Allan Hancock College has a reason to smile and show off those pearly whites: The college’s dental assisting program has the second-highest pass rate in the state on the California Dental Association Registered Dental Assistant practical exam.
“I’m very proud of both our students and instructors,” Kathy Johnson, coordinator of the dental assisting program, said in a statement.
In the past five years, Hancock students in the program have passed the exam with a rate of 97 percent.
Why is Hancock passing with flying colors?
“At some institutions, students are on their own when it comes to taking the board exams,” Johnson added in the statement, noting it’s not that way at Hancock.
Instead, the last class in the program is a practical exam-training course, taught by full-time veteran and part-time instructor, Diane Detter, who’s handled the course for 11 years.
The program is also viewed as a success in the working world.
“We have requests coming in all the time from dental offices that want to work with our students,” Johnson said in the statement.
Anyone interested in being a part of the program should mark Jan. 5, 2012. on the calendar; that’s when the college will begin to accept applications to the program. For more information, e-mail healthsciences@hancockcollege.edu or call 922-6966, Ext. 3384.
School Scene is compiled by Contributor Henry Houston. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in May 5-12, 2011.