Sharon Chavez, DATS Director

What do you do at DATS?

I am the DATS Director. I am responsible for a wide variety of duties for the program.

What do you like about DATS?

It is a program that allows people to start a new career immediately after the 2-month class.

It is a fast program that allows a student to get a license which will let them work anywhere in the state of Texas.

But the best thing I like about the program is that at the end, at the graduation, I can see that the students have a sense of accomplishment and confidence and I know that they will be able to start their new career path right away.

Do you have some recommendations for people who are looking at dental assistant training?

Dental assistant training could either be the start of a new career for some individuals or a stepping stone for others that want to pursue their career path in dental. But whatever it may be, the individual needs to care about helping other people and especially care about their dental needs.

How many students are on a course at one time? What is their schedule like? How long does the course usually take?

We take up to 15 students per class. The reason for the small class size is so we can concentrate on making sure that every student understands the program. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

It is a 9-week program but we emphasize that our program is more of a hands-on–training program. Training hours are held Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Anything else you would like to say about the course that prospective students should know?

The DATS program is an exciting, fast-paced program that allows the student to start a new career after the 2-month course. We strive to make our program the best hands-on training program available so that a student really understands and is competent as a dental assistant.