High school chemistry, biology, office administration and health sciences courses can provide relevant background knowledge that might help you perform your duties. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. But times have changed. Dental assistants may or may not be formally educated; some states allow on-the-job training without formal education. You Hold The Power. Many vocational and technical colleges, career schools and community colleges have online dental assistant programs for students seeking an education outside of a brick-and-mortar campus. Some dental assistants become office managers, dental-assisting instructors, dental hygienists, or dental product sales representatives, sometimes with additional training and schooling. They may take patient histories and update records, schedule and confirm appointments, organize billing, take inventory and order supplies for the office. On average, our online Dental Assistant school program is completed in 10 months. Read on to find out the answer to that question When are you going to take the DAT, will you have enough time to study? Dental Assistants may go un-recognised as a professional career pathway for some, but this could very well be the opportunity that you’re looking for and it is so easy to become qualified with our online Dental Assistant courses. Who will write your letters of recommendation? In addition, a high school diploma is generally necessary for certification in the profession, especially for assistants who train on the job. It was common to find employment as an assistant straight out of high school. Will a dentist hire me without any dental experience and personally train me to be their dental assistant? Most states allow for entry level dental assistants, and don't require formal training to get started. Licensure requirements for dental assistants vary by state. However, since I am already going to school and working full time, I don't have time to go to school for dental assisting as well. Dental assistants typically have full-time, salaried jobs, although part-time work is also available. So long as you are eighteen years old and provide a high school diploma / GED, then you are eligible to attend dental assistant training. In Alabama, students must take one of two pathways to become a dental hygienist. In Tennessee, for instance, you then need to supply the state dental board with documentation of the DANB certification. Dental Assistant. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Step 1: High School Preparation. Last Updated: September 17, 2020 Dental assistant training is offered to almost anybody. One way to become eligible is to graduate from a dental assistant program accredited by the Council on Dental Accreditation. Seattle Dental Assistant School was founded to give students the opportunity to become Dental Assistants without the burden of student debt or years of schooling, while providing all the skills and requirements you need to enter the local workforce. Don’t forget for one moment that there are a plethora of options available to you. In these cases you may become a "registered dental assistant" when your dental employer lists your name on the practice's dental license renewal. Starting a dental assistant school can be expensive because of the cost of equipment and paying instructors and staff. How to Get Into Dental School and Become a Dentist To qualify for admission to dental school, it's essential to take all the prerequisite courses. Whether you’re reading this as a high school student or as a graduate with some holes in your coursework to fill, you should make sure you have the basics covered: Science classes, Communication and writing courses, and Business management classes will all help prepare you. Assistants prepare patients for dental work by sterilizing equipment, placing dental dams and administering topical anesthetics. While you're in high school, focus on taking classes in biology, chemistry and anatomy to prepare you to work as a dental assistant. In some states, dental assistants must obtain certification. Getting into dental school requires a plan that spans over multiple years. Most programs last one year. Obtain an entry-level position as a dental office assistant, dental office clerk or dental office receptionist. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. While it may be possible, in some jurisdictions, to get a dental assistant position without a high school diploma or GED, job candidates who have a diploma invariably enhance their employability. However, if you completed a certification program, you can count the supervised training you received as experience. A prospective dental assistant can pave his or her way into the profession by either attending dental assisting school or being trained on the job. This article will help you understand the requirements to become a Registered Dental Assistant in Texas via two different pathways. CDA and … Many students pursue this career path because of the quick entry into the workforce and the opportunity to positively impact the wellness of others. Step 2: Get Dental Assisting Training. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Most assistants would be lucky to get full-time hours and a regular salary they can count on, while that kind of security and stable pay is pretty much automatic for hygienists. Map it out now. Job email alerts. Learning how to become a dental assistant could be one of the best decisions you make for your future self. The DANB requires current certification as part of the application process for RDA. Now you know that you want to become a dental assistant, and you certainly have questions that need to be answered. Even in states without requirements, it’s … All certification candidates must also hold a current CPR certification. Not all states offer reciprocity, so certification in one state does not guarantee that applicants can work in another state without taking further coursework. I would like to be a dental assistant while in college since being a dentist is my long term goal. 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