Menu
Financial Aid Available
$3,059.60
-
Program Overview
Madison College's Dental Assistant program trains you to perform chairside assisting and related office and laboratory procedures under the direction and supervision of a dentist.
The Dental Assistant program includes instruction and practical experience in how to identify, use and care of dental equipment and instruments; expose and process radiographs; record medical and dental information; assist with dental emergencies; perform basic office procedures; and maintain an inventory of supplies.
Program Details
Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Sciences programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Sciences Forms and Policies.
Dental Assistant is a one-semester, full-time program. Students are accepted for fall, spring and summer semesters.
Classes are offered Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Dental Assistant program classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:
- Madison - Truax
Careers
Earning your Dental Assistant Technical Diploma at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as a:
- Chairside Assistant - working directly with the dentist in the treatment area.
- Laboratory Assistant - performing laboratory functions as directed by the dentist.
- Receptionists/Office Assistant - responsible for operation of the business office.
- Claims Approver - working for an insurance company approving dental insurance claims.
With additional education and/or work experience you may find employment as a:
- Dental Office Manager - responsible for operation of the practice.
- Dental Laboratory Technician - performing mechanical, technically skilled tasks specified by the written prescription of the dentist.
- Dental Sales Representative - working for a dental supply business, providing products and services to dental offices.
-
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2021-2022 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
First Semester -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- Attend an Advising, Application, Information & More (AAIM) Session to get started on the admission process
- Visit Us to learn more about the Madison College experience including campus tours and program open houses
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students will be required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements must be amended any time accreditation requirements are updated or changed. Requirements may also be amended based on Madison College programmatic assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
-
Petition
After Acceptance
After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied.
Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:
- Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
- Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
- Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program
- Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.
Summer 2021, Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core program courses through the Petition Process.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
-
Career Outcomes
After completing the Dental Assistant program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Perform a variety of entry-level supportive dental procedures
- Manage infection and hazard control
- Produce diagnostic radiographs
- Perform basic dental laboratory procedures
- Demonstrate professional behaviors, ethics and appearance
-
Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2018 2019 2020 Number of Program Graduates 43 47 48 Number of Surveys Sent 43 47 48 Number of Surveys Returned 33 37 32 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 30 26 29 Percent Available for Employment 100.0% 89.7% 90.6% Not in Labor Market 3 10 3 Percent Not in Labor Market 10.0% 34.5% 9.4% Available for Employment
2018 2019 2020 Graduates Employed 26 26 28 Percent of Graduates Employed 86.7% 100.0% 96.6% Employed in Related Occupation 22 23 22 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 84.6% 88.5% 78.6% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 3 3 5 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 11.5% 11.5% 17.9% Employed - No Response 1 0 1 Percent Employed - No Response 3.8% 0.0% 3.6% Seeking Employment 4 0 1 Percent Seeking Employment 13.3% 0.0% 3.4% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2018 2019 2020 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.3 3.5 3.4 Number of Satisfaction Responses 30 28 32 Very Satisfied (4) 14 15 14 Percent Very Satisfied 46.7% 53.6% 43.8% Satisfied (3) 14 13 18 Percent Satisfied 46.7% 46.4% 56.3% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfed (1) 2 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 6.7% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2018 2019 2020 Number of Primary Reason Responses 33 36 32 Preparation for Getting a Job 13 8 20 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 39.4% 22.2% 62.5% Career Change 8 6 4 Percent Career Change 24.2% 16.7% 12.5% Improvement of Existing Skills 1 0 0 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 3.0% 0.0% 0.0% Preparation for Further Education 10 19 7 Percent Preparation for Further Education 30.3% 52.8% 21.9% Personal Interest 1 2 1 Percent Personal Interest 3.0% 5.6% 3.1% Other 0 1 0 Percent Other 0.0% 2.8% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2018 2019 2020 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 23 26 23 Before Enrollment 2 3 2 Percent Before Enrollment 8.7% 11.5% 8.7% While Attending the College 5 5 2 Percent While Attending the College 21.7% 19.2% 8.7% After Training at the College 16 18 19 Percent After Training at the College 69.6% 69.2% 82.6% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2018 2019 2020 Number of Employment Location Responses 26 27 28 In College District 23 21 24 Percent In College District 88.5% 77.8% 85.7% In Wisconsin, Not in District 2 3 2 Percent of In Wisconsin 7.7% 11.1% 7.1% Outside of Wisconsin 0 1 1 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 3.7% 3.6% Employer Location Unknown 1 2 1 Percent Location Unknown 3.8% 7.4% 3.6% Salary Trend 2018 2019 2020 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 12 14 16 Average Monthly Wage $2,560 $2,627 $2,966 Average Hourly Wage $14.88 $15.27 $17.24 Average Work Hours per Week 38.0 39.9 38.2 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 9 6 4 Average Hourly Wage $16.56 $16.00 $15.75 Average Work Hours per Week 27.4 26.0 30.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2020 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions 1st Choice Dental Dental Assistant Access Community Health Center Dental Assistant Aspen Dental Dental Assistant Chicago IL Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center Surgical Technologist Children's Dental Center Dental Assistant 3 Family Dental Care Of Fitchburg Dental Assistant Fitchburg Family Health La Clinica Dental Assistant Beaver Dam First Choice Dental Group Orthodontic Assistant Sun Prairie Madison No Fear Dentistry Dental Assistant 2 Midwest Dental Dental Assistant Cross Plains Midwest Dental Periodontal Screening and Recording Lead Oak Park Dental Dental Assistant Platteville Orthodontic Specialists of Madison Orthodontic Assistant 2 Prairie Grove Orthodontics Dental Assistant Rock River Community Dental Clinic Dental Assistant Fort Atkinson * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
