Grade 13 · a vocational technology learning center, by urbanicityDental Assisting
8 courses · 1,800 clock hours · 9–12 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.
Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career
Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the skills lab and clinical site unsupervised.
Outcomes- Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
- Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
- Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
- Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
- Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel
Course text
Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the skills lab and clinical site unsupervised.
How the course runs. 7 blocks: OSHA 10: introduction, rights, hazard recognition; First aid, CPR and AED; Applied trade math I: units, fractions, conversion; Applied trade math II: geometry, ratio and estimating; Technical reading and writing; Digital literacy for the trade; Career readiness: resume, portfolio, interview.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OSHA 10: introduction, rights, hazard recognition | 10 | theory | Complete the OSHA 10-hour outreach course. |
| OSHA outreach materials | OSHA card issued |
| 2 | First aid, CPR and AED | 8 | practice | Respond to a collapse, bleed, burn or choke until help arrives. |
| Manikins, AED trainer, first-aid kit | AHA/Red Cross card issued |
| 3 | Applied trade math I: units, fractions, conversion | 20 | theory | Convert, add and scale measurements used in the trade. |
| Trade math workbook, tape measures, calculators | Quiz ≥ 70% |
| 4 | Applied trade math II: geometry, ratio and estimating | 20 | theory | Lay out from a drawing and estimate quantity, time and cost. |
| Drawings, estimating sheets | Estimate within 10% of the key |
| 5 | Technical reading and writing | 30 | theory | Read a specification or manual and write a clear technical report. |
| Spec excerpts, report template | Report rubric ≥ 3/4 |
| 6 | Digital literacy for the trade | 30 | lab | Use email, spreadsheets, and the trade's job-management tools. |
| Lab computers/tablets, the job app | IC3/MOS-style practical passed |
| 7 | Career readiness: resume, portfolio, interview | 30 | practice | Present yourself to an employer panel. |
| Portfolio templates, employer volunteers | Panel pass |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA 10 and first-aid written exams | Written exam | 25% | OSHA card issued; CPR/AED card issued | Authorized outreach trainer exam plus AHA/Red Cross skills check. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Applied math & measurement exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% | Timed exam: conversions, layout math, estimating from a drawing or recipe/order. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Technical report | Project | 25% | Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterion | A written report on a real task from the trade: problem, standard, method, result. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Employer panel interview | Oral / panel | 25% | Panel pass | Resume, 3-minute portfolio walk-through, and interview with two employer advisors. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
Chairside
Competency course in Chairside for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in Chairside and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Outcomes- Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern Chairside
- Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for Chairside
- Perform the core tasks of Chairside to the standard, within time, without rework
- Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in Chairside work and correct them
- Document Chairside work in the clinical log to industry format
Course text
Competency course in Chairside for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in Chairside and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Why it matters. In Dental Assisting, chairside is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in skills lab, against scope of practice and infection control, with the clinical instructor as the standard of judgment.
How the course runs. 12 blocks of about 21.3 hours: orientation and safety first, then the tools and the vocabulary, then the standard that governs the work. Guided practice becomes independent practice; measurement and inspection teach the student to judge their own work; the fault lab teaches what failure looks like before it happens on a job. A timed production run and the documentation block close the loop, and the course ends with the written exam and the observed skills demonstration.
What competent looks like. The student can explain chairside, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation and safety for chairside | 21.3 | theory | State the hazards of chairside work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief. |
| PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual | Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand |
| 2 | Tools, materials and terminology of chairside | 21.3 | demo | Name, select and care for the tools and materials of chairside; use the trade vocabulary correctly. |
| Full tool kit for chairside, material samples, tool cards | Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated |
| 3 | Reading the standard: what governs chairside | 21.3 | theory | Locate and apply the parts of scope of practice and infection control that govern chairside. |
| The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file | Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct |
| 4 | Fundamentals I: guided practice in chairside | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of chairside step by step under direct supervision. |
| Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log | Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step |
| 5 | Fundamentals II: independent practice in chairside | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of chairside to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting. |
| Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock | Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard |
| 6 | Measurement, layout and quality checks in chairside | 21.3 | lab | Measure, lay out and inspect chairside work; decide accept/reject against tolerance. |
| Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set | Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons |
| 7 | Faults, hazards and rework in chairside | 21.3 | lab | Identify defective or unsafe chairside work, explain the cause, and correct it. |
| Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock | Rework accepted by the clinical instructor on inspection |
| 8 | Production run: chairside to standard, timed | 21.3 | practice | Complete a realistic chairside job to standard within the allotted time and materials. |
| Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer | Job accepted; time and material within estimate |
| 9 | Documentation: the log and the report in chairside | 21.3 | theory | Record chairside work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it. |
| Report template, the certifying body's hours form | Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed |
| 10 | Skills-check rehearsal for chairside | 21.3 | assessment | Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions. |
| Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock | Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file |
| 11 | Advanced application and special cases in chairside | 21.3 | practice | Apply chairside to the non-standard situations met on real jobs. |
| Special-case packets, materials | Plan approved; special-case job accepted |
| 12 | Written exam and skills demonstration: chairside | 21.3 | assessment | Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration. |
| Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration | Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairside: written exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Theory, terminology, standards and safety for Chairside. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chairside: skills demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults | Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of Chairside against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chairside: clinical log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours | Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chairside: safety audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — must pass | Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing Chairside work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Radiography
Competency course in radiography for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in radiography and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Outcomes- Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern radiography
- Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for radiography
- Perform the core tasks of radiography to the standard, within time, without rework
- Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in radiography work and correct them
- Document radiography work in the clinical log to industry format
Course text
Competency course in radiography for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in radiography and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Why it matters. In Dental Assisting, radiography is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in skills lab, against scope of practice and infection control, with the clinical instructor as the standard of judgment.
