Selective Admission: Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

No minimum GPA required for this program.

High School Diploma or GED

You must have a high school diploma or GED.

Minimum Age Requirement

Must be 18 years of age by the spring semester to attend the clinical portion of the program.

TCC Student ID Number

First, you must apply to TCC.

Apply online with ApplyTCC (use Firefox or Chrome for the best experience)

• Application instructions: How to Apply for Admission

Once you are accepted as a student at TCC, you will get a TCC Student ID number.

You need a TCC Student ID number for your application to our RDA Program.

Admissions Requirements

1. Attend an information session

   Attending an information session is an admissions requirement.

   All information sessions will be held in-person.

   Application Instructions

   When you attend an in-person information session, we will give you materials and forms that you will need for your RDA application.

   We will also give the instructions for completing and submitting your RDA application.

   When & Where

   The Fall 2024 program has been filled.

   Fall 2025 Program Information Sessions:

   We will post the dates and times here as soon as we schedule the sessions.

   Questions?

   Laurie Semple, Program Coordinator
   817-515-6151
   laurie.semple@tccd.edu

   Northeast Campus Health Sciences Department
   817-515-6435
   health.sciences@tccd.edu

2. Pass a criminal background check and drug screening

3. Verify you have health insurance

   Student health insurance option:

   • As a courtesy to TCC students who want to get health insurance, we are providing a link to Edusure, a marketplace that gives options for buying personal health insurance.
   • Disclaimer: By visiting the Edusure link, you are leaving TCC's website and going to a third-party website. TCC is not responsible for the content, views, or privacy policies of the third-party site.

4. Complete Dental Assisting Form

   Complete Occupational Outlook Summary Form (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), which will be in the admission packet.

Valid Social Security Number

Our RDA Program requires a total of 224 clinic hours.

To be placed in a clinic site, you must have the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) credential.

The application for the TSBDE RDA credential requires a valid Social Security Number.

Recommended Course

We strongly recommend you take the following course while enrolled in the program—during the spring semester:

• DNTA–2000 Nitrous Oxide Course & Exam

CPR Certification

You must have a current Basic Life Support CPR certification from the American Heart Association.

Performance Requirements

During your time in our program and throughout your career, you must meet performance requirements to ensure patient safety and welfare.

Immunizations

The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) and the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation Community Standards (PDF)Listen require that all students in health-related programs complete the following immunizations before applying to programs where direct patient contact is a component.

If you know you will be applying to our Registered Dental Assistant Program within the next year, you will need to start these now because some will take up to 7 months to complete the series.

Under state law, all immunizations must be complete by the first day of class. It is also a requirement for the program admissions process. Admission applications will not be considered if there are incomplete immunizations. Direct patient contact starts in fall semester for new students in our Registered Dental Assistant program.

You will need to submit a TCC Health Department Immunization and Health Record to document that you have completed the following immunizations.

• Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDaP): 1 dose
• Varicella: 2 doses
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): 2 doses
• Influenza (Flu Shot)
  • Note: This is not required for admission but will be required in the fall semester at a designated date.
• Hepatitis B: 3-shot series (initial dose, dose at 1 month & dose at 6 months)
  • Accelerated schedules are not accepted.

Note: Titers showing positive immunity to the diseases will be acceptable.

Required screening: Tuberculosis Skin Test or Chest X-Ray within the last 12 months.

COVID-19 Vaccination

The COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a program application requirement because:

• TCC does not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• None of our current clinical rotation sites require the COVID-19 vaccine.