Across Butte County, dental offices are facing the same challenge as much of health care: finding and training skilled, reliable staff. For many residents, at the same time, the path into those jobs has felt out of reach — requiring time, tuition, or training options that don’t fit real life.

That gap is what the Butte County Office of Education and its Career Technical Education (CTE) program set out to close with its new Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program. This month, the program reaches a milestone when it celebrates its first graduate, Corie Allen.

The apprenticeship model allows people to train inside real dental offices while earning a paycheck, pairing hands-on work with focused classroom instruction at BCOE. Instead of choosing between school and income, apprentices do both.

For Allen, that approach made all the difference.

“The program has opened so many new opportunities for me and I’m thankful for all the friendships I’ve made along the way,” she said. “I enjoyed every moment of it, from classes targeted to specific topics of interest, the certification classes, and the job training. The hands-on approach of the program let me learn much faster and more effectively.”

Apprentices spend their days in dental clinics learning alongside experienced professionals — preparing equipment, assisting during procedures, working with patients, and supporting the flow of the office. At the same time, they complete coursework in areas like infection control, radiation safety, dental materials, coronal polishing, and sealants, building the technical foundation behind the work.

Instructor Colleen Salinas said the model is already making an impact.

“It is rewarding to see that we are able to serve our dental community through the apprenticeship pathway,” Salinas said. “We are looking towards the future of dental assisting in the North State. We hope to continue and grow with each cohort.”

Behind Allen’s graduation is a network of employers, instructors, and BCOE staff who worked together to bring the program into existence.

“Participating in the development of the Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program and now celebrating our first graduate is an incredibly proud moment for our team,” said Meredith Henrick, BCOE Program Coordinator-CTE/Apprenticeships. “This milestone reflects the strong collaboration that brought the program to life and the shared commitment to creating meaningful, hands-on pathways into the workforce.”

For Allen, the apprenticeship made the difference between thinking about a dental career and actually starting one.

“The hands-on approach of the program let me learn much faster and more effectively,” she said. “I hope it allows a new way of learning for more apprentices in the future.”

Join Us to Celebrate Corie’s Graduation

The community is invited to attend Corie Allen’s apprenticeship graduation ceremony:

Tuesday, January 20
6-8 p.m.
The Center (655 Oleander Avenue, Chico)

The evening will include reflections from instructors, remarks from Corie, presentation of her completion certificate, and time to celebrate with family, employers, and program staff.

Interested in a Career in Dental Assisting?

BCOE’s Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program combines paid on-the-job training with hands-on classroom instruction, creating a direct pathway into a high-demand health-care career. The program is offered at no cost to apprentices and is built in partnership with local dental offices.

To learn more about becoming an apprentice or partnering as an employer, reach out to the BCOE Apprenticeship Program at apprenticeship@bcoe.org or (530) 879-7462.