Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The Dental Assistant program at Harrisburg Area Community College is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as integral members of a dental healthcare team. This program provides a comprehensive foundation in dental sciences, chairside assisting techniques, dental radiography, infection control protocols, and dental office management. Students learn to assist dentists during a variety of procedures, prepare treatment rooms, sterilize instruments, take and process X-rays, and provide patient education. A significant component of the program involves hands-on clinical experience in simulated dental office settings and through externships at local dental practices, hospitals, or clinics. Typically, the program leads to an Associate Degree or a certificate and takes approximately one to two years to complete. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions as dental assistants in general dentistry practices, specialty dental offices (such as orthodontics or periodontics), dental clinics, and public health settings. The program will also likely prepare students for the Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, which is important for employment in Pennsylvania and other states requiring radiography certification. Upon graduation, the dental assistant may also be eligible for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at Harrisburg Area Community College 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.