Rate My Professor Laurie Semple

Laurie Semple is the Program Coordinator for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Program in the Health Sciences Department at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus. She oversees a selective full-time certificate program accepting up to 16 students per cohort, spanning two semesters for a total of 25 credit hours. The fall semester includes 13 credit hours of didactic classes over 16 weeks, while the spring semester covers 12 credit hours: the first 8 weeks for labs and classes, followed by 8 weeks of clinical externships totaling 224 hours arranged by the program coordinator. Classes and labs run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a minimum passing grade of 75%. The approximate cost is $2,824, including books and uniforms. Graduates receive the RDA Certificate along with Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Registration and Nitrous Oxide Monitoring certificates before beginning externships, preparing them to work under dentists and with hygienists.

Semple has coordinated the program since its inception around 1990, when she taught every single class amid local dental practices' shortage of trained assistants, prompted by the Fort Worth District Dental Society after a prior program ended in 1986. In 2015, the RDA Program marked its 25th anniversary, having graduated approximately 1,000 students, 80 of whom remained active in the field with one becoming a practicing dentist. Semple stated, “Our students are very attractive candidates for employment. They not only graduate with their Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Registration and Nitrous Oxide Monitoring certificates, but they also have those credentials prior to starting their clinical externship.” She added, “TCC’s Registered Dental Assistant Program is a wonderful tribute to what can be developed with educational, professional and community partnerships.” Her contributions extend to participation in the 2010 Leadership TCC class and earlier role as Northeast Campus counselor, supporting Health Science education.