Students at Dental Hygiene Class

Dental Assistant

WLAC Dental Assisting Programs

Approved programs and courses by the California Dental Board

We offer three different Dental Assisting programs.

  1. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) *Day (Fall Start) or Evening (Spring Start)
  2. Orthodontic Assistant (OA) *Every Fall and Spring Semester 
  3. Continuing Education & Certifications *Year Round Starts

Would you like to see what our clinic looks like?  View a video that was created by one of our Dental Assisting alumni.

 

Please read information to follow for more detailed information for each individual program.

Contact

Chairperson:
Carlos Sermeno

Faculty Lead:
Raquel Medina
Phone:
(310) 287-4464
(310) 287-4440
 
Email:
@email
Office Location
MSB 100
 

Office Hours

Mon - Thurs

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Department:
Health Sciences

Pathway
Health Sciences

1. Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Program

* Announcement *

We are now accepting applications for the FALL 2025 Dental Assisting Class. The application is available from February to June 2025.

For more detailed information, attend our Info Sessions

Our Registered Dental Assisting (RDA)
is a 9-month, 4-day/week program

(2 full semesters and 1 intersession) and it is offered twice a year. The RDA program has in-person (full day) lab classes, twice a week. The program also meets online, twice a week for lecture courses.

The Fall Start cohort is a Day Program is Mon-Thurs (8:00-5:00pm).

The Spring Start cohort is an Evening Program is Mon-Fri (3:00-9:30pm)

The RDA program is a 29.5 unit program that upon successful completion leads to a Certificate of Completion in Dental Assisting. This certificate allows the graduate immediately after graduation, to apply for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) examination with the Dental Board of California.

To view the printable flyer and listing of courses: The printable flyer can be downloaded from here. Many of our students continue and finish the West Los Angeles College General Education requirements and qualify to receive the Associate's of Science in Dental Assisting (ASDA) degree. 

To apply to either the Day or Evening RDA programs, please see below.

RDA Application (Day of Evening)

*All applicants must attend an Info Sessions before applying to any Dental Assisting Program.

2. Orthodontic Assistant (OA) Program

* Announcement *

We are now accepting applications for the FALL 2025 Orthodontic Assisting program. The application deadline is July 30th, 2025.

For more detailed information, attend one of our Info Sessions

Our Orthodontic Assistant (OA) program is one semester
and it is offered every Spring semester.

The OA program meets One Day on-campus and the rest online. *Attend an Ortho program Info Session for more details. 

The OA program is a 16-unit program that upon successful completion leads to an Orthodontic Dental Assistant  Certificate of Completion from West LA College. The student also receives the California Dental Board Approved certificates:

  1. Orthodontic Assistant certificate 
  2. Ultrasonic certificate (Removal of Orthodontic Cement above the Gum Line by Dental Assistants).

Upon successful completion, these certificates allows the graduate to apply for the Orthodontic Assistant (OA) examination with the Dental Board of California.

Requirements to apply to OA program:
  • Active California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and have an 8-hour Infection Control certificate (within 5 years)* -OR-
  • Must be a Dental Assistant for at least one year -with- Certificates from CA Dental Board Approved Providers:
  1. 8-hour Infection Control certificate (within 5 years)*
  2. 2-hour California Dental Practice Act certificate (within 2 years)*
  3. 32-hour Radiation Safety certificate (X-ray license)*
  4. Basic Life Support CPR from American Heart Association or American Red Cross*

*WLAC offers all these continuing education courses for students that are missing any of these certificates.

OA Application 

*All applicants must attend an Info Sessions before applying to any Dental Assisting Program.

Admission information for RDA or OA programs

 To apply to the RDA or OA programs, follow these steps:

1. Become a student of West Los Angeles College

  • If you are not yet a student of West Los Angeles College, APPLY to receive a Student ID Number to (click Apply in the upper right hand corner): www.wlac.edu

2. Attend a Dental Assistant Information Session

Current information Session Schedule

  • Information will be presented about the educational program and application packet, along with an overview of the dental profession.
  • Upcoming information session dates are announced periodically.
  • The Orthodontic Assisting application is an ONLINE Application and is currently under construction.

3. Submit RDA or OA Application

  • Complete the RDA or OA Application form online or submit to the Health Science Division (MSB100).

3. Continuing Education and Dental Certifications

West Los Angeles College offers many courses that are approved through the Dental Board of California (DBC). 

View updated list of upcoming Continuing Education courses

We offer the following DBC Approved courses:

  • 32-hour Radiation safety (Dental X-ray License)
  • 8-hour Infection Control
  • 2-hour CA Dental Practice Act
  • Coronal Polishing
  • Pit and Fissure Sealants
  • Ultrasonic for Dental Assistants

West Los Angeles College is a strong supporter and coordinates CE courses with our local supporters: West Los Angeles Dental Society, Los Angeles Dental Hygiene Society, California Dental Assistant Association.

Thank you for your interest.

Degree Requirements

If you are accepted into the Dental Assisting program you will complete the following:

Requirements for the associate degree in dental assisting:

The Associate in Science in Dental Assisting (ASDA) program provides students with a high quality education that prepares them to be highly competent, professional, and caring licensed dental assistants.

A.S. Degree Unit Totals Units
Required Major Courses (Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting) 29
Electives 5
General Education Requirements 26
TOTAL 60

Major Course Requirements

(Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting)

First Semester Units
Ald Hth 021 - Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider 0.5
Den Ast 001 - Orientation to Dental Assisting 2
Den Ast 005 - Preclinical Chairside Assisting 5
Den Ast 007 - Infection Control for the Dental Setting 1
Den Ast 008 - Introduction to Dental Radiology 3
Den Ast 006 - Dental Sciences for the Dental Assistant 2
Total 1st Semester Units 13.5
Intersession (Winter or Summer) Units
Den Ast 010 - Intermediate Chairside Assisting 3
Total Winter or Summer Semester Units 3
Final Semester Units
Den Ast 003 - Dental Seminar 1
Den Ast 009 - Medical Emergencies 2
Den Ast 013 - Practice Management 2
Den Ast 012 - Dental Assisting Clinical Science 3
Den Ast 015 - Advanced Chairside Assisting 2
Den Ast 015L - Advanced Chairside Assisting-Lab 1.5
Den Ast 912 - Cooperative Education - Dental Assisting 1.5
Total Final Semester Units 13
TOTAL PROGRAM UNITS for Certificate Of Achievement (CoA) or "major" courses in Associate's of Science in Dental Assisting degree (ASDA) 29.5
Students that wish to also receive an Associate's of Science in Dental Assisting degree (ASDA) can complete in addition EITHER of the following General Education Plans: Units
Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Local General Education Plan *with any electives 30.5
Or  

Starting in Fall 2025: California Guaranteed Education Transfer Curriculum (CalGETC) *with any electives

*Recommended for Pre-Dental Hygiene students

  

Or

  

Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) *with any electives

*Recommended for Pre-Dental Hygiene students

Or

California State University General Education (CSU) *with any electives

*Recommended for Pre-Dental Hygiene students

  

Minimum Total General Education Units

Total Minimum Associate's of Sciences in Dental Assisting Units:

30.5

60

  

PLEASE NOTE: To complete the Associate Degree in Dental Assistant students must complete all of the program core requirements and either general education pathways. Additional graduation requirements for the local GE Plan, include satisfactory completion of writing, math, and ethnic studies competencies. It is recommended that students consult with the Counseling Office to develop a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan.

Employers Looking For RDAs

Dental Assisting Apprenticeship Program

West Los Angeles College partners with dental offices to train their new and current employees to become Registered Dental Assistants.