IN ORDER TO PROVIDE DATA FOR CONSTRUCTING A MODEL DENTAL ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM, 22 OF THE 26 PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA JUNIOR COLLEGES WERE REPORTED. TRENDS NOTED INCLUDE AN INCREASE TO A FOUR-SEMESTER PROGRAM, WITH INCREASING EMPHASIS IN THE FIRST SEMESTER ON ETHICS, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION, GROOMING, AND TERMINOLOGY. THE AVERAGE TIME ALLOTMENT WAS 1,086 HOURS PER STUDENT, INCLUDING 179 HOURS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, 221 IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES (INCLUDING ROENTGENOLOGY), 181 IN CHAIRSIDE PROCEDURES, 224 IN SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCE, AND 271 IN DENTAL LABORATORY AND OFFICE PRACTICE. A WIDE VARIATION IN GENERAL EDUCATION PRACTICES WAS NOTED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 479 HOURS PER STUDENT IN ENGLISH, SPEECH, HUMANITIES, TYPING, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND OTHER COURSES. IT IS RECOMMENDED (1) THAT THE THIRD SEMESTER BE IN A DENTAL SCHOOL, CLINIC, OR HOSPITAL, (2) THAT THE FOURTH BE IN PRIVATE OFFICES, (3) THAT THERE BE AN ORIENTATION OF STUDENTS AND DENTISTS PRIOR TO CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, AND (4) THAT THERE BE ONE SUPERVISOR FOR EACH SIX STUDENTS. A MODEL PROGRAM OUTLINE IS PRESENTED. (WO)