As the world economy continues to evolve, businesses and industries must adopt new practices and processes in order to survive. Quality and cost control, work teams and participatory management, and an infusion of technology are transforming the way people work and do business. Employees are now expected to read, write, and communicate effectively; think creatively, solve problems, and make decisions; and interact with each other and the technologies in the workplace. Vocational-technical programs must also adopt these practices in order to provide graduates who can enter and advance in the changing work world. The curriculum framework in this document reflects these changes in the workplace and a number of other factors that impact on local vocational-technical programs. The Dental Assisting Technology curriculum is a one-year program of study designed to prepare the student for employment and advancement in the dental assisting field. The curriculum requires a minimum of 46 semester hours of courses with a certificate granted upon completion of the program. CPR--Health Care Provider is a prerequisite for the program. If the student desires, an Associate of Applied Science degree may be obtained by completing additional prescribed courses. The program includes lecture hours, lab hours, and supervised clinical experiences. In the clinical experiences, the student will assist the dentist at chairside in private offices, clinics, and state facilities, as applicable. Upon graduation from the program, the student will automatically receive a radiology permit which is necessary for taking x-rays in a dental office. Also having successfully completed the program, the student is eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Certification Exam. Industry standards are based on the "Dental Assisting National Board Certified Dental Assistant Examination Topics." Appended are: (1) Dental Assisting National Board Certified Dental Assistant Examination Topics; (2) Related Academic Standards; (3) Workplace Skills for the 21st Century; and (4) National Educational Technology Standards for Students. A list of suggested references is provided for each unit. (Contains 4 footnotes.)