Dental Assistant Program

The dental assistant program at University of New Mexico – Taos Campus 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 New Mexico colleges that offer dental assistant program.

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University of New Mexico – Taos Campus (UNM - Taos)

9169 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM

Founded in 2003, University of New Mexico-Taos is one of the newest and smallest branch campuses of the UNM. It has ranked among the top 25 community colleges in the nation for growth in 2011.   

The campus is located in the high mountain valley between the Rio Grande and the Taos Pueblo. It functions as a community college for the Northern New Mexico and nearby communities providing quality and affordable education. 

What sets this campus apart from other institutions is that it is fully powered by one of the largest solar arrays in New Mexico. The use of this renewable energy source is in line with the institution's green jobs initiatives and academic courses in sustainability. 

As an open-access, student-centered institution, UNM Taos offers wide range of educational opportunities including 30 different degree and certificate programs, dual-credit, basic skills, transfer, career-technical, workforce training and lifelong learning courses and programs.

The programs are categorized under 4 academic areas of instruction: Transfer Courses and Program; Health Sciences; Business and Professional Skills; and Student Success. On the average, each class is consists of only 25 students.

Other programs and support services available for the students are Accelerate Technical Training and Job Placement, Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) and Adult Learning Center.

UNM-Taos celebrated a decade of excellence in education in 2013 and continues uphold highest standard of academic services with its highly qualified faculty and sophisticated curriculum. 

Enrollment http://taos.unm.edu/student-enrollment/getting-started.html
Degrees and Certificates http://taos.unm.edu/catalog/degrees-certificates.html

Career Options for Graduates

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

• Albuquerque, NM
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $15.23
  • Average Annual Salary: $31680

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