How the course runs. 12 blocks of about 21.3 hours: orientation and safety first, then the tools and the vocabulary, then the standard that governs the work. Guided practice becomes independent practice; measurement and inspection teach the student to judge their own work; the fault lab teaches what failure looks like before it happens on a job. A timed production run and the documentation block close the loop, and the course ends with the written exam and the observed skills demonstration.
What competent looks like. The student can explain radiography, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation and safety for radiography | 21.3 | theory | State the hazards of radiography work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief. |
| PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual | Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand |
| 2 | Tools, materials and terminology of radiography | 21.3 | demo | Name, select and care for the tools and materials of radiography; use the trade vocabulary correctly. |
| Full tool kit for radiography, material samples, tool cards | Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated |
| 3 | Reading the standard: what governs radiography | 21.3 | theory | Locate and apply the parts of scope of practice and infection control that govern radiography. |
| The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file | Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct |
| 4 | Fundamentals I: guided practice in radiography | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of radiography step by step under direct supervision. |
| Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log | Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step |
| 5 | Fundamentals II: independent practice in radiography | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of radiography to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting. |
| Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock | Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard |
| 6 | Measurement, layout and quality checks in radiography | 21.3 | lab | Measure, lay out and inspect radiography work; decide accept/reject against tolerance. |
| Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set | Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons |
| 7 | Faults, hazards and rework in radiography | 21.3 | lab | Identify defective or unsafe radiography work, explain the cause, and correct it. |
| Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock | Rework accepted by the clinical instructor on inspection |
| 8 | Production run: radiography to standard, timed | 21.3 | practice | Complete a realistic radiography job to standard within the allotted time and materials. |
| Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer | Job accepted; time and material within estimate |
| 9 | Documentation: the log and the report in radiography | 21.3 | theory | Record radiography work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it. |
| Report template, the certifying body's hours form | Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed |
| 10 | Skills-check rehearsal for radiography | 21.3 | assessment | Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions. |
| Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock | Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file |
| 11 | Advanced application and special cases in radiography | 21.3 | practice | Apply radiography to the non-standard situations met on real jobs. |
| Special-case packets, materials | Plan approved; special-case job accepted |
| 12 | Written exam and skills demonstration: radiography | 21.3 | assessment | Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration. |
| Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration | Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiography: written exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Theory, terminology, standards and safety for radiography. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Radiography: skills demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults | Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of radiography against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Radiography: clinical log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours | Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Radiography: safety audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — must pass | Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing radiography work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Infection control
Competency course in infection control for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in infection control and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Outcomes- Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern infection control
- Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for infection control
- Perform the core tasks of infection control to the standard, within time, without rework
- Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in infection control work and correct them
- Document infection control work in the clinical log to industry format
Course text
Competency course in infection control for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in infection control and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Why it matters. In Dental Assisting, infection control is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in skills lab, against scope of practice and infection control, with the clinical instructor as the standard of judgment.
How the course runs. 12 blocks of about 21.3 hours: orientation and safety first, then the tools and the vocabulary, then the standard that governs the work. Guided practice becomes independent practice; measurement and inspection teach the student to judge their own work; the fault lab teaches what failure looks like before it happens on a job. A timed production run and the documentation block close the loop, and the course ends with the written exam and the observed skills demonstration.
What competent looks like. The student can explain infection control, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation and safety for infection control | 21.3 | theory | State the hazards of infection control work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief. |
| PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual | Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand |
| 2 | Tools, materials and terminology of infection control | 21.3 | demo | Name, select and care for the tools and materials of infection control; use the trade vocabulary correctly. |
| Full tool kit for infection control, material samples, tool cards | Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated |
| 3 | Reading the standard: what governs infection control | 21.3 | theory | Locate and apply the parts of scope of practice and infection control that govern infection control. |
| The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file | Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct |
| 4 | Fundamentals I: guided practice in infection control | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of infection control step by step under direct supervision. |
| Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log | Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step |
| 5 | Fundamentals II: independent practice in infection control | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of infection control to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting. |
| Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock | Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard |
| 6 | Measurement, layout and quality checks in infection control | 21.3 | lab | Measure, lay out and inspect infection control work; decide accept/reject against tolerance. |
| Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set | Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons |
| 7 | Faults, hazards and rework in infection control | 21.3 | lab | Identify defective or unsafe infection control work, explain the cause, and correct it. |
| Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock | Rework accepted by the clinical instructor on inspection |
| 8 | Production run: infection control to standard, timed | 21.3 | practice | Complete a realistic infection control job to standard within the allotted time and materials. |
| Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer | Job accepted; time and material within estimate |
| 9 | Documentation: the log and the report in infection control | 21.3 | theory | Record infection control work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it. |
| Report template, the certifying body's hours form | Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed |
| 10 | Skills-check rehearsal for infection control | 21.3 | assessment | Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions. |
| Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock | Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file |
| 11 | Advanced application and special cases in infection control | 21.3 | practice | Apply infection control to the non-standard situations met on real jobs. |
| Special-case packets, materials | Plan approved; special-case job accepted |
| 12 | Written exam and skills demonstration: infection control | 21.3 | assessment | Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration. |
| Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration | Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infection control: written exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Theory, terminology, standards and safety for infection control. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Infection control: skills demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults | Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of infection control against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Infection control: clinical log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours | Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Infection control: safety audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — must pass | Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing infection control work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Dental materials
Competency course in dental materials for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in dental materials and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Outcomes- Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern dental materials
- Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for dental materials
- Perform the core tasks of dental materials to the standard, within time, without rework
- Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in dental materials work and correct them
- Document dental materials work in the clinical log to industry format
Course text
Competency course in dental materials for the Dental Assisting program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the skills lab and clinical site, measured against scope of practice, infection control and the state board rules. Students assess, perform and document real work in dental materials and keep a clinical log signed off by the instructor.
Why it matters. In Dental Assisting, dental materials is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in skills lab, against scope of practice and infection control, with the clinical instructor as the standard of judgment.
How the course runs. 12 blocks of about 21.3 hours: orientation and safety first, then the tools and the vocabulary, then the standard that governs the work. Guided practice becomes independent practice; measurement and inspection teach the student to judge their own work; the fault lab teaches what failure looks like before it happens on a job. A timed production run and the documentation block close the loop, and the course ends with the written exam and the observed skills demonstration.
What competent looks like. The student can explain dental materials, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation and safety for dental materials | 21.3 | theory | State the hazards of dental materials work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief. |
| PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual | Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand |
| 2 | Tools, materials and terminology of dental materials | 21.3 | demo | Name, select and care for the tools and materials of dental materials; use the trade vocabulary correctly. |
| Full tool kit for dental materials, material samples, tool cards | Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated |
| 3 | Reading the standard: what governs dental materials | 21.3 | theory | Locate and apply the parts of scope of practice and infection control that govern dental materials. |
| The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file | Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct |
| 4 | Fundamentals I: guided practice in dental materials | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of dental materials step by step under direct supervision. |
| Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log | Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step |
| 5 | Fundamentals II: independent practice in dental materials | 21.3 | practice | Perform the core tasks of dental materials to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting. |
| Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock | Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard |
| 6 | Measurement, layout and quality checks in dental materials | 21.3 | lab | Measure, lay out and inspect dental materials work; decide accept/reject against tolerance. |
| Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set | Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons |
| 7 | Faults, hazards and rework in dental materials | 21.3 | lab | Identify defective or unsafe dental materials work, explain the cause, and correct it. |
| Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock | Rework accepted by the clinical instructor on inspection |
| 8 | Production run: dental materials to standard, timed | 21.3 | practice | Complete a realistic dental materials job to standard within the allotted time and materials. |
| Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer | Job accepted; time and material within estimate |
| 9 | Documentation: the log and the report in dental materials | 21.3 | theory | Record dental materials work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it. |
| Report template, the certifying body's hours form | Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed |
| 10 | Skills-check rehearsal for dental materials | 21.3 | assessment | Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions. |
| Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock | Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file |
| 11 | Advanced application and special cases in dental materials | 21.3 | practice | Apply dental materials to the non-standard situations met on real jobs. |
| Special-case packets, materials | Plan approved; special-case job accepted |
| 12 | Written exam and skills demonstration: dental materials | 21.3 | assessment | Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration. |
| Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration | Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental materials: written exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% | Theory, terminology, standards and safety for dental materials. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Dental materials: skills demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults | Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of dental materials against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Dental materials: clinical log | Log | 15% | Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours | Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Dental materials: safety audit | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail — must pass | Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing dental materials work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Capstone Project
An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Dental Assisting: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.
