COA accepting applications for new dental assisting program

College of The Albemarle is accepting applications for its brand new dental assisting program following its receipt of a nearly $240,000 startup grant from the N.C. Community College System.

COA said in a recent press release that it intends to start classes in the new dental assisting program on May 6.

Dental assistants typically work for dentists, preparing and organizing the tools that dentists use when providing care to patients. They also are responsible for such tasks like patient recordkeeping and scheduling patient appointments.

COA said it received the $239,746 NCCCS grant to start the dental assisting program in collaboration with East Carolina University's Dental Community Service Learning Center "to address the critical need for dental education in northeastern North Carolina."

The grant will help COA buy equipment, including dental chair sets, to support student training, the release said. The money also will help COA develop the program's curriculum, recruit faculty, and start the program.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant, which marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bring sustained dental education programming to northeast North Carolina," Robin Harris, COA Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness, said in the release. "This funding will allow us to establish a dental assisting program that meets the needs of our community while providing students with the skills and credentials necessary for success in the healthcare industry."

According to the release, COA has been working with Catawba Valley Community College for the past two years to bring a dental assisting program to the area. COA also is partnering with ECU's Dental Community Service Learning Center on the new program. The ECU center has provided lab training space and clinical site support, among other assistance, to COA's new program.

COA said its dental assisting program is designed to create a pathway for students to obtain a certificate of completion in Dental Assisting I and pursue additional credentials through the Dental Assisting National Board.

"With a focus on hands-on training and clinical experience, graduates will be well-prepared to enter the workforce as skilled dental professionals," COA said in the release.

Students interested in enrolling in the COA's new dental assisting program are encouraged to visit www.albemarle.edu/da or contact Elizabeth England at 252-335-0821, ext. 2368 or ext. 2250. Classes start May 6 and seats are limited, COA said.