Dental Assisting: Fieldwork
Fieldwork requirements
Health profession student clinical training administrative requirements
In order for students to complete the required clinical training, PCC requires all students to meet the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 409 – Division 30 for students in clinical training prior to clinical placement. Students are to meet any requirements mandated by their clinical site as well. A detailed description of these requirements are listed in Requirements for Clinical & Field Education. They include:
- Successfully pass a criminal background check
- Successfully pass a ten-panel drug screen
- Submit proof of current immunizations
- CPR Certification: Students are required to obtain and maintain current certification in BLS (CPR) for Healthcare Providers by the American Heart Association.
- Complete Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen compliance training modules.
Program due dates: Adhere to all program-specific due dates for submitting documentation and completing requirements.
The program uses the third-party vendor, CastleBranch to collect immunization and CPR certification documentation and conduct the background check and drug screen. Students are required to purchase these services and the program has no control over any cost adjustments.
Fieldwork grading
To successfully complete the program, students must complete and log a total of 300 clinical practice hours, as mandated by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). This includes time spent at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Willamette Dental, and externship experience in dental office settings. Detailed information about this requirement will be provided in the course syllabi. Clinical hours are documented and tracked by the “Clinical Procedures” course instructor. Failure to complete these hours by the end of the spring term may result in not successfully completing the entire Dental Assisting program.
* Please note – hours spent in the PCC Dental Clinic are not calculated in the required 300 hours mandated by CODA.
Fieldwork sites
During the winter and spring terms of the Dental Assisting program, students are required to attend off-site facilities for their externship rotations. Each student will be assigned to specific sites, and transportation and any associated costs to and from these sites is the student’s responsibility. The program does not provide transportation.