Northwood Technical College launches a mobile dental lab to provide hands-on training and address workforce shortages in the Superior area.
Northwood Technical College is expanding its workforce training initiatives with the launch of a state-of-the-art mobile dental lab designed to serve businesses and individuals across the district, starting in the Superior region. The 53-foot, self-contained training facility will provide hands-on education for dental professionals, helping to address the regional shortage of skilled workers while increasing access to high-quality training.
The demand for dental assistants continues to rise across the Northwood Tech 11-county District. Workforce Development Area Seven is projected to see a 3.42% increase in dental assistant positions in the next six years, while Workforce Development Area Eight anticipates a 3.46% increase, according to Wisconomy. Local dental providers in the Superior area have expressed a need for the college to expand the Dental Assistant technical diploma program to meet the urgent demand for trained professionals.
To help meet these workforce needs, upon approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), Northwood Tech will launch its Mobile Dental Lab at the Superior campus in fall 2025 as an expansion of the current Dental Assistant program. The 30-credit technical diploma program prepares students to assist dentists in examining and treating patients while performing essential laboratory, clinical and office duties. Offered in a two-semester (32-week) format, students will complete lecture coursework with their Rice Lake cohort while gaining hands-on experience in the mobile training lab stationed at the Superior campus.
“The mobile dental lab is a vital resource for workforce development, offering specialized training that directly responds to the needs of businesses and individuals in the Superior region and beyond,” said MariJo Ulrich, dean of health sciences at Northwood Tech. “This initiative will help create a pipeline of skilled professionals to meet the increasing demand in the dental industry.”
The mobile dental lab is equipped with three fully functional dental operatories – an integrated radiography unit, a sterilization room, and dedicated workspace for students. The self-contained unit provides a high-quality learning environment that mirrors a traditional dental clinic, ensuring trainees gain real-world experience in a professional setting.
Megen Elliot, Northwood Tech’s Dental Assistant program instructor and director, emphasized how the mobile lab will enhance student learning.
“This mobile lab will give students hands-on experience in a real-world setting, bridging the gap between classroom instruction and clinical practice,” she said. “It’s an innovative approach that ensures our graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce with confidence.”
In addition to training new students, the mobile lab will support workforce development through programs to upskill those already working in the dental industry such as the Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) program upon approval from CODA. The EFDA program is an advanced technical certificate designed for working dental assistants looking to expand their scope of practice. This increases program participants’ knowledge and skills to include specialized training in procedures such as impressions, sealant applications and coronal polishing under dentist supervision.
To accommodate working professionals, the program will feature online coursework with flexible hours. Clinical requirements, totaling 128 hours, may be completed at students’ workplaces or designated clinical sites.
The mobile dental lab project is funded through a $349,919 Oral Health grant from the Wisconsin Technical College System and Delta Dental. The grant supports curriculum development, instructional staffing, equipment procurement, marketing and student travel assistance. Initially, the initiative will serve students in the Superior region, with potential for future expansion.
Northwood Tech is currently seeking accreditation from HLC for the EFDA accreditation and from CODA for the mobile delivery of the Dental Assistant training and technical diploma.
For more information about the mobile dental lab and training opportunities, visit NorthwoodTech.edu.
