Part-time Faculty Pool: Dental Assisting

Part-time Faculty Pool: Dental Assisting

Salary

$66.91 - $86.49 Hourly

Location

Merced College, CA

Job Type

Adjunct Faculty

Job Number

20260076

Division

Office of Instruction Div

Opening Date

07/01/2026

Closing Date

6/30/2027 11:59 PM Pacific

Open pool for academic year 2026-2027

Additional Compensation for Doctorate

As you consider this opportunity, know that Merced College is more than a community college - we are a catalyst for transformation, redefining higher education and setting new standards for excellence. Serving nearly 20,000 students each year, we are proud to be a leading center of learning and opportunity in California's Central Valley.

Founded in 1962, Merced College blends a strong tradition of academic excellence with forward-thinking innovation to create an inclusive and engaging environment for students and employees alike. Committed to the well-being, growth, and professional success of our team, we foster collaboration and a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to make a difference. Located in the heart of California's Central Valley, the City of Merced offers a welcoming community of more than 90,000 residents, with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Yosemite National Park.

If you are passionate about innovation, equity, and student success, we invite you to join the Merced College team.

Merced College Mission

At Merced College, students are our focus, and we are known by their success. We transform lives through education and workforce development.

Merced College Vision

Enriching our community through educational experiences and support services:

• Degree/Certificate Programs
• Transfer
• Career Technical Education
• Workforce Training
• Lifelong Learning
• Basic Skills
• Community Engagement

Merced College promotes student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, and institutional effectiveness, all with a focus on student achievement.

General Description:

This is a part-time instructional assignment under the direction of the Dean of Allied Health and Public Safety, the successful candidate will provide leadership in developing a Dental Assisting Certificate degree program and initiating accreditation through the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Responsibilities include designing a sequence of course outlines for didactic, clinical, and laboratory courses, constructing classroom materials to support course goals, and identifying industry needs and trends to create targeted courses and training programs. The maximum teaching load is 10 units per semester, which may include evening and weekend hours. The candidate will collaborate with local employers to develop courses that enhance the skills required by dental assistants, remain up to date on dental technology, and actively participate in faculty meetings.

Examples of Duties

• Provide innovative and effective instruction in accordance with current pedagogy and established course outlines and expectations
• Inform students about course requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance policies and maintain regular and substantive contact with students
• Maintain and submit required student attendance and scholastic records on the Learning Management System (e.g. grades and syllabi)
• Utilize the Learning Management System to deliver, prepare, and grade class assignments and examinations
• Maintain and utilize effective skills in instructional design, applications, and methods
• Post and maintain regular office hours in accordance with prevailing policy
• Participate in the development and review of curriculum
• Participate in the development of teaching-learning methods and materials
• Participate in departmental, area, and campus professional activities/committees
• Represent the college within the Merced community and within professional circles
• Participate in the colleges learning outcomes assessment program, including course, program, and institutional assessments to continually improve student learning outcomes

Typical Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree from an acceptable accredited institution AND two years of professional experience in the field OR
• Associates degree from an acceptable accredited institution AND six years of professional experience in the field.

OR

• the equivalent
• Possess and maintain an active, current dental or dental hygiene license issued by the Dental Hygiene Board or the Dental Board of California (DBC), with no disciplinary actions
• Promote and incorporate culturally affirming DEIA and anti-racist principles to nurture and create a respectful, inclusive, and equitable learning and work environment. In conducting their duties, staff members shall respect and acknowledge the diversity of students and colleagues.

Applicants must also meet the following minimum qualifications required by the Dental Board of California for faculty teaching in Board-approved Dental Assisting courses:

• Training and competence in infection control consistent with California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Section 1005, including the ability to teach and evaluate required infection control competencies.

• Possession of one of the following current, active California licenses:

• Dentist (DDS/DMD), or

• Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF), or

• Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)with Board-approved Coronal Polishing and Pit & Fissure Sealant certifications, or

• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), RDHEF, or RDHAP

• Minimum of two years of licensure in the applicable dental profession.

• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, including CPR.

• Successful completion of the California Radiation Safety Examination or a Board-approved Radiation Safety course, unless already satisfied through licensure.

• Completion of a Board-approved two-hour methodology course covering clinical evaluation criteria, course outline development, process evaluation, and product evaluation

(or willingness to obtain prior to teaching Radiation Safety content).

• Demonstrated experience performing, teaching, and evaluating:

• Dental radiographic technique and image quality

• Operation, maintenance, and quality assurance of dental radiographic equipment, digital sensors, and film-processing systems in accordance with Dental Board requirements.

• Clinical dental assisting procedures

• Laboratory and preclinical skill competencies

• Must be legally authorized under California law to perform all procedures assigned for instruction, and may only teach procedures they are permitted to perform under their license

• Ability to provide supervision in accordance with Dental Board instructor-to-student ratios:

• Radiation Safety: 6:1 maximum

• Pit & Fissure Sealant: 14:1 lab, 6:1 clinical

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience teaching in a CODA- or Board-approved Dental Assisting Program.
• Experience serving as a Course Director for Radiation Safety and/or Pit & Fissure Sealant courses.
• Experience preparing or maintaining Board approval applications and documentation.
• Knowledge of California Dental Practice Act, Dental Board regulations, and program compliance requirements.
• Experience supervising extramural clinical rotations and evaluating student competency.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with faculty and community dental partners.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply:

• Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/mccd/promotionaljobs.

Required Documentation:

• Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
• Resume
• Legible, unofficial college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate);transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
• List of three professional references(no reference letters permitted)
• Diversity Statement: The Merced College District has a diverse staff and student population. As such, applicants must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community at large. Please describe how your professional experience would contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please do not include any personally identifying information. Limit your response to one (1) page.
• If applicable, foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an approved organization
• If applicable, equivalency Review Form (Required for applicants who do not possess the stated minimum educational qualifications and are seeking consideration on the basis of equivalency) http://www.mccd.edu/offices/hr/jobs/eqforms.html

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information:

Those applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to appear for oral interviews before a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be invited to interviews. Interviews will be scheduled on site.

Employee Benefits:

Sick leave, faculty employed on a part-time hourly basis shall earn sick leave credit at the rate of one (1) hour for each twenty (20) hours of paid service.

Condition of Employment:

The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Employer Merced Community College

Address 3600 M Street

Merced, California, 95348

Phone (209) 381-6550

Website http://www.mccd.edu/index.html