CERTIFICATES

Dental Assistant
This technical certificate program is one year (twelve months)
and is composed of didactic and clinical instruction. It is designed
and organized to promote the personal and professional growth
each student. The main objectives of the program are to prepare the
student to function in the dental setting and to academically qualify
for the Dental Assistant National Board certification examination
and the Tennessee Board of Dentistry registry examination. The
program in Dental Assisting is accredited by the American Dental
Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized
accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary
Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
Students desiring entrance into the Dental Assistant program
must have the following on file:
1. Application to the College
2. VSCC Medical History and Physical Examination
report
3. Application to Allied Health Careers
4. High School Transcripts or GED Scores
5. ACT or SAT Test Scores if under 21 years of age
6. Basic Skills Prerequisites: Reading competence equivalent
DSPR 0800; Writing competence equivalent to DSPW 0800;
and Math competence equivalent to DSPM 0700
7. Transcripts from any other Colleges attended
8. Other requested documents or records.
The application deadline is May 15. Applicants are admitted
into the program each August. Required prerequisites must
completed prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged
to apply early. The Dental Assistant courses begin in August and
end the following August. Any questions about the program or the
admissions procedure should be directed to the Program Director.
Summary of Required Hours
Course No. Course Title Credit
DES 110* Fundamentals of Dental Assisting 2
DES 120* Dental Materials & Laboratory Procedures 3
DES 130* Dental Office Management 2
DES 210* Preventive Dental Assisting 3
DES 211* Dental Science I 4
DES 212* Dental Science II 5
DES 220* The Compromised Patient 2
DES 221* Dental Radiography I 3
DES 222* Dental Radiography II 2
DES 231* Clinical Science I 3
DES 232* Clinical Science II 4
DES 233* Clinical Science III 2
DES 241C* Clinical Practice I 1
DES 242C* Clinical Practice II 2
DES 243C* Clinical Practice III 10
Total Certificate Hours 48

Diagnostic Medical
Sonography
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography technical certificate
program is designed to prepare the student to become a diagnostic
medical sonographer. Sonographers are skilled professionals who
provide patient services using diagnostic ultrasound under the
supervision of a physician. Upon completion of this competencybased
program, the student will be eligible to take the American
Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers certification board
examination. The program of study includes both didactic and
clinical training in the fields of acoustic principles and safety, as
well as abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, and small parts
sonography.
Admission to the program is limited and the deadline for
applications is May 1. The four-semester program begins in July.
A personal interview is required and screening of applicants will
take place in late May - early June. Applicants seeking admission
to the program must submit an application to the College and meet
one of the following qualifications:
Successful completion of an AMA recognized two-year
program that is patient-care related (i.e., Radiologic
Technology, Respiratory Care Technology, Nursing,
and Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistant)
OR
Successful completion of a bachelor degree program.
Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Medical
Terminology are mandatory courses before consideration
of application can be made.
For more information or an application packet, contact the
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director.
Summary of Required Hours
Course No. Course Title Credit
UST 200* Introduction to Medical Sonography 3
UST 205* Orientation to Patient Care 3
UST 211C* Clinical Education I 4
UST 212C* Clinical Education II 4
UST 213C* Clinical Education III 6
UST 220* Physics and Instrumentation I 3
UST 221* Physics and Instrumentation II 3
UST 240* Abdominal Scanning 4
UST 241* OB/GYN Scanning 4
UST 242* Small Parts Scanning 2
UST 250* Registry Review 1
Total Certificate Hours 37