Dental Clinical Experience
Dental Assisting Clinical Experience
Clinical Eligibility & Expectations
During their senior year, eligible Dental Assisting students at Lebanon County Career & Technical Education Center may participate in a supervised clinical experience in a participating dental office. Clinical placement provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom and laboratory skills in a professional setting while developing workplace readiness, communication, professionalism, and confidence in patient care.
Clinical Eligibility
Clinical participation is a privilege and is based on the student's demonstrated readiness for the workplace. Dental Assisting clinical eligibility follows LCCTC Cooperative Education academic, attendance, behavioral, and workplace-readiness standards, with additional Dental Assisting clinical-readiness requirements.
- Maintain a minimum overall grade of 80% in the Dental Assisting program.
- Passing all academic classes at the time of placement and throughout the clinical experience.
- Meet LCCTC Cooperative Education attendance requirements. Eligibility will be based on the student's most recently completed marking period.
- No more than one unexcused absence per quarter; tardiness must also remain within LCCTC Cooperative Education requirements.
- No more than three excused absences per quarter.
- During the clinical rotation, students may miss no more than one clinical day and may be late no more than two times. Missed clinical time must be made up in coordination with the clinical office and instructor. Excessive absences or tardiness may result in the placement being delayed, suspended, or discontinued.
- Meet LCCTC Cooperative Education behavioral expectations and remain in good standing at LCCTC and the student's sending/home school.
- Successfully complete the required Dental Assisting coursework, laboratory skills, and competency evaluations prior to placement.
- Demonstrate consistent professionalism, responsibility, punctuality, communication, and workplace readiness.
- Complete and maintain all required clinical health, safety, certification, and clearance requirements, including:
- Current CPR certification
- Required Hepatitis B and Tetanus documentation
- Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
- Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check
- Any additional documentation required by LCCTC or the participating clinical site
- Complete all required clinical paperwork and documentation by established deadlines.
- Have reliable transportation to and from the clinical site.
Eligibility must be maintained throughout the clinical experience. Academic concerns, attendance or punctuality issues, disciplinary concerns, unsafe behavior, unprofessional conduct, or failure to complete required documentation may result in a student's clinical placement being delayed, suspended, or discontinued.
Clinical Expectations
- Report to the assigned clinical site on time and as scheduled.
- Wear the required LCCTC Dental Assisting uniform and maintain an appropriate professional appearance.
- Follow all dental office policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
- Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, OSHA, infection-control, and workplace safety standards.
- Demonstrate respectful and professional communication with patients, dental professionals, staff, instructors, and other students.
- Perform only those duties appropriate to the student's level of training and permitted within the clinical setting.
- Demonstrate initiative, responsibility, dependability, and a willingness to learn.
- Communicate absences, concerns, or changes promptly according to LCCTC and clinical-site procedures.
- Complete training on the Job Ready 360 App before beginning the clinical experience.
- Use the Job Ready 360 App to clock in and out for each scheduled clinical day.
- Maintain regular communication with the Dental Assisting instructor through the Job Ready 360 App and respond to messages in a timely manner.
- Complete and submit all required work logs through the Job Ready 360 App accurately and by the established deadlines.
- Complete all required clinical documentation, evaluations, logs, and assignments.
Clinical Experience
Students complete a minimum six-week clinical rotation, attending their assigned dental office from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on scheduled clinical days.
Clinical placements are educational experiences designed to reinforce the competencies taught within the Dental Assisting program. Students remain accountable to LCCTC expectations throughout their placement, and continued participation depends upon maintaining academic, behavioral, attendance, safety, and professional standards.
Through partnerships with local dental offices, students gain meaningful hands-on experience that supports their transition into employment, post-secondary education, and careers within the dental profession.