Dental Assisting Training Offered to Native Hawaiians

Hui No Ke Ola Pono, dental assisting program at UHMC.

Enrollment is now open for an entry-level Dental Assisting training program offered through the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Office of Extended Learning & Workforce Development. The opportunity is sponsored by Hui No Ke Ola Pono in an effort to increase the capacity of Native Hawaiians working in healthcare.

Fundamentals of dental assisting will be taught during lectures and labs on-campus as well as through a rotation at local dental offices. The 80-hour, non-credit course will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at from 1 to 4:30 p.m., from Feb. 7 to May 9, and will be preceded by a required orientation in the evenings during the last week of January.

As a final requirement for earning a Certificate of Professional Development in Dental Assisting, students will apply their new knowledge and skills during a 100-hour internship or work experience.

Individuals who wish to apply must schedule an in-person appointment at UH Maui College with College & Career Specialist Leilani Kepler, who may be contacted at lkepler@hawaii.edu or (808) 984-3725. Full tuition sponsorships are available, with preference given to individuals of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. Applicants must be ages 18 and older.