Minnesota West receives additional enrollment accreditation for dental assistant program

The Minnesota West Community and Technical College dental assistant program has been awarded approval for increased enrollment at the Luverne Center. The dental assistant program has currently been offered on the Canby campus and for the fall 2019 semester the program expanded to the Luverne center. On Aug. 1, The Commission on Dental Accreditation granted the dental assisting program the accreditation approval to increase enrollment to the Luverne Center of Minnesota West. The permanent increase in enrollment from 24 to 36 students per year would allow 24 students at the Canby campus and 12 students at the Luverne center the opportunity to enroll in the dental assistant program.

“The job outlook and opportunities in rural Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota made the decision to expand the program to Luverne an easy one. The access for students for education and employment is a good fit to extend the program in Luverne. Our partnership with the city of Luverne, as well as, the community has been instrumental in the success of the center. The expansion of the program will result in a full functional dental lab for service opportunities as well,” said Jackie Otkin, Minnesota West dean of Allied Health.

“I am thrilled that we will be able to increase educational opportunities by expanding our Dental Assistant Program to Luverne, Minnesota,” said Minnesota West dental assistant instructor Sara Abrahamson.

“Expansion of our dental assistant program to the Luverne site will increase the availability of quality dental assistants in our region,” added Minnesota West dental assistant instructor Teresa Noyes.

The dental assistant program is designed to prepare individuals for a career in a variety of oral healthcare settings. This may be as a clinical chairside assistant to a dentist or dental hygienist or as a non-clinical practice management assistant. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and upon completion the student will take national and state examinations leading to certification and licensure in dental assisting. Classroom lecture will be delivered in web-based methods, and lab will be face-to-face at the center.