San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula Temecula, California

The Dental Assistant program at San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as entry-level dental assistants. The program likely combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in a simulated dental office, allowing students to practice assisting with various dental procedures, taking radiographs, sterilizing instruments, and managing patient records. Students learn about dental terminology, anatomy, and physiology, as well as infection control and safety protocols. A key component of the program is typically a clinical externship, providing students with real-world experience in a dental office setting. This externship allows students to apply their learned skills and gain valuable experience working directly with dentists and patients. Upon completion of the program, graduates are generally prepared to seek employment in various dental settings, including general dentistry practices, specialty clinics (such as orthodontics or oral surgery), and public health clinics. The program is likely focused on preparing students to sit for industry-recognized certifications, such as the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam and may help them meet California’s specific requirements for RDA certification with supervised work hours after completion of the program. The program duration is typically around 9-12 months, depending on the specific curriculum and scheduling at the Temecula campus. Students will learn chairside assisting, taking dental x-rays, sterilizing equipment and providing patient education.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula on the NCES website.

* Cohort Year represents the year for which students began their studies and applies to Graduation and Transfer Out Rates.
** Net Price is Average Net Price for 2022-2023 generated for full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. For public institutions only students paying the in-state or in-district rate are included. For institutions that charge students by program, net price is generated for the institution’s largest program.
NA (Not applicable) – Graduation rate, transfer-out rate and the net price are not applicable to institutions that do not have full-time, first-time degree-seeking undergraduate students in the applicable cohort year or the financial aid year.