Dental Assisting

Apply to Dental Assisting

To join this nine-month program, you must apply for admission. This moderately competitive program accepts up to 36 students each academic year with a fall term start date. Admission is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

All requirements must be met in order to meet minimum eligibility. Applicants are responsible for uploading proof or documentation demonstrating that the following criteria have been met as part of the application.

Questions? Watch the recorded admissions information session or contact us.

How to apply

  • Apply to PCC

    Applying to PCC is free and only takes a few minutes. Complete this step as soon as possible so you can start using PCC resources. The deadline to apply to PCC for the Dental Assisting 2027 admission period is June 9, 2027.
    Apply to PCC

  • Application timeline

    See a detailed admission timeline.

    Term you want to start Apply to Dental Assisting
    Fall 2027 May 3, 2027 – July 2, 2027
    Prerequisites

    Show proof of one of the following requirements:

    • High school diploma with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
    • College transcript with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
    • GED® credential

    Complete the following prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher and upload unofficial transcripts:

    • WR 115: Intro to College Composition, or equivalent placement score
    • MP 111: Medical Terminology, or equivalent
    • One college course that is at least 2 credits (besides MP 111)
  • Dental Assisting experience

    Applicants are required to complete 12 hours of shadowing and/or patient experience in a dental clinic or dental office before submitting their Dental Assisting application. Shadowing and dental experience can be accumulated through any of the following:

    • Shadowing a dental assistant in a private practice or public health dental clinic.
      • Applicants should upload the job shadowing verification form to document this experience and must attach it to their online application. Applicants may upload multiple forms to document their 12 hours of experience.
    • Shadowing a PCC dental program student at the PCC Dental Clinic (limited to one experience lasting a maximum of 3 hours).
    • Completing a patient assessment at the PCC Dental Clinic, including necessary X-rays and a dental examination (approximately 1 hour; this option is exclusive to the PCC Dental Clinic).
  • Submit application

    Submit the Dental Assisting application. The application form will be live at 8am on May 3, 2027. Prior to beginning your application, ensure you have all necessary documentation above readily available in electronic format to attach to your application.

  • Seat offers and post-selection requirements

    Applicants must attend the two mandatory in-person orientations on August 4 and September 8, 2027, from 9am-12 noon at the Vanport Building.

    Following the first orientation, applicants will be required to officially accept or decline their seat in the program. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon successfully passing/clearing all of the following requirements prior to the start of fall 2027:

    • Pass a criminal background check from an agency designated by PCC.
    • Pass a ten-panel drug screen from a lab designated by PCC.
    • Submit proof of current immunizations.
    • Submit proof of current CPR for Healthcare Providers certification (American Heart Association).

    Please review the requirements for clinical and field education for more details. Students will receive specific directions from PCC’s Dental Assisting program on how to meet these requirements. Applicants should not pursue meeting these requirements prior to being admitted to the Dental Assisting program.

How are applicants selected?

This program admits up to 36 students each year on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Priority for the first 36 students: The first 36 students who submit their applications with all the required prerequisite courses completed by the end of spring term 2027 and who meet the listed admissions requirements will be offered a seat in the program.
  • Waitlist for applications submitted after the initial 36: Applications received after the initial 36 complete applications will be placed on a waitlist. The order in which these applications are received will determine the applicants’ position on the waitlist.
  • Incomplete applications: An application is deemed incomplete if an applicant has courses in progress during summer 2027. Incomplete applications will still be considered but will be placed lower on the waitlist. Proof of completion of in-progress courses with a grade of “C” or higher must be shown by the end of summer term 2027.
  • Duplicate applications: If a student submits multiple applications, the most recent application will be considered the official one, and the date and time of this most recent submission will determine the student’s position in the queue.

Admissions timeline: Fall 2027

  • May 3, 2027: Application opens
  • June 9, 2027: PCC general admissions deadline
    • Applicants must be admitted to PCC as an active credit-seeking student prior to applying to the Dental Assisting program. For general admission deadlines, visit pcc.edu/enroll. For PCC general application deadlines, please view the academic calendar.
  • June 13, 2027: End of spring term
    • The last day to complete prerequisite courses for priority consideration.
  • July 2, 2027: PCC Dental Assisting application deadline
    • The form will close at 11:59 (PST). All supporting documents must be attached to your application at the time of submission.
    • Proof of up to 12 hours of shadowing and/or patient experience must be uploaded to the application.
  • Late July, 2027: Seat acceptance notifications go out
    • Applicants will be informed of their admissions status through their PCC email only.
  • August 4, 2027, from 9am-12 noon: First mandatory in-person orientation
    • Applicants attend the first in-person mandatory orientation at the Vanport Building to begin the post-admission process.
    • Following the orientation, applicants will be required to officially accept or decline their seat in the program and pass/clear the requirements outlined in step #5 of the application process above.
  • September 8, 2027, from 9am-12 noon: Second mandatory in-person orientation
    • Second mandatory in-person orientation will take place at the Vanport Building.
  • September 20, 2027: Full-time program begins
    • The program is facilitated across three consecutive terms (fall, winter, and spring).

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