Dental Assistants are an important part of the dental office team and provide support during examinations and procedures. Our Dental Assisting program offers interactive training focusing on dental concepts and practices, chair-side assisting, radiography, office management and real-world internship experience.
FHTC helped me get a jump start on my education because I could take classes during my senior year of high school.
Jasmine
Program Options
Dental Assisting offers a technical certificate and associate of applied science degree option. High school seniors are also eligible to apply to this program to take several courses. Upon successful completion of the courses, students may apply and be accepted to the program under advanced standing eligibility.
The technical certificate is a one-year program. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills (chairside functions and management) necessary for entry-level employment in dental offices. Certificate courses also fulfill many of the requirements of the Dental Assisting AAS degree program.
The associate of applied science degree is a two-year program that contains technical and general education courses. Planned and supervised experiences—classroom, laboratory, clinical internship—help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to perform procedures with precision, safety and efficiency consistent with proven dental concepts and practices.
Students admitted to the FHTC Dental Programs are subject to contact with blood and/or body fluids. FHTC Dental Programs follow all OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen, Exposure Control Guidelines, and the Universal and Standard precautions throughout the pre-clinical, lab and clinical experiences.
Application Deadline
- The application deadline for Fall 2024 is April 15, 2024. File completion deadline for Fall 2024 is April 30, 2024. Interviews for qualifying candidates will be held in May 2024.
Associates Degree Course Requirements Technical Certificate Course Requirements
Career Opportunities
Dental Assistants are an integral part of the dental team within a dental practice. There are nine specialties, as well as general practitioners, within the scope of the dental profession. Allied health care workers are in high demand and this field is expected to continue to grow. Those who complete the Dental Assisting program can sit for the DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) Exam which is recognized across the nation.
Career opportunities include:
- Dental Offices
- Specialty Offices
- Dental Labs
- Dental Sales Representatives
Program Faculty
Monica Graves
Director of Dental Assisting
Division Chair - Health & Human Services
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Monica graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1975 as a Certified Dental Assistant. She worked in private dental practice until becoming an adjunct faculty member at FHTC in 1995. Monica began as the Dental Assisting Program Director in 1997 and continues to serve in that capacity. Monica graduated from Emporia State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1995, and a master’s degree in Business Education in 1997. She is responsible for teaching a variety of Dental Assisting courses as well as Dental Materials and Dental Radiology for the Dental Hygiene program.
Barb Evans
Director of Emergency Medical Services
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Barb, a 2004 graduate of the FHTC Practical Nursing program, has worked at Flint Hills Technical College since 1997. She has been an EMS volunteer for 25 years, FHTC Instructor/Coordinator for 20 years and also serves as the area Training Center Coordinator.
Deb Illk
Dental Assisting Instructor
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Deb graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1979 as a Certified Dental Assistant. Beginning in 1979, she worked in the oral surgery field as a surgical assistant and assistant practice manager. In 1991, she received her DANB certification in Dental Practice Management and served as the oral surgery practice manager from 1990 – 2008. She began teaching at FHTC in 2010 in the Dental Assisting Program. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Washburn University. She is responsible for teaching several Dental Assisting courses as well as Nutrition for Oral Health for both dental assisting and dental hygiene students.
620-341-1314
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Monica graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1975 as a Certified Dental Assistant. She worked in private dental practice until becoming an adjunct faculty member at FHTC in 1995. Monica began as the Dental Assisting Program Director in 1997 and continues to serve in that capacity. Monica graduated from Emporia State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1995, and a master’s degree in Business Education in 1997. She is responsible for teaching a variety of Dental Assisting courses as well as Dental Materials and Dental Radiology for the Dental Hygiene program.
620-341-1337
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Barb, a 2004 graduate of the FHTC Practical Nursing program, has worked at Flint Hills Technical College since 1997. She has been an EMS volunteer for 25 years, FHTC Instructor/Coordinator for 20 years and also serves as the area Training Center Coordinator.
620-341-1395
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Deb graduated from Flint Hills Technical College, formerly known as Flint Hills Area Technical School, in 1979 as a Certified Dental Assistant. Beginning in 1979, she worked in the oral surgery field as a surgical assistant and assistant practice manager. In 1991, she received her DANB certification in Dental Practice Management and served as the oral surgery practice manager from 1990 – 2008. She began teaching at FHTC in 2010 in the Dental Assisting Program. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Washburn University. She is responsible for teaching several Dental Assisting courses as well as Nutrition for Oral Health for both dental assisting and dental hygiene students.
Academic Partnership
FHTC students who complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Assisting may be eligible to utilize a 2+2 agreement with the following institutions to further their education.
Fort Hays State University: Bachelor of Technology Leadership
Kansas State University: Bachelor of Science in Technology Management
Pittsburg State University: Bachelor of Applied Science
Washburn University: Bachelor of Applied Science
Program Information & Resources
Estimated program costs and testing criteria are available in the documents below. Visit our admissions page to learn about admissions steps and other helpful information.