The Dental Assistant Pathway Program allows the college to train people with no prior dental assistant training and who did not go to college, according to an April 3 news release.
The college was previously required to hire dental assistants who had some dental assisting experience from a junior college or past work in a dental office, which made it difficult to find people.
The school was given a three-year grant from the nonprofit Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute to train 12 dental assistants each year, making the 14-week program free for students. Students will also work at the school and be paid $17.04 an hour.
The college will also pay fees associated with seeking a National Entry Level Dental Assisting Certificate for students who complete the program.