committed to helping others and promoting healthful living then dental assisting is right for you. If you're interested in a health career that gives you the responsibility of direct patient care, the convenience of flexible work hours, and the ability to practice anywhere in the world, dental hygiene may be right for you.
In order to be successful, both tracks require the following technical standards:
After achieving a certificate in dental assisting, you will be expected to:
As licensed members of the dental team, dental hygienists provide a variety of preventive and therapeutic procedures that promote good oral health. After earning your A.S. in dental hygiene, you will be expected to:
Infectious Disease Policy
All applicants must review and sign the College's Infectious Disease Policy (PDF) prior to enrollment, in addition to reviewing the drug testing and criminal background check information. All admissions, application information, prerequisite information, policies, and admissions instructions can be found on the Health Sciences Admissions page.
Student Clinical Sessions Acknowledgment
Initial dental hygiene instrumentation and local anesthesia training are completed on a manikin and then progress to student partner training. Students must be aware that to complete the Broward College Dental Hygiene program it is mandatory that each student perform various clinical skills on a student partner and in turn each student will have a student partner perform the same clinical skills on them.
Eligibility for Applying to the Limited Access Dental Assisting Program
Eligibility for Applying to the Limited Access Dental Hygiene Program
Selection is based on the highest points. The point structure is listed on the Health Science admission page.
How to Apply
For the Dental Assisting or Dental Hygiene application, the minimum transfer GPA, high school GPA, and if applicable, BC GPA is 2.5.
Enrollment in dental programs is limited. Meeting the admissions requirements does not guarantee program acceptance. The thirty-six students with the highest points who meet Dental Assisting admission requirements will be admitted into the Dental Assisting program. The twenty students with the highest Broward College Cumulative GPA who meet Dental Hygiene admission requirements will be admitted into dental hygiene. Please note that neither the Dental Assisting program nor the Dental Hygiene program has a waiting list.
The faculty of both programs are in compliance with Broward College and the Commission on Dental Accreditation requirements. All the faculty of the dental assisting and dental hygiene programs have extensive professional dental experience.
Program faculty serve as lecturers, lab instructors, and clinical mentors to Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting students during their time at Broward College.
Our instructors include graduates from Rutgers, Texas Women's University, New York University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Florida, University of Arizona, Southern Illinois University, Boston University, and St. Petersburg College.
Mission
The Mission of the Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs is to prepare competent, ethical, and culturally sensitive entry-level clinicians who are dedicated to lifelong self-directed learning. The program is committed to preparing dental clinicians who are capable of functioning in a dynamic and ever-changing area of health care delivery. The programs exist to provide technical and professional education to benefit all segments of the community. The Dental programs are committed to quality instruction delivered by dedicated faculty who are engaged in continued professional development.
The program is committed to accomplishing its mission by utilizing effective and diverse instructional methods that encompass both traditional and technology-based strategies. The goal is to prepare competent entry-level clinicians in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Our goal is to help you succeed
Dental Assisting Philosophy
Realizing the demands of the community and the needs of the individual, Broward College has designed the dental assisting program to prepare individuals to be integral members of the dental health team in the health care setting so they can make their greatest contribution to society and in which they can gain personal growth and satisfaction.
The Administration, Faculty, and the Dental Assisting/Hygiene Advisory Board of Broward College have established specific goals for the achievement of this objective within the Dental Assisting Program.
Dental Assisting Program Goals
Dental Hygiene Philosophy
Realizing the demands of society, Broward College has designed its programs to prepare individuals for vocations in which they can make their greatest contribution to society and in which they can gain personal satisfaction.
The Administration, Faculty, and the Dental Assisting/Hygiene Advisory Board of Broward College have established specific goals for the achievement of this objective within the Dental Hygiene Program.
Dental Hygiene Goals
Dental Hygiene Competencies
The following program competencies reflect the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for the competent practice of dental hygiene. Achievement of these competencies requires general education background in oral and written communications, psychology, and sociology and a foundation in the biomedical sciences of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, general pathology, nutrition, and pharmacology. The Commission on Dental Accreditation defines program competencies including:
Competencies
The following program competencies reflect the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for the competent practice of dental hygiene. Achievement of these competencies requires general education background in oral and written communications, psychology, and sociology and a foundation in the biomedical sciences of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, general pathology, nutrition, and pharmacology.
Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting Program is a full-time daytime 12-month program. Upon completion of the Applied Technology Diploma, the dental assisting graduate will have completed the equivalency of 50 college credits. Courses include:
Certificate Requirements:
CPR/BLS-4.5 hour--Must be American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers with AED
Must be completed after admission and prior to the beginning of the program.
Dental Hygiene
After completion of a Florida, CODA-accredited 12-month Dental Assisting program and completion of college credit courses, students can apply to earn an Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
Students will be eligible to take the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination, and after graduation, they will be eligible for Florida state licensure with the successful completion of the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments practical examination.
Core Courses include:
Certificate Requirements:
CPR/BLS-4.5 hour Must be American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers with AED.
Dental hygienists work in a host of settings to deliver clinical care and work under varying levels of supervision. Each state enacts its own laws determining the services dental hygienists can perform, the settings in which they can practice, and the supervision under which they practice.
The Broward College Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: https://coda.ada.org/.
The Commission currently publishes in its accredited lists of programs the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission posts its spring and fall Accreditation Announcements on ada.org, those programs being site visited January through June or July through December. Developing programs submitting initial accreditation applications may be scheduled for site visits after the posting of the Accreditation Announcements; thus, the specific dates of these site visits will not be available for publication. These programs will be noted in the Accreditation Announcements with a special notation that the developing programs have submitted initial accreditation applications and may or may not be scheduled for site visits. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are welcomed/encouraged to contact the Commission office.
The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures also require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies' discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the department's requirement on the use of third-party comments regarding the program's qualifications for accreditation or pre-accreditation, the following procedures have been developed.
WHO CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS: Third-party comments relative to the Commission's accredited programs may include comments submitted by interested parties such as faculty, students, program administrators, Commission consultants, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and/or consumers.
HOW COMMENTS CAN BE SOLICITED: The Commission will request written comments from interested parties in the spring and fall posting of Accreditation Announcements. In fairness to the accredited programs, all comments relative to programs being visited will be due in the Commission office no later than 60 days prior to each program's site visit to allow time for the program to respond. Therefore, programs being site-visited in January through June will be noted in the fall posting of Accreditation Announcements of the previous year, and programs scheduled for a site visit from July through December will be noted in the spring posting of the current year. Any unresolved issues related to the program's compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the site visit team while on-site.
Those programs scheduled for review are responsible for soliciting third-party comments from students and patients by publishing an announcement at least 90 days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of 60 days for receipt of third-party comments in the Commission office and should stipulate that comments must pertain only to the standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission's accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission's policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1/800-621-8099, extension 4653.
TYPES OF COMMENTS CONSIDERED: All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency. For those individuals who are interested in submitting comments, requests can be made to the Commission office for receiving standards and/or the Commission's Evaluation and Operational Policies and Procedures (EOPP).
MANAGEMENT OF COMMENTS: All relevant comments will be referred to the program at least 50 days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the site visit team 15 days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary for the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with the proper personnel.
Adopted: (07/95) Revised: (01/97) Updated: (02/06)
INSTITUTION: Broward College
PROGRAM(S) TO BE REVIEWED: Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene
NEXT SITE VISIT DATE: 2030
60-DAY DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF COMMENTS IN THE COMMISSION OFFICE: TBA
(Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611)
Below are some resourceful industry links to give you more background information on being a dental hygienist or dental assistant.
Dental Assisting Programs
Health Science Admissions
healthscience@broward.edu
Health Science Advisor
Aaron Dean
adean1@broward.edu
Program Director
Susan Martin
smartin@broward.edu
RSVP for our monthly Virtual Information Sessions to learn more!
Broward College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Applied Science degrees. Broward College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Broward College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).
Broward College Health Science Admissions staff may be contacted by email at healthscience@broward.edu.
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A BC degree checks all the boxes. If this program is your goal, get started toward becoming a student today.
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