About
Dental Assisting is a valuable health service that provides direct care to dental patients. The mission of the Dental Assisting Program is to guide selected individuals through an educational experience to become personally, professionally, and socially effective dental assistants. The course includes lecture, laboratory and clinical practice. Dental Assisting students study a wide array of subjects including Dental Radiology, Dental Anatomy, Dental Materials, Oral Pathology, Chair-side Assisting, and Dental Specialties. Students receive supervised experience performing procedures using study models, mannequins, and various simulation methods. During the final phase of the program, students are supervised and trained in the clinical setting performing skills on dental patients in dental offices. Upon graduation and registration with Tennessee Board of Dentistry, graduates may seek employment in General Practice dental offices or specialty offices such as Pediatric Dentistry, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Endodontics, and Periodontics.
Class Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2:30 PM
Clinical Hours: Vary depending on clinical site availability
Overview
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time Commitment | Full Time |
| Typical Program Length | 8 Months |
| Clock Hours | 864 |
| Class Type | Day |
| Credentials | Certificate |
| Total Tuition/Fees | $2,994.00 |
| Textbook/Supplies Cost | $1,470.97 |
Program Credentials
Class Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Clinical Hours: Vary depending on clinical site availability
Now accepting applications for Summer 2026
Priority deadline is March 1, 2026
Seats are available for Fall 2025.
*All start dates are dependent on sufficient enrollment.
To be considered for admission, please complete the following steps:
- Online Application by clicking “Apply Now”
- Official High School Transcript or Equivalent
- Official transcript must be mailed directly from your school system to TCAT Dickson, Attn: Sherry Bowman. Electronic submission of transcripts must be from Parchment.com or National Student Clearinghouse to be considered official. We DO NOT accept emailed transcripts.
- Foreign Transcripts will require translation and evaluation from a credentialing service to verify equivalent to a US high school diploma. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain appropriate credential verification.
- Proof of Immunity to MMR and Varicella
- Applicants must provide proof of two doses of each immunization or positive titer levels
- HESI A2 Entrance Exam
- A minimum score of 60 in both math and reading sections. HESI scores are valid for 2 years. Retesting may be allowed once per term and must be a minimum of 30 days after the prior test
- If you test at a testing center other than TCAT Dickson or Clarksville, please have the testing facility email Sherry.Bowman@tcatdickson.edu with your official scores.
- Achieving the minimum scores on the HESI A2 exam does not guarantee admission. Admission to the Dental Assisting Program is highly competitive, and only a select number of students are enrolled in each class.
Dental Assisting applicants with a complete application are ranked based on scores on the entrance exam.
*Additional documentation will be required following acceptance into the program to meet clinical approval.
Information Sessions:
September 9, 2025 at 10:30 am on the Dickson Campus
September 10, 2025 at 10:30 am on the Clarksville Campus
HESI A2 Testing Dates:
Dickson Campus 9:00 am on September 19 and October 17
Clarksville Campus 9:30 am on September 3
HESI testing slots are limited. Call Sherry Bowman at 615-441-6220 to request a date. The $47 exam fee must be paid to reserve a seat. The HESI test fee is nonrefundable. Please arrive early for the HESI exam. Testing begins promptly at the scheduled time. There will be no late admittance.
Applicants may utilize the HESI Admission Assessment Exam Review ISBN: 9780323582261 as a study guide.
Click here to request official HESI scores from the Elsevier Website: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323324045?role=student
The local Adult Education/Workforce Essentials offices in Dickson and Clarksville/Montgomery County offer free assistance with preparation.
For additional information, please contact Stephanie Murphy, Director of Nursing and Health Careers, at 615-441-6220 or stephanie.murphy@tcatdickson.edu or Sherry Bowman, Health Careers Student Enrollment, at 615-441-6222 or Sherry.Bowman@tcatdickson.edu.
ARTICULATION
For more information on TCAT to Community College Articulation agreements, click the links below:
https://www.tbr.edu/academics/tcattocc
https://catalog.tbr.edu/mime/media/view/1/585/TCAT+CC+Articulation+Brochure+FINAL.pdf
Campus Locations
740 Highway 46 South
Dickson, TN 37055
Curriculum/Courses
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