Dental Assisting

My years of experience with this program have impressed me in that it has consistently produced professional, enthusiastic, well-trained, highly motivated, and caring graduates! Dr. Rita Harding

The knowledge of dentistry and degree of professionalism far exceeds that of any other program! Dr. Richard Ferguson (Former ISDA President)

As a student in the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Dental Assisting program, you will receive a quality education in a state-of-the-art facility for a career in a growing field where your influence and expertise will positively affect patient lives on a daily basis.

The CWI Dental Assisting program includes classroom and hands-on skills training to support dentists with various types of patient care, office duties, and laboratory work. This training at CWI is accredited nationally through the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Your training will qualify you for examinations to become a Certified Dental Assistant, a certification that is recognized nationally.

The Dental Assisting program at CWI offers you two pathways for your future career as a Dental Assistant:

An Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) where you complete a semester of pre-requisites then two semesters of Dental Assisting classes.
An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree where you complete the ITC with an additional summer class and semester of courses, to receive an AAS in addition to the ITC.

Review the Plan of Study for your desired pathway or talk to a Student Success Advisor for details

Career Outlook

Typical annual earnings in Idaho for a Dental Assistant - $35,303 – Idaho Department of Labor
The Dental Assistant field is expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030. – Bureau of Labor Statistics

Healthcare Information Sessions

Want to learn more about this program and other healthcare programs at CWI? Join a Healthcare Information Session to learn about the programs, what you can do to prepare for the programs, meet advisors and instructors, and ask questions.

View Upcoming Sessions

Application Process and Requirements

Classes beginning August 2023 – Applications will be accepted from January 1, 2023, through April 30, 2023.

Application Process

Complete CWI Associate Degree or Technical Certificate application and be accepted to CWI.
- If you have completed a bachelor's or master's degree, submit a Bachelor's Degree Transfer Credit Request form.
Verify your prerequisite coursework by:
- Reviewing the program Plan of Study on the Requirements Tab
- View Your Progress on my.cwi.edu (Learn How)
Complete the Dental Assisting Application and submit by the due date.

Dental Assisting Program Application

For help or questions regarding the Dental Assisting Program Application, please contact:

Elaine Holmes
elaineholmes@cwi.edu
208.562.2317

Statement of Accreditation

The Dental Assisting Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) at College of Western Idaho is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312.440.4653
www.ada.org/coda

Mission

CWI's Dental Assisting Program provides students with the knowledge and skills to succeed as a dental health care professional. As a Nationally accredited program, we promote learning, leading to credentialing in dental assisting.

Additional Opportunities

The Dental Assisting program officially starts once a year in the fall semester. However, there is a “soft start” option for our spring semester. Our “soft start” option allows you to ease into the program by taking DENT 108 while continuing to complete your required general education courses (COMM 101 and/or ENGL 101, GEM 3 [Mathematical Ways of Knowing], & PSYC 101).

We encourage you to submit your Dental Assisting application at any time throughout the year. Once your application packet is reviewed, the Program Director will contact you and discuss your next steps.

Degrees and Certificates

Dental Assisting - Associates of Applied Science Degree

YEARS

AAS

Course Delivery Styles: In-Person

Plan of Study - Summer Start

View Full Catalog

Dental Assisting - Intermediate Technical Certificate

YEAR

ITC

Course Delivery Styles: In-Person

Plan of Study - Summer Start

View Full Catalog

Important Dates for Credit Programs


	Spring 2023	Summer 2023	Fall 2023
Priority Registration Begins¹	November 14	n/a	April 10
Open Registration Begins	November 21	February 27	April 17
Financial Aid Priority Deadline	December 17	May 13	July 29
Admission Deadline²	January 7	May 27	August 12
Last Day to Register for Classes	January 13	June 2	August 18
Tuition and Fees Due	January 13	June 2	August 18
Classes Begin³	January 17	June 5	August 21
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based upon their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time.
2 The admission deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines for the fall and spring semesters.
3 Some classes begin before or after this date. Please refer to the Registration and Refund Deadlines by Class Section Dates (located beneath each semester) of the Academic Calendar for more information.

Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes

Excellent written and oral communication skills
A desire to serve others
Manual dexterity
Exactness and precise attention to detail
Computer Literacy Skills
Health-oriented professional image

Advising

Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.

How do I get started in the Dental Assisting program?

First: Complete the admission requirements for College of Western Idaho.

Then: Submit a Dental Assisting Application Packet, located under the Resources Tab to the left, to a One Stop Student Services location before being accepted into the program. Incomplete application packets will not be accepted.

You must complete the following courses before you can graduate with an AAS from the Dental Assisting program at CWI: a GEM 1 (Written Communication) course, a GEM 2 (Oral Communication) course, a GEM 3 (Mathematical Ways of Knowing) course, and PSYC 101 (counts as a required GEM 6 [Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing] course). You must complete the following courses before you can graduate with an ITC from the Dental Assisting program at CWI: a GEM 1 (Written Communication) course OR a GEM 2 (Oral Communication) course, a GEM 3 (Mathematical Ways of Knowing) course, and PSYC 101 (counts as a required GEM 6 [Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing] course). However, if you haven’t completed all of these courses, you can submit your Write Class Placement and Math Diagnostic pack and scores with your application. Our faculty is available to advise and assist you on the correct path to admittance to our program.

Once you submit your Dental Assisting Application Packet, the Program Director will contact you and discuss your next steps.

Connecting With Ideas

Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is the first semester student success course designed to help CWI students become engaged members of the academic community and cultivate habits for lifelong achievement and success. Each semester, students can select from a variety of themes. More information about next semesters CWI 101 themes

Transfer

Look beyond your degree at CWI and plan for continuing your education by working closely with CWI advising and representatives of your intended transfer school. Planning before you transfer can save you time and money. Visit Transfer Information for more information or contact One Stop Student Services.

Financial Aid Available

Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.

Dental assisting is a rewarding career that can offer a great deal of personal satisfaction and fulfillment. Entry-level positions include dental assistant positions in general and specialty offices. For those who invest energy and effort into their roles as dental assistants, there are excellent opportunities for advancement.

Program Department Chair

Elaine Holmes

Program Director/ Professor

M.Ed., CDA, EFDA, BS

Dental Assisting Program

208.562.2317

elaineholmes@cwi.edu

Instructor(s)

Carollee Nickels

Instructor

CDA, RDA, RDH, BA

Dental Assisting Program

208.562.2316

carolleenickels@cwi.edu

Rie Neely

Lab Assistant, Dental Assistant

CDA, EFDA

Dental Assisting Program

rieneely@cwi.edu

Respectful Community

The College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX

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News and Blogs

Female healthcare student carrying a clipboard

Dental Assistant program revised 2017