Nicolet to launch new dental training program
Nicolet College is launching two new dental programs that will include a two-year Dental Hygienist associate degree and a Dental Assistant diploma that will be able to be completed in less than one year.
The college conducted a needs assessment in the Northwoods to get an accurate employment picture for the dental field and found that there was “significant demand for more dental-related professionals in the region,” according to Lenore Mangles, Dean of Health Occupations at Nicolet.
The Dental Hygienist program includes 70 credits of coursework. Working under the supervision of a dentist, hygienists examine and treat patients and provide education about methods of preventing dental disease by practicing good oral hygiene and maintaining proper nutrition.
The Dental Assistant program consists of 19 credits of coursework. Individuals in this field also work with dentists as they examine and treat patients. Select courses in the diploma program can be applied to the Dental Hygienist associate degree if students want to continue their education in the dental health field.
Nicolet is offering this program in partnership with the Peter Christensen Dental Clinic in Lac du Flambeau. The facility is currently under construction and is expected to be completed this fall.
Students can begin taking their general education classes at the start of Fall Semester, which begins Sept. 4. These classes will be held on the Nicolet Campus just south of Rhinelander.
The core dental classes will be held at the clinic in Lac du Flambeau with Dental Assistant classes beginning in January of 2013. Nicolet is currently seeking accreditation from the Commission of Dental Accreditation for the Dental Hygienist associate degree. That is expected to be in place in 2013 with the core Dental Hygienist classes start in the fall of that year.
Nicolet will hold a series of information sessions to give anyone interested the opportunity to learn more about the program. Attendance at one of these sessions is required for all students applying for admission to one of the Dental programs. Prospective students will need to register to attend an information session and that can be done by calling the Nicolet Welcome Center at (715) 365-4493 or (800) 544-3039, ext. 4493.
Three sessions will be held on Thursday, July 12, in Art Tech Center Room 212 on the Nicolet Campus just south of Rhinelander. These will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m., 1:30 to 3 p.m., and 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Additional sessions will be held Thursday, July 19, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Nicolet Lakeland center in Minocqua; as well as an evening session Thursday, July 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in Art Tech Center Room 212 on the Nicolet Campus.
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