Postsecondary Education. Most students choose to enroll in a dental assistant training program at a postsecondary institution, such as vocational school or a community college. These training programs normally take anywhere from a few months to two years, depending on whether you obtain a certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
The Delta Technical College (DTC) dental assistant program is nine months. The program includes classes on infection control, restorative dentistry, preventative dentistry, dental radiology, dental office administration, dental specialties, and prosthodontics.
Postsecondary allied health training programs allow students to learn about the job of a dental assistant in depth. Delta Technical College (DTC) students receive hands-on training that includes performing hands-on laboratory work and the application of dental assistant skills across a wide range of settings.
A dental assistant is a professional who supports the operations of a dental office by performing administrative and clinical duties, such as scheduling appointments, preparing patients, sterilizing instruments, or taking x-rays.
Becoming a dental assistant can take anywhere from nine months to two years, depending on the dental assisting career path you pursue. Certificate programs generally last nine to eleven months, while associate degree programs take about two years to complete.
Postsecondary nondegree awardDental assistant / Entry level education
The average salary for a dental assistant is R 12 815 per month in Pretoria, Gauteng.
Basic to Intermediate Algebra Most dental programs require hygienists to master beginning or intermediate algebra. A limited amount of algebra is necessary to solve equations related to the job.
The time it takes to become a dental assistant depends on the specific steps one takes to the career. In some states, it may be possible to enter the field after high school, and in others, it will be necessary to take additional steps, such as formal dental assistant training at a post-secondary institution and certification or licensing.
Dental assistant training can take months or years, depending on the post-secondary educational institution. Vocational schools and community colleges are two common places to receive allied health training in dental assisting.
Dental assistants perform administrative duties in dental offices and support dentists and hygienists during dental procedures. A dental assistant's job responsibilities might include:
Most dental assistants work full time in clean and well-lit offices and treatment rooms. They typically work normal business hours but may be asked to work some evenings and weekends. Dental assistants’ duties require them to sit, stand and bend.
If you have a high school diploma or GED, you can become a dental assistant in nine to 11 months. It may take longer if you choose to pursue advanced certification. Dental assistant training programs are often offered at:
The average national salary for dental assistants is $62,719 per year. This amount is typically higher for dental assistants with advanced training or who work for specialty clinics or in high-demand areas. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.
Dental assistants learn a specific set of hard skills through training and experience that prepare them to work with patients and dental staff. They should have soft skills such as a positive attitude, desire to help others, reliability, punctuality, work ethic and organization. Here are the typical requirements for becoming a dental assistant:
Dental assistants can pursue additional certification to enhance job opportunities and earning potential. These include:
Some people decide to become dental assistants by working in dental offices under the guidance of an experienced dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dentist.
Most dental assistants receive their training at a postsecondary institution, such as a vocational school or community college. The education is normally completed in about a year, through both classroom lectures and hands-on training in a clinical setting.
Dental assistant certification and licensing requirements can differ from state to state, so it is important to check with the dental board of the state in which you want to work. If certification is required, it is typically a Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification.
We hope this article has helped shed some light on how long it will take to become a dental assistant. While it may seem like it requires a lot of time, effort, and money it will all be worth it in the end as it gives you a direct line to the dental industry.
To get the ball rolling, you should first make sure that you meet your state’s requirements. There are some variations, but, generally, you need a high school degree or GED and be at least 17/18 years old to begin training.
While it is certainly important to go to a dental assistant school that meets your state’s qualifications for training, it also needs to prepare you for a successful career. Blake Austin College has a state of the art facility where we combine classroom learning and hands-on training.
Once you complete all of the training hours from your program, you will qualify to take the state exam. You will likely want to take your exam fairly soon after you complete training while all of the information is fresh in your mind.
The sooner you enroll, the sooner you can begin a career as a registered dental assistant. If this sounds like a dream career to you, then why not get started today?
A trade school or community college certified dental assisting (CDA) training program normally takes 1 year to complete, but some programs may take as few as 8 months. Taking a dental assisting certificate training program on a night or weekend schedule will add some months to your total time in school.
A dental assisting diploma program at a trade school or community college is about 1 year long. Diploma courses and the above mentioned certificate programs will include core classes in safety, infection control, and ethics.
All associate degrees generally take about 2 years to earn, and dental assisting is no different. Both the 1 year certificate course and the 2 year associate degree program will prepare you to sit for the DANB's Certified Dental Assistant exam.
During your time in a dental assisting program you’ll learn oral anatomy, radiography, and clinical dental assisting. You may also learn administrative skills, how to take x-rays, and how to record medical histories. Those are many sought-after skills in our current job market.
A person may consider becoming a dental assistant because they want to be in a position where they can help others. However, they might not want to undergo the many years of training that a dentist has to. So, they opt for becoming a dental assistant.
Becoming a dental assistant involves anywhere from nine months to two years of additional schooling or training. A dental assistant will have to achieve the normal four-year degree, but then they can go on to get their certification as a dental assistant.
It is important to know, for people considering a career as a dental assistant, what training would entail and how long it would take. There are many important things to learn as a dental assistant because you are providing the best possible care to patients that may experience pain or anxiety about visiting the dentist’s office in the first place.
A dental assistant is a person who supports the important operations of the dental office. A dental assistant has to perform clinical duties, appointment scheduling, sterilizing instruments etc.
Becoming a dental assistant takes so long because one needs to gain real hands-on experience in a real-world setting. Therefore, the program allows 60 hours which includes practicum periods, to achieve excellence.
If one wants to become a certified dental assistant, one must finish the training program, extending to 9-11 months. Overall, the courses are designed to introduce students to office procedures, patient care, and mandatory dental skills.