Contact Information

General Contact

Admissions Office

Financial Aid Office

FINANCIAL AID RATE

82%

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

25:1

FINANCIAL AID AWARD AVG.

$3,410

Average Grants + Scholarship Aid Awarded to Undergraduate Students

Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid

Percent of Students Paying In-State Tuition vs Out-of-State Tuition

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Dental Assistant Program

The dental assistant program at Cerritos College prepares students for a career in a dental office, dental supply manufacturer, hospital dental department, or insurance company. The program focuses on preparing patients and equipment for dental procedures, and office administrative functions. Program courses include: medical record-keeping, general office duties, reception and patient intake, scheduling, equipment maintenance and sterilization, basic radiography, pre and post-operative patient care and instruction, chairside assisting, taking tooth and mouth impressions, and supervised practice. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer dental assistant program.

The Dental Assistant program at Cerritos College is accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation since 1961.

Learn more by requesting information now!

Cerritos College

24 East Alvin Drive, Salinas, CA

Cerritos College is a two-year community college located in southeastern Los Angeles County, serving students from Bellflower, Downey, Norwalk, and La Mirada, among others. Cerritos College offers associate's degrees and vocational certificates in 87 disciplines, within nine academic divisions. The faculty of dedicated professors has a distinguished reputation as experts who have conducted research and published extensively in their fields.

Cerritos College ranks third in the State of California among community colleges for the number of associate's degrees it grants to Hispanic students.

Cerritos is unique among community colleges because it is the only community college in California with three manufacture-sponsored technician programs. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors sponsor the Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy (ATTE) program at Cerritos, which runs educational partnerships with these automotive manufacturers.  The college is establishing a new alternative fuels demonstration lab and meeting a need for specialized technicians.

Cerritos College has highly recognized teacher-training programs as well.  In partnership with California State University Long Beach, the Teacher TRAC program allows education students to complete their bachelor's degrees and multiple subject credentials in four years. Teacher TRAC also launched the Cerritos College Urban Teacher Fellowship in 2010, which provides services for at-risk youth who are interested in teaching K-12.

History

Cerritos College was founded in 1955.

Academics

The academic calendar at Cerritos College offers fall and spring "Semester Terms" that are available in 9-week, 15-week and 18-week sessions.

Colleges and Schools

The academic units at Cerritos College are organized into divisions, rather than colleges and schools. The Cerritos College academic divisions are:

  • Business Education
  • Fine Arts and Communications
  • Health Occupations
  • Health, Physical Education, Dance and Athletics
  • Humanities/Social Sciences
  • Liberal Arts
  • Science, Engineering and Mathematics
  • Technology

Additional Academic Programs:

  • Bilingual Programs (ESL)
  • Distance Education
  • First Year Experience
  • Summer Connections
  • Learning Communities
  • Teacher TRAC

Community, Industry and Technology Education (CITE):

  • CITE
  • Adult Education and Diversity Programs
  • Community Education
  • Economy Development
  • Pathway Programs
  • Perkins/VTEA
  • Northwood University (offering four-year degrees to working business students)

Student Life

There are several student clubs and organizations available on the Cerritos College campus covering a range of interests. These are supervised by the Associated Students of Cerritos College, which also provides information on campus events and activities, including an activities calendar. The Student Center, which houses a game room, food court, and information on student housing, also offers a Culinary Arts Program.

Student services at Cerritos College include:

  • Academic and Student Services
  • CalWORKS
  • Career Services
  • Counseling
  • Disabled Students Services
  • Student Health
  • International Students
  • Job Placement
  • Re-Entry Center
  • Transfer Center

Traditions

The traditional school colors for Cerritos College are blue and white. The school mascot is the falcon, and the athletic teams are nicknamed the Cerritos "Falcons."

Athletics

The Cerritos Health, Physical Education, Dance and Athletics (HPEDA) Division offers 19 sports for men and women, which compete in the South Coast Conference. The Cerritos College "Falcons" athletic teams include:

Men's Sports:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross County
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Water Polo
  • Wrestling

Women's Sports:

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo

Community Life

The district communities served by Cerritos College include the cities of:

Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and South Gate, among others.

Cerritos offers community education, transfer programs and alumni connections to community members, as well as corporate partnerships.

Students Enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Cerritos College has offered the following academic levels for students:

  • Less Than Two-Year Award
  • Associate's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

 Graduates
Less Than Two-Year Award22
Associate's Degree12

Students by Gender (2019)

 Graduates
Male4
Female30

Students by Race (2019)

 Graduates
Asian1
Black2
Hispanic26
White4
Multiple Races1

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Upon completion of the Dental Assistant program at Cerritos College, most students have pursued careers in the following fields:

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Dental Assistants

Description

Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, dental assistants employment is expected to grow at a rate of 18.4% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

  • Salinas, CA
    • Total Employment: 580
    • Average Hourly Rate: $19.62
    • Average Annual Salary: $40810

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Admission Requirements & Details

The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the candidates Cerritos College accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP college credits that may be transferred.

College Credits Accepted

  • Dual Credits
  • Life Experience Credits
  • AP Course Credits
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Academics & Student Services

Student Services

To help students and recent graduates, Cerritos College may offer services to students like those listed below:

  • Online classes
  • Night and weekend classes available
  • Remedial instructional courses
  • Academic counseling for students
  • Employing students to lower education costs
  • Helping students find work after graduation
  • Child care

Intercollegiate Athletics

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field, Outdoor
  • Track and Field, X-Country
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Wrestling