Frederick Community College

Programme overview

This program is a two-course continuing-education sequence offered as hybrid instruction (in-person and online) designed to build practical dental assisting and oral radiography skills. Typical completion takes four to eight months with day and evening class options. Courses are non-credit Workforce Training offerings; certificates are awarded monthly after course completion.

What you'll study

The curriculum covers foundational healthcare skills, core dental assisting practice, and radiography technique. Specific courses in the sequence are:

• CAH145 or ADE646 — Foundations for Healthcare Careers
• CAH272 — Fundamentals of Dental Assisting
• CAH273 — Oral Radiography

Instruction emphasizes chair-side assisting techniques, infection control, patient communication, and the safe operation of dental radiography equipment. Completion readies students to sit for industry certification exams (see Career prospects).

Entry requirements

Participants must successfully complete the Workforce Training Certificate course series as approved by the college. Students are expected to have English reading and listening skills; an Accuplacer test is available to check these skills. A current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR card or registration for SAF157 CPR Basic Life Support is required. CAH273 (Oral Radiography) requires prior dental assisting and/or dental anatomy knowledge, dental assisting experience, or completion of a dental assisting program.

The program allows requests to transfer up to 25% of total certificate contact hours from an accredited institution for select Workforce Training Certificates; course substitutions are not permitted and completion is competency-based. Applicants with qualifying healthcare credentials may request credit for prior learning; CAH145 may be waived for holders of current CNA, CMA/CCMA, LPN, RN, EMT-B/EMT-I, CRT, AEMT, or Paramedic credentials. SAF157 CPR may be waived with a current AHA BLS card valid through program end date.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles as dental assistants performing chair-side support, instrument passing, patient preparation, taking radiographs, infection-control tasks, appointment scheduling, and patient education. Successful completion makes students eligible to sit for Dental Assisting National Board exams including the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) component; completion also satisfies Maryland educational requirements for Maryland General Dental Assisting (MDGA) recognition, after passing the MDG exam and applying to the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

These are non-credit courses with fees subject to change and not eligible for federal financial aid. Estimated tuition and class fees are provided by the college; additional materials and exam fees may apply. Financial assistance options available to CEWD students include CEWD scholarships, workforce development funding, program-specific aid, and payment-plan options; students should review program-specific financial assistance information and submit the Financial Assistance Request Form when applicable.