Late Spring Start Opens Door to Dental Assisting Careers at LSCO
February 16, 2026
ORANGE, TX – Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is highlighting its Dental Assisting program as a fast-track opportunity for students seeking hands-on training and a direct path into the health care workforce.
With a late spring start still open for enrollment, the program offers students the chance to complete their training in as little as 10 months and graduate in December with a dental assisting certificate.
Stacy DeMontmollin, program director and instructor, said the program combines small class sizes with daily hands-on practice and clinical experience in real dental offices.
“Our students aren’t just reading about these procedures; they’re practicing them daily on real equipment that we have.” DeMontmollin said.
Students rotate through general dental practices before moving into specialty offices, including orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, giving them exposure to real-world expectations and potential employers. DeMontmollin described the clinical component as “basically a working interview,” allowing students to demonstrate their skills in professional settings before graduation.
Amber Cormier, a new instructor with 27 years of experience in the dental field, said the program’s facilities reflect the technology students will encounter in modern dental offices.
“One of the things that I was very impressed with when I came on is that the technology we have is what you would see in a real-world dentist office in this modern day and age,” Cormier said. “We have the equipment and modernized technology to teach these students so they will be ready to work in those offices.”
In addition to technical training such as taking dental radiographs, assisting chairside and making dental impressions, students develop communication skills and learn how to help patients feel comfortable during procedures.
The program serves a wide range of students, including working adults, parents returning to school and recent high school graduates who are still exploring career options. DeMontmollin noted that dental assisting is a high-demand field and can serve as a steppingstone to dental hygiene programs or dental school.
Larry Spears Jr., Mayor of Orange, TX, said having the program available locally creates opportunity for residents and strengthens the community workforce.
“When we are able to add other things that allow people to expand their territory, to expand their expertise, it may help us to provide somebody with what they need to move forward in life and to do something that they never thought they’d be able to do,” Spears said.
The late spring cohort begins March 23, offering prospective students an opportunity to start quickly and enter a growing health care field before the end of the year.