Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia Certification Course
Online Study Period (Independent and Self Paced):
July 6 - October 2, 2023
Onsite Clinical Session: October 7, 8, 9, 2023
8:00am to 6pm
Location of clinical: Middlesex Community, College, 44 Middle Street, Lowell, MA. Dental Clinic.
Enrollment Period: 24 seats. Enrollment begins July 1 - August 22. To enroll Email Ellen
Tuition: $1550 which includes online study, lunch, 3-day clinical, and clinical supplies.
Liability insurance covered by MCC.
Online Study Period/3 Online Quizzes: Must be completed by October 2, 2023 to participate in clinical.
Lead Instructor and Course Director: Debra November-Rider, RDH, MSDH
Supervising Dentist and MCC faculty: Dr. Mary Terkoski, D.D.S.
This course is recommended for registered dental hygienists who would like to become
certified in local anesthesia. Since 2005, MCC has prepared hundreds of RDH to become
certified in local anesthesia.
MCC complies with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry regulations
for the administration of local anesthesia. At completion, the RDH will be able to
administer safe, effective, and painless local anesthesia with confidence and competence
and be prepared to take the computerized CDCA exam. The course consists of a 50 hour
on-line study (independent and self-paced) prior to clinical, interactive presentations,
and a 3-day clinical in which students will have 30 injection experiences and a clinical
final exam. Each participant will have 30 injections total - 3 of the following. Note:
Plain Anesthetics used. No vasoconstrictors are added.
- Anterior Superior Alveolar (ASA)
- Middle Superior Alveolar (MSA)
- Posterior Superior Alveolar (PSA)
- Infraorbital (IO)
- Greater Palatine (GP)
- Nasopalatine (NP)
- Inferior Alveolar/Lingual
- Buccal
- Mental/Incisive
- Infiltrations (maxillary & mandibular)
The strength of this hands-on course is the amount of actual time you will administer
injections to your classmates. Participants must sit as a patient. Upon successful
completion, students will be awarded a certificate and 26 CEUs. Note: Partial credit
cannot be awarded. 4:1 student to instructor ratio during clinical.
Requirements: Pass/Fail course. Students must complete all requirements - partial credit cannot
be awarded. Students are required to submit appropriate forms: medical and dental
history, consent form, student memo of understanding, copy of current CPR certification
and RDH license prior to the online study. Please note that the online study is self-paced
but takes approx. 50 hours to complete. The online study and three online quizzes
(75 % or above) must be completed by the above date in order to participate in clinical.
It is strongly recommended that participants begin the online study 6-8 weeks prior
to clinical.
Tuition: $1550 which includes all clinical supplies, a light breakfast and lunch. CDCA exam
is a separate fee.
Enrollment and forms process:
Step 1: To enroll email Ellen:
wrighte@middlesex.mass.edu
Please provide full name, home address, date of birth, cell phone, and preferred email
address for course communication
Step 2: Once you enroll please download the required forms (below). Email forms to Ellen
at wrighte@middlesex.mass.edu
Please also include a copy of your valid, current RDH license and CPR certification,
along your MOU, consent and medical history forms.
Step 3: Once MCC receives all forms, you will receive an e-mail with log on instructions
for the online study. The study is self-paced and takes approx. 50 hours to complete.
The online study with three quizzes (75 % or above) must be successfully completed
to participate in the 3-day clinical. We recommend that participants begin the online
study 6-8 weeks prior to clinical.
Questions: Call 781-280-3570 or wrighte@middlesex.mass.edu
Required paperwork/forms:
Local Anesthesia Consent Form
Medical History Form
Memo of Understanding
Copy of valid, current state RDH license
Copy of valid, current CPR certification
Refund Policy:
As stated in the student memo of understanding
Textbook Requirement: Handbook of Local Anesthesia, 7th edition by Stanley Malamed. Note: The 6th edition
may also be used for this course. Please purchase at your preferred book vendor.
Attention Massachusetts Small Business Owners:
This course is approved for The Massachusetts Workforce Express Course Fund through
Commonwealth Corporation. If qualified, Mass. employers can receive up to 100% tuition
reimbursement for employers with less than 100 employees; 50% reimbursement for employers
with 100+ employees (up to $3,000 per employee). Funding and approval is through Comm.
Corporation. The state approved course number for this course program is 1050556.
Express Fund Information
NERB/CDCA Exam