Certificate Program
Dental Radiology
Certificate Course for Unlicensed DA
CLASSES START
Soon
8 Weeks Program Length | 80 Hours |
Hands-on Lab Experience | MN Residents Only |
Certificate Program
Dental Radiology
Certificate Course for Unlicensed DA
Expand your duties to radiological services—in only 8 weeks
| Eligibility | Designed for unlicensed dental assistants and others actively employed in dental offices looking to expand their job duties |
|---|---|
| Build job skills | Develop skills and knowledge in image and x-ray production, radiation safety, patient/operator protection, and quality assurance |
| Didactic classes | 50 hours of online asynchronous course content |
| Hands-on learning | On-campus hands-on lab experience all in one weekend at our campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota; 15 hours of clinical site assignments completed at your workplace |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Overview: Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology
The Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology is an 80-hour certificate program which prepares unlicensed dental assistants to deliver dental radiological services.
The certificate course at our Minneapolis campus provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in the basics of radiation, equipment, film and processing, imaging technique, digital and panoramic imaging, and more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start January 6th
Learn More Today
Curriculum
Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology curriculum details
Topics covered across the 8-week course include the basics of radiation, equipment, film and processing, imaging technique, digital and panoramic imaging, and more.
- Put academic training into action in hands-on labs at our Minneapolis campus, and clinical experience in your current place of employment
- Learn from Herzing University faculty with extensive experience teaching dental assisting and dental hygiene
- Earn a Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology—a credential qualifying you to apply for Limited Radiology Registration with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry
The certificate program’s 80 hours will be distributed as such:
- 50 hours of asynchronous course content
- 15 lab hours at the Herzing University – Minneapolis campus radiology lab
- 15 hours of clinical site assignments completed at your workplace
| Course | Weeksi | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology | 8 | 80 |
Tuition & Cost
Our goal is your career advancement.
That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our Dental Radiology certificate program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Take this step to invest in yourself, build your skills and capabilities in dental radiology, and advance your career to the next level.
Requirements
Enrollment requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology include:
- You must be actively employed in a dental office
- You must obtain sponsorship from a licensed dentist
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
- Complete an enrollment application
Practice requirements
In addition to completing this Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology, you must meet the Limited Radiology Registration requirements specified by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry, including:
- Passed, within 5 years prior to application for licensure, the Minnesota Jurisprudence Examination covering the statutes and rules of the Minnesota Board of Dentistry.
- Passed, within 5 years prior to application for licensure, the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam.
- Documentation of current CPR certification (Basic Life Support Provider with the American Heart Association or with the American Red Cross)
- Criminal background check
Classes Start Soon
Waived Enrollment FeeFrequently Asked Questions
You will need to first earn a diploma or associate degree in dental assisting in order to eventually become a Licensed Dental Assistant in the state of Minnesota.
Our Certificate of Completion in Dental Radiology is designed to qualify you to deliver x-ray and other radiological services in a dental office, but it does not equip you with the skills and knowledge to practice as an LDA.
If you’re considering advancing your career as a dental assistant, keep in mind dental assistants earn a higher salary in Minnesota than any other state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In Minnesota, dental assistants earn an average salary of $47,350 per year ($22.77 per hour).*
You will complete a total of 15 laboratory hours over one weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at our campus near Minneapolis. Your time in labs will cover these topics:
- Radiology Equipment
- Normal Anatomy
- Exposure Techniques
- Radiation Production
- Radiation Biology
- Radiation Protection and Safety
- Infection Control
- Digital Imaging
- Image Interpretation and Evaluation
The majority of the didactic coursework will have taken place prior to the laboratory session. It is important that you come to the laboratory session understanding content previously covered in the didactic portion of the course. Laboratory session dates will be provided by the instructor during week 1 of the course.
Unlicensed dental assistants are allowed to perform certain duties as stipulated by Minnesota Legislature regulations. These duties include:
- Retracting a patient’s cheek, tongue, or other parts of tissue during a procedure
- Assist with placement or removal of devices as directed by the dentist or dental therapist
- Remove debris or water during treatment using suction devices
- Assisting in placing articles and topical medication in a patient’s oral cavity under supervision of a dentist or dental therapist
In January 2022, the Minnesota Board of Dentistry approved unlicensed dental assistants to perform radiological services after meeting certain requirements, including completing a board approved course in dental radiology.
There are no eligibility requirements to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. However, completing our dental radiology course can assist you in preparing for the RHS exam.
Our course includes an RHS readiness exam as part of the curriculum and will put you in much better position to pass the exam on your first attempt.
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Disclosures
Accreditation and Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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