If you are looking for a career that pays well but doesn’t require that you spend a lot of time in school you may want to give dental assisting a try. The demand for dental assistants is expected to rise steadily over the coming years.
Dental assisting is a career that has great hours, good benefits and a pleasant working environment. Read on to discover a few of the paths that you can take to become a dental assistant.
How to Become a Dental Assistant
On the job training is one option you may have to become a dental assistant. There are dentists out there who don’t mind providing the necessary training to become a dental assistant.
If you are already working for a dentist, getting on the job training will be much easier. But this trend is losing popularity. Dental assistants are now acquiring formal educations and becoming certified.
Training to become a dental assistant may be acquired through a community college, a vocational school, a trade school or a dental school. You can complete the required training in as little as nine months.
The American Dental Association now recognizes approximately 290 programs that are offered by various types of schools. You must have a high school diploma or it’s equivalent to apply to these schools.
High school students that are considering a career in health care should take classes in biology, chemistry and advanced math. This will prepare them for the classes they will take in college. It is possible to find accelerated dental assistant programs that require less time to completion. Online classes is another option you may have when it comes to obtaining the training you need to become a dental assistant.
The requirements to becoming a certified dental assistant will vary from state to state. Most states will issue some type of dental assistant licensure or certification. This allows the state to regulate the dental assisting industry and provide protection to the patient. Some states will require completion of a specific number of hours in a state approved dental assisting program before you are allowed to apply for a license. Some states may not be as strict. It is critical that you research your state’s requirements before you start a dental assisting program.
If you want to have opportunities for advancement, it is a good idea to obtain an associate’s degree in dental assisting. You will spend more time in school but you will have better opportunities upon graduation. Some dental assistants will become office managers, instructors and even product sales representatives. If you have an associate’ s degree you can choose to go back to school at any time and become a dental hygienist.
Regardless of the type of training or degree that you possess, you must still sit for a national certification exam to become a licensed dental assistant. It is important that you are aware of your state’s requirements for obtaining a certification in dental assisting. Most states will recognize the certification that is awarded by the Dental Assisting National Board.
Once you have obtained your certification, you can choose to work in a number of places. You may want to work in a small office with a single dentist or you may choose to work in group dental office that has two or more dentists. You can work in specialized dental care such as orthodontics or pediatric dentistry. There may be opportunities for you to work in public health such as schools or underserved areas of your community. You are not limited to dental practice alone. You may want to become an instructor and teach classes in dental assisting. Another option you may want to explore is a sales representative. This allows you to travel and sell dental equipment to dental offices or other businesses.
Becoming a dental assistant is a wise career choice. You will have a career that will be in high demand. You can choose where you want to work. The best part about being a dental assistant is you get to help people and make decent money at the same time.
