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Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage

Dental Careers

Dental Careers (New for 2026)

  • New in 2026–2027: Program specific course content will be weighted as Honors-level coursework. See Program Coursework below for more details.

    Prerequisites

    • Must be a Junior
    • Biology: Grade C or better
    • Algebra I: Grade C or better

  • This two-year program prepares students for future study and careers in dentistry through hands-on labs, anatomy and radiology coursework, and applied clinical concepts. Students learn how dental professionals support patient care, oral health, and office operations in both private practices and public health settings.

  • This is a highly clinical, hands-on course. Students are active every day and should expect extended standing, bending, and working in close proximity to classmates. Instruction includes direct physical contact, such as practicing intraoral procedures, touching classmates’ mouths, and working around realistic dental conditions including saliva and small amounts of blood. Students must be comfortable with physical interaction, including applying and receiving assistance during dental simulations.

  • Students engage in structured clinical observation opportunities and educational field trips to a variety of real-world dental and healthcare environments. These experiences are designed to introduce students to professional dental settings, workplace expectations, confidentiality principles, and the roles of allied oral health professionals.

  • Students are expected to participate in HOSA – Future Health Professionals, a national student organization focused on leadership development, teamwork, and healthcare career readiness. In addition to earning course credit, students are eligible to work toward industry-recognized credentials, including:

    These credentials allow students to graduate with documented skills, certifications, and career preparation—not just a grade.

  • This program operates like a healthcare workplace. Students are expected to purchase specific work attire for daily wear when attending classes. Student's will:

    • Wear required work attire daily
    • Display a visible ID badge at all times
    • Demonstrate professional behavior, punctuality, accountability, and respectful communication

    Work attire sample images appear in the image carousel below

    An informational diagram illustrating the components of a professional dental career uniform worn by two models.

Program Description

2 years (5 HS credits) – Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center at Hermitage

This program is designed to be completed in two years during the 11th and 12th grade.

Year 1 ( Junior Year)

Dental Careers I - 2 credits (Honors) : A combination of this course and Dental Careers II , equivalent to two 36-week courses, is a concentration sequence. Students wishing to complete a specialization may take additional courses based on their career pathways. A program completer is a student who has met the requirements for a CTE concentration sequence and all other requirements for high school graduation or an approved alternative education program

Career Strategies - 1 credit : Career Strategies consists of an in-depth study of career clusters and pathways through a variety of investigative activities. Students analyze career assessment results, compare various educational options, and develop or revise a plan related to their academic and career-related goals.

Year 2 ( Senior Year)

Dental Careers II  - 2 credits (Honors) : Units of study include medical emergencies, coronal polishing, oral pathology, dental radiology, nutrition, schedule IV drugs and pharmacology, and advanced laboratory techniques. In addition to attending classes for part of the week, students have the opportunity to participate in internships at local private dental offices and public health dental facilities, where they observe and/or participate in the delivery of dental care. During the program, students are eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Inc. (DANB); Radiation Health and Safety (RHS); Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP); and Infection Control (ICE) exams. Students who pass are qualified to work in entry-level dental assistant I and dental receptionist positions. After 3,500 hours in the field, graduates of the program are eligible to take the national examination to become a certified dental assistant. Many graduates choose to continue their dental education at community colleges and universities.

Instructor

Ms. Maggie Capocelli

(Ms. C), RDH, BSDH, MS