A Dental Assistant: Education, Skills, Programs & More
Dental assistants serve a variety of roles in a dentist or dental specialist’s office, depending on the specific office and the licensing requirements in the state. Job responsibilities vary from taking x-rays and dental molds to billing and ordering supplies.
U.S. News & Reports ranks dental assistant as #7 in a list of Best Jobs Without a College Degree and #12 in Best Healthcare Support Jobs. The median salary is $40,080, but the highest earners can make as much as $52,000. It’s also a fast-growing industry: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, employment of dental assistants is projected to grow by 19% from 2016 to 2026.
Dental assistant jobs require a combination of technical skill, administrative skill, and people skills. Dental assisting provides a challenging and rewarding career for those who choose to pursue it.
Dental Assistant Education & Training Requirements
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Skills Required to Be a Dental Assistant
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Dental Assistant Training: Coursework & Clinical Training
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Online Certificate in Dental Assisting
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Top Dental Assisting Programs
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Dental Assistant vs. Dental Hygienist
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
How to Get Into a Dental Assistant Program
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Getting Certified as a Dental Assistant
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
Getting a Dental Assistant Job
According to the American Dental Association, dental assistants can become certified by passing an examination to evaluate their knowledge and expertise in the dental assistant field. Generally, aspiring certified dental assistants take the Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) examination.
If your training program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as described above, you can take the exam directly after finishing the program.
If your program is not CODA-accredited, or you’ve received on-the-job training rather than a formal program, you can take the CDA exam after completing two years of full-time work as a dental assistant.
DANB also offers a variety of other certifications, some of which don’t require completing a CODA-accredited program. For instance, the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification is for dental assistants just joining the workforce and requires less training than is required for the CDA.
The Dental Assisting National Board offers exam prep materials, as does its affiliate, the DALE foundation. There are many free resources available to help you prepare for your dental assistant exams: look online for free or affordable test prep materials to help you prepare.
You don’t necessarily need to become certified in order to work as a dental assistant: there are a variety of entry-level or assistant positions that require less training. Each state varies in what is required to begin work as a dental assistant, so check your state’s requirements and consider what kind of position is best for you.