Outcomes- Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
- Execute the job to standard within the estimate
- Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel
Course text
An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in Dental Assisting: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Capstone brief and specification; Capstone build I; Capstone build II; Capstone presentation and defense.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capstone brief and specification | 54 | theory | Read the capstone specification and plan the job. |
| Capstone spec, estimating sheets | Plan and estimate approved |
| 2 | Capstone build I | 54 | practice | Execute the first half of the capstone to standard. |
| All materials per estimate | Mid-point inspection passed |
| 3 | Capstone build II | 54 | practice | Complete the capstone to standard within the estimate. |
| As above | Work complete; package complete |
| 4 | Capstone presentation and defense | 54 | assessment | Present the finished work and its documentation to the panel. |
| Presentation space, the finished work | Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every criterion |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capstone: finished work + documentation | Project | 60% | Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterion | Employer advisor + instructor score the finished work against the specification, the estimate, and the documentation package. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation |
| Capstone: portfolio | Portfolio | 20% | Complete | Photos/drawings/logs of every course skills demonstration plus the capstone, in the program portfolio format. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality |
| Capstone: defense | Oral / panel | 20% | Panel pass | 15-minute presentation and questions from the panel. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication |
Clinical Practicum
Supervised clinical hours at an affiliated facility, meeting the hour and skills requirements of the licensing body for Dental Assisting. Preceptor-evaluated; hours logged for the board.
Outcomes- Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
- Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
- Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts
Course text
Supervised clinical hours at an affiliated facility, meeting the hour and skills requirements of the licensing body for Dental Assisting. Preceptor-evaluated; hours logged for the board.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Placement orientation; Supervised work: weeks 1–2; Supervised work: weeks 3–4; Supervised work: final weeks.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placement orientation | 81 | theory | Know the site, its rules, and the competency list you will be evaluated on. |
| Site handbook, competency list, hours log | Induction signed |
| 2 | Supervised work: weeks 1–2 | 81 | field | Perform entry tasks under close supervision. |
| Hours log | Log current; supervisor initials |
| 3 | Supervised work: weeks 3–4 | 81 | field | Perform the trade's routine tasks with normal supervision. |
| Hours log, evaluation form | Mid-point evaluation satisfactory |
| 4 | Supervised work: final weeks | 81 | field | Meet employer expectations for a new hire on the competency list. |
| Evaluation form, hours verification | Final evaluation satisfactory on every competency; hours verified |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preceptor clinical evaluation | Clinical evaluation | 70% | Satisfactory on every competency | Mid-point and final evaluation by the site supervisor on the program competency list. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative |
| Hours & task log | Log | 30% | Required hours complete and verified | Signed log of hours and tasks; verified by the registrar for the board/certifying body. Complete · Verified |
Certification Exam Preparation
Structured preparation for DANB CDA; State Dental Radiology: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.
Outcomes- Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
- Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
- Rehearse the practical exam format to time
Course text
Structured preparation for DANB CDA; State Dental Radiology: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: The exam blueprint; Mock exam I and review; Practical exam rehearsal; Mock exam II and registration.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The exam blueprint | 22.5 | theory | Map the credential exam blueprint to what you have learned. |
| Published blueprint, study plan template | Study plan on file |
| 2 | Mock exam I and review | 22.5 | assessment | Sit a timed full-length mock and review every miss. |
| Mock exam, answer keys | Score recorded; review complete |
| 3 | Practical exam rehearsal | 22.5 | practice | Rehearse the practical/skills portion to the exam's time and format. |
| Practical exam materials | Rehearsal within time, no critical misses |
| 4 | Mock exam II and registration | 22.5 | assessment | Sit the second mock and complete exam registration. |
| Registration forms, hours evidence | ≥ 80%; registration submitted |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mock certification exam (×2) | Mock certification exam | 100% | ≥ 80% on both | Full-length timed mocks built from the certifying body's published blueprint; second attempt after targeted review. Score · Time management |
External credential: DANB CDA; State Dental Radiology
The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.
Back to Dental Assisting · How the school gets authority to award these credentials