Alternative Dental Assisting Program (ADAP)

The Alternative Dental Assisting Program (ADAP) is an alternate course of study accepted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and provides the required education and clinical experience in order to be eligible for licensure as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in New York State.

What is a Dental Assistant?
The dental assistant is an important member of the dental health care team. The dental assistant is directly involved in patient care, such as reducing patient anxiety, preparing and sterilizing dental instruments; mixing dental materials; and exchanging instruments to the dentist at chairside during procedures. Other duties may include laboratory and office management duties.

Entrance Requirements/Registration

The ADAP student MUST have a high school diploma or its equivalent and be presently employed as a dental assistant by a dentist who will act as a preceptor for the duration of the ADAP program. 3,500 hours experience is required.

• Submit a copy of their High School diploma or its equivalent with their registration form.
  NOTE: Transcripts must be in English. Transcripts need to be translated into English if they are originally in another language before they are submitted. Students may use an online translation service such as LinguaLinx or any translation service they prefer. The translation process could take up to two to three weeks.
• Presently be employed as a dental assistant by a New York State licensed dentist who will act as a preceptor for the duration of the ADAP program. Students applying for this program who are employed by a specialty practice must secure a second preceptor in a general practice.

Textbook: Modern Dental Assisting, 14th edition (ISBN 9780323824408)

COST: $1,200 plus the cost of books, licensing exam and licensing application fees.

Spring 2025 Session
ZPED 070 600
Online Course: Jan. 21 – May 16, 2025
Registration begins Dec. 5, 2024

To register, please complete the Registration Form (PDF) and the ADAP Agreement: Employee/Preceptor Agreement ADAP Form (PDF). Submit the completed forms with copy of your High School diploma or its equivalent.

Program Overview

The Alternative Dental Assisting Program (ADAP) is a registered program with New York State Education Department. To become a licensed Dental Assistant NYS mandates that students take academic courses accepted by NYSED. ADAP is designed specifically for the experienced, unlicensed dental assistant.

This program includes two parts:

1. Topic information is presented in an online distance learning format. This format includes 15 modules presented in 15 weeks. This course will provide adequate preparation to take the New York Professional Dental Assisting (NYPDA), Radiation Health & Safety (RHS), and Infection Control (ICE) exams. Or a student may sit for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination. These exams are administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) to become a New York State Registered Dental Assistant (RDA).
2. In addition students are required to complete 1000 hours of dental assisting work experience that will begin on the first day of class.
   *Please note these clinical hours will continue after the last day of classes and must be completed within five years of the start of the program.

Students are required to submit a Clinical Portfolio which will include Skill Competency Evaluation Forms (SCEF), an attendance form and receive a grade of 75 or better to successfully complete the program.

Upon receiving Hudson Valley Community College's Dental Assistant Certificate of Completion, the graduate must take the DANB exams and submit an application to the NYS Office of Professions to become an RDA.

NOTE: The college offers an online Dental Assisting Certificate program for students who do not meet the requirements to enroll in the ADAP program. For further information regarding the certificate program, contact the Admission’s Office at (518) 629-7309.

Payment and Refund Information

Please Note: Due to federal privacy regulations, if a student is being sponsored by a third party to participate in this course, the college is unable to disclose information from a student’s education record to anyone other than the student unless a FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) form is on file with the college and the third party sponsor is so named.

Refunds

The following refund policy pertains to the Alternative Dental Assisting Program (ADAP).

All requests for a refund must be submitted in writing. All refunds will be in the form of a check and typically take 14 to 21 days to be processed. If your registration was paid by a third party please include in your refund request who the check should be made payable to.

Prior to start of course: 100% refund
During first week of class: 75% refund
During second week of class: 50% refund
During third week of class: 25% refund
After third week of class: No refund

Computer Requirements

You must:

• Meet the computer requirements. You will need access to a computer with an internet connection that meets the minimum system and browser requirements. To test your system for compatibility go to 7685.c178.net/check and select Check System & Browser Requirements.
  NOTE: Not all of features and functionalities are supported on mobile devices. You still need access to a computer to take an online course.
• Have proficient reading and writing skills. The majority of communication in online learning courses is done in writing.
• Be comfortable using a word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Word Perfect. You should be familiar with sending email and using basic functions such as "copy" and "paste."
• Be able to utilize the Hudson Valley Community College WebMail email system for communication with your instructor and class.
• Be able to budget your time and priorities. Online learning courses are NOT self-paced. They follow the semester calendar as far as registration, mid-terms, finals, etc. Homework and other assignments, tests and quizzes are due on a regular basis.

Dental Assisting Links

• DANB – Dental Assisting National Board
• NYSED Office of the Professions: Questions & Answers About Working as a Dental Assistant

Program Instructors

Tammy Conway, RDH, MS
Department Chair, Dental Hygiene Department
Ms. Conway earned her dental hygiene degree from Hudson Valley Community College. She received her B.S. at William Paterson University and her M.S. at the State University of New York at Albany. She has been the Department Chair since 2019.

Ann Gallerie, RDA, CDA, CDIPC, AS
Ms. Gallerie has experience as a dental assisting educator at Hudson Valley Community College and is a graduate of the college's Dental Assisting Certificate program. She received her A.S. at Hudson Valley Community College and is a licensed Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) from the New York State Education Department. She also holds her national certification as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) given by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). She also holds national certifications as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and is Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Gabriele Hamm, RDA, CDA, CDPMA, FADAA, AS
Ms. Hamm has experience as a dental assisting educator at Hudson Valley Community College, and is the Dental Assisting Program Coordinator for the Dental Hygiene Department. Ms. Hamm is a graduate of the Dental Assisting Certificate Program at Westchester Para-professional School. She received her A.S. at Hudson Valley Community College and is a licensed Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) from the New York State Education Department. She also holds her national certification as a Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator (CDPMA) and a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) given by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). She also earned a Fellowship in the American Dental Assistants Association (FADAA).