STI Congratulates the 2017 Dental Assisting Graduates!

Southeastern Technical Institute in South Easton, MA, congratulates the Class of 2017 Dental Assisting graduates. This Class is able to sit for the Dental Assisting National Boards to become nationally certified (CDA) and to become licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as licensed Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA’s).

What is a Certified Dental Assistant? A CDA is an individual that has successfully passed all three parts of the Dental Assisting National Boards. Individuals that graduate from an ADA CODA (American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation) accredited Dental Assisting Program are eligible to sit for all three parts of the exam. There are currently eight ADA CODA accredited adult education programs in the State of Massachusetts which prepare students to become nationally certified as CDAs.

What does the Commonwealth require for licensure? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts dictates in their State Dental Practice Act what duties a dental assistant may perform and when they must be supervised by a dentist. As of January 2015, the Commonwealth requires all Dental Assistants must be licensed in the state. There are four levels; Dental Assistant Trained on the Job (OJT), Formally Trained Dental Assistant (FTDA), Certified Assistant and the highest level of licensure available to Dental Assistants in the Commonwealth which is Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA). At present, there are very few EFDAs in the state. In order to be licensed as an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA), the student must be a Certified Dental Assistant and be a graduate of a CODA accredited dental assistant program that includes a course of study in expanded functions.

STI is one of the few schools whose graduates are licensed as EFDAs because the Institute is CODA accredited and, under the leadership of Dental Assisting Program Director Dr. Tammi Hassan, teaches all expanded functions allowed in Massachusetts. STI’s Dental Assisting classes of 2015 and 2016 successfully passed the Dental Assisting National Boards and became nationally certified as CDAs. The graduates in both classes also became licensed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Expanded Function Dental Assistants. This year, 16 out of 17 graduates are licensed as Expanded Function Dental Assistants.

Congratulations to the following 2017 Dental Assisting Graduates;

Stephanie Ameen, Brockton

Courtney Bezio, Bridgewater

Stephnie Bullard, Acushnet

Rylee Correia, Stoughton

Brandi Hume, Brockton

Melissa Jackson, Marshfield

Allisun Jiggens, Fairhaven

Dazzlin Jordan, Quincy

Cassandra O’Hearn, Brockton

Colin Oravec, Seekonk

Melanie Quinn, Canton

Chevelle Rego, Fall River

Kristin Rovner, Stoughton

Elizabeth Seetaram, Norton

Nicole Smith, West Bridgewater

Chasity Titus, Brockton

Since 1968, Southeastern Technical Institute has provided adults with training in several vocational areas, constantly striving to meet the training needs of our students and area businesses. STI is a non-profit, public school that offers day and evening programs including Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Electricity, HVAC, Medical Assisting, Plumbing and Practical Nurse. In addition, there are several evening continuing education courses. Southeastern Technical Institute is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. For more information, or to apply online, visit www.stitech.edu or contact 508.230.1297. Financial Aid available for those who qualify.