Iowa Central Dental Assisting Celebrates First Class with 100% Exam Pass Rate
Emily Denholm, Public Information Office
8/13/2025
Iowa Central Community College proudly announces that its Dental Assisting Program has achieved [unofficial] accreditation from the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The program in dental assisting is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. CODA can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, and more information is available at https://coda.ada.org.
This milestone coincides with another major achievement: the four students—Emma Sate, Madison Visser, Hailey Brazel, and Paige Hansmeier—earned a 100% pass rate on the Iowa Jurisprudence Examination. The students recently completed clinical internships in general and specialty dental practices, including orthodontics and oral surgery, gaining essential hands-on experience to prepare for their careers.
Graduated students are now eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB) to earn the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credential. This certification covers infection control, chairside assisting, and ionizing radiation health and safety—core competencies that ensure quality patient care and effective support for dental teams.
A Vital and In-Demand Career
Dental assistants play an essential role in dental practices by supporting smooth operations, enhancing patient comfort, and assisting with a wide range of procedures. Their responsibilities may include preparing treatment rooms, updating patient records, taking radiographs, sterilizing instruments, assisting during dental procedures, providing post-operative care instructions, and educating patients on oral hygiene. Many also manage administrative duties such as scheduling, billing, and insurance coordination.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for dental assistants is projected to grow 11% between 2022 and 2032, significantly higher than the national average of 3% for all occupations. In Iowa, dental assistants earn an average annual salary of approximately $49,140 or $23.62 per hour, with earning potential varying based on location, experience, and specialized skills.
Career opportunities for dental assistants extend beyond private practices to specialty offices, education, business administration, insurance, office management, public health clinics, and more.
Enrollment Now Open
Iowa Central is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Dental Assisting Program. Admission is competitive, with limited spots available. Applicants must meet specific entry requirements, including:
- A high school GPA of 2.5 or higher, or a college GPA of 2.0 (with 8 or more college-level credits).
- Placement scores in math, reading, and English (or qualifying GPA/test exemptions).
- Eight hours of job shadowing at two separate dental offices.
- Completion of a bloodborne pathogen statement.
- A meeting with Program Director Renee Piper upon completion of job shadowing.
For more information or to apply, contact Renee Piper at piper@iowacentral.edu or (515) 574-1326.
Diversity is important to me. For people to learn and grow, there must be diversity in the workplace, schools, and sports. That is another reason I wanted to go to Iowa Central; there are so many people here from across the world, all with different backgrounds and life experiences. I saw Iowa Central as an opportunity not only to grow in both academics and in athletics, but also to become a stronger person.
