Become a Dental Assistant in Two Years or Less

Believe it or not, you can become a dental assistant in two years or less. It's an absolute fact, some of the longest dental assisting program choices out there are two year programs, but many are 18 months, a year or even less. It all depends on the complexity of the course you are taking, where you are taking it and whether you are a full time student or a part time student. Part time students will of course take longer to complete their education than students who attend on a full time basis.

You may be asking yourself why people become dental assistant workers, rather than being hygienists or dentists. Well, it's quite simple. The dental assistant goes through a great deal less education and training but still earns a good salary and often gets a benefits package. And, the need for dental assistants is growing fast. While a dental hygienist might make $30 per hour on average, $15 for an assistant job still isn't bad.

It's not too difficult a process when it comes to how to become a dental assistant. After choosing an ADA accredited school, you will want to enroll and acquire any financial aid required. There are schools that have scholarships, loans, payment plans and even grants for needy students. Find a program that works with your schedule, especially if you are already working and/or have a family to care for. The only thing left to do is complete the program successfully.

Any worth while dental assistant program will be a combination of hands on training and classroom work. Thanks to the Internet, some of the classroom work can be done online, in a virtual classroom. There are assignments and even tests that can be taken online if you are enrolled in an accredited distance learning program. However there are requirements even with these programs where you have to work in a dental setting to gain the practical experience necessary to perform your job duties.

In order to become a dental assistant, you may be required in your state to take an exam.. This is a state exam for licensure, and quite different from the certified dental assistant national exam. As a CDA or Certified Dental Assistant, you may find more job opportunities and even earn a higher wage with this credential on your resume. The national dental board in charge of this exam requires continuing education credits for recertification each year. As you can see, there are many opportunities for a dental assistant to further their career.






 

Dental Assistant News:

 

HealthLinc dentists and doctors help kids stay healthy with free exams
MICHIGAN CITY EUR Thanks to the efforts of dentists and staff at a Michigan City medical center, more than 50 children received free dental care on Mondays school holiday...


Clean teeth, great smile
February brings Valentine's Day, Presidents Day and something else - National Children's Dental Health Month...


50 years at the dentist, smiling every minute - Allentown Morning Call

Allentown Morning Call
50 years at the dentist, smiling every minute
Allentown Morning Call
19, 1962, when Shoemaker took the dental assistant job at Jacob Ludwig's office on E. Broad Street in Bethlehem. She had just graduated from Liberty High School and wasn't really sure what sort of future she wanted. "I walked in and I've been here ever .

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A.T. Still University names first dean of dental school
Dr. Christopher Halliday will leave post with U.S. Surgeon General for job in Kirksville...


A New Reason to Be Afraid of Going to the Dentist - The Stir

The Stir
A New Reason to Be Afraid of Going to the Dentist
The Stir
. to fear: cavities, fillings, drills, root canals, bad-tasting pastes, those things you have to bite down on for X-rays (really hate those), even the look of disapproval on the dental assistant's face when you admit you may not floss every day.

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CAVIT board to vote on IGAs
COOLIDGE EUR The Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology Governing Board is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the CAVIT campus, 1789 W. Coolidge Ave., to vote on intergovernmental agreements with its satellite districts: Casa Grande Union High School District, Coolidge Unified School District, Florence Unified School District, Maricopa Unified School District and Santa Cruz Valley ...


4 Olathe Pirates earn medals, 2 in finals
Seniors Wyatt Yarnell and Casey Childs succeeded in earning third place medals at the Colorado State Wrestling Championships. Olathe High School teammates Austin Shank, a freshman and Jacob Solseth, a junior placed fourth...

Dental Assistant to host continuing education seminar - Tech Times

Dental Assistant to host continuing education seminar
Tech Times
The Dental Assistant Program will be hosting an all-day, continuing education seminar, Friday, March 23, at the John B. Connally Technology Center. Area and statewide dental assistants, hygienists and dentists will receive up to 6 continuing education .

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Students receive complimentary dental work - Rapid City Journal

Students receive complimentary dental work
Rapid City Journal
Dentist Gary Bjerrum and dental assistant Sunny Maldonada work on freshman Tyler Pierce while the Smile Mobile was stationed at Sturgis Brown High School. (Courtesy photo) Meade School District students have received almost $300000 worth of restorative .

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Kids learn about proper dental care - Hastings Tribune

Hastings Tribune
Kids learn about proper dental care
Hastings Tribune
It wasn't a hard decision EUR at least not for the 21 young children who learned about proper dental care Friday morning from dental assistant Shauneen Steppuhn and dental hygienist Jean Menke. During the half-hour presentation at Pooh Corner Day Care .

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Brightening Smiles - Emporia Gazette

Brightening Smiles
Emporia Gazette
By Bobbi Mlynar Brighter smiles and bags stocked with items to promote children's dental health will be offered for free on Saturday by students at the Flint Hills Technical College's Dental Assisting Department. The event is timed to coincide with .

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Dental care offered through Baby TALK programs at Central Christian Church
DECATUR - The dental chair set up in an upstairs room at Central Christian Church on Thursday was a quite unusual sight, but it was business as usual for the mobile dental health unit based in Familia Dental's Springfield office...


Orthodontist Assistant:Reasons of Becoming a Dental Assistant .
Which School Should You Enroll Yourself? The dental assistant school you choose to enroll in is one necessary factor in your success as an assistant. You must choose among these schools the one approved and accredited by the ...


50 years at the dentist, smiling every minute
Claire Shoemaker has worked for three generations of the Ludwig family in Bethlehem. Apart from the drills and the Novocaine needles, dental offices really aren't so bad. Soothing music, comfortable chairs, magazines. What's not to like?..


Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month - Santa Fe College

Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month
Santa Fe College
As part of Career and Technical Education Month, CTE will feature one program each day for the remainder of the month. The oral health care profession is dedicated to keeping people smiling. As a dental hygienist or dental assistant you work with the .

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70% TStorms
A major pledge to the dental program at UAMS in Little Rock is giving the school something to smile about...


Kaplan College reimburses students after probe of dental program
School's Charlotte campus surrenders license for dental program after students claim they were misled about credentials...


Brush up on proper hygiene - Russellville