2023-24 Dental Assistant Requirements and Application

Student looking through a microscope in the dental lab

From submitting your application to admission to registration, Northwood Tech is available to help guide you through the admissions process. To help you successfully complete this program, Northwood Tech has developed a set of program requirements and functional ability criteria. For students with a disability, reasonable accommodations are available to help you be successful in the program of your choice. 

Admission Requirements

The first step to get admitted is to fill out a Northwood Tech application, and Northwood Tech will guide you from there. If you're not quite ready to become a student, visit a campus to get the full Northwood Tech experience. A campus tour will give you the opportunity to meet staff, instructors and students, tour the campus and get a real feel for the campus culture. 

2023-24 Dental Assistant Additional Program Information

2023-24 Dental Assistant Additional Program Information-Transfer Track

Program-Specific Requirements

  • Submit Background Check fee
  • Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable), and another state, if applicable
  • Pass a physical exam, have current immunizations and demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (Tb)
  • COVID vaccination---highly recommended
    • NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements including but not limited to; influenza vaccine, covid vaccine, negative tb skin test/quantiferon, up to date acceptable background check, or any other clinical requirements required by the clinical site. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students inability to meet the site specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks prior to the clinical start date.
  • Possess current certification of 'BLS Basic Life Support' or equivalent
  • Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
  • Review and sign dental office visit form
  • Review and sign dental assistant program permission form
  • Participate in a mandatory program orientation session

Get a feel for our campus culture, newly renovated spaces, faculty and staff. Find out if Northwood Tech is the right place for you. 

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2023-2024 Dental Assistant Student Handbook

Dental Assistant Orientation-Fall 2023 

DA Student Checklist Print this to do list.

DA Program Orientation Agenda

DA Program Orientation

2023-24 Academic Calendar

2023-24 DA Curriculum Checklist Curriculum Checklists are to be used as a guide. Although your academic advisor can provide guidance, you are ultimately responsible for selecting courses that meet a program's graduation requirements. 

  • Background Checks
    • The clinical agencies that host the Northwood Tech DA students for clinical courses have significantly increased their demands for background check scrutiny over the past several years. We want to ensure students understand, prior to the start of the program, that if there are no clinical agencies that will accept the student based on the background check history, the student must be excused from the DA program, regardless of the student's academic standing. This is explained in further detail in the Background Check Disclosure form listed above, under Admission Requirements. 

    • All DA students are required to complete a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, Student ID Form, and a National Criminal Background Check, which must be completed through Verified Credentials, LLC.

    • In addition to that, if you are a student who will complete a clinical rotation in Minnesota, you will also be required to complete a Minnesota Caregiver Background Check. Your Program Instructor/Advisor will inform you if a Minnesota background check is needed. 

      • MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Studies

      • The MN Dept. of Health Services NETStudy 2.0 background study requires all persons who provide services to children and vulnerable adults to be fingerprinted and photographed. 
      • Students will be required to provide Northwood Tech a copy of an Acceptable Form of ID for DHS Background studies (scroll down to What documents can be used to verify ID?), the completed MN DHS Data Worksheet and $44. 
      • Northwood Tech staff will verify the information provided and enter it into the MN DHS website. Background Study subjects will receive an email from IDEMIA/IdentoGO that includes an individual specific tracking number called a Universal Enrollment Identification (UE ID). The email will be sent within a few minutes of the background study application being submitted in NETStudy 2.0 by the provider. The email includes instructions for study subjects to use IDEMIA's pre-enrollment system and information on locating a fingerprint location.
      • Students MUST present a form of ID to be fingerprinted and photographed. Students will be required to pay the $10.50 fee at the fingerprint and photo location. Visit MN DHS/IDEMIA Transition for information on fingerprinting and photo locations.
      • Within 14 days of receiving the email from IDEMIA/IdentoGO, students must be fingerprinted and photographed. If not completed within 14 days, the above process and fee payment will need to be repeated. 
      • Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices
         
    • After background checks are completed, students are expected to self report any changes.
  • Health Form and Directions 

    • 1. Complete the Health Form and save it.
    • 2. Follow instructions on the form for submission.
  • DA Policies

  • Complete and Give to Instructor
  • BLS Basic Life Support Course Offerings

    • Fall 2023 BLS course offerings will be available soon.

  • Additional Information 

Dental Assistant Withdrawal

  • Instructions for Withdrawal from DA Core Courses 
    • If you are at this webpage, it means your DA Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your DA course (508-xxx) courses.
      • If you are withdrawing from your DA core (508-xxx) courses, the DA program would like to gather data regarding your decision to withdraw.  This data is useful in the DA planning process.  Thank you for providing this information.
      • Please carefully review the Withdrawal from the DA Program form.  You may complete the form electronically and email to megen.elliott@NorthwoodTech.edu or print and mail this form within one month of your exiting the program to the following address:
        • Megen Elliott
        • Northwood Technical College
        • 1900 College Dr
        • Rice Lake WI  54868
      • If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Megen Elliott, DA Program Director, at megen.elliott@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715.788.7150.

Technology Requirements

If using Macintosh or Linux based computers, coursework must be submitted using your Office365 tools provided with your Northwood Tech email account. It is important to verify with your Program Faculty if non-Windows based computers are acceptable in the program.

View All Technology Requirements

Contact

Choose a campus to view contact information, or for general assistance, please contact us.

Rice Lake Admissions Contact

Nicole Messicci

Admissions Advisor

715.788.7144

Contact

Ashland Admissions Contact

Jennifer Bednarik

Admissions Advisor

715.685.3039

Contact

New Richmond Admissions Contact

Jodi Saliny

Admissions Advisor

715.752.8119

Contact

Superior Admissions Contact

Anna Kalin

Admissions Advisor

715.319.7331

Contact

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Are you ready to experience success? Northwood Tech staff are standing by to support you in reaching your educational and career goals, so do it. Take the leap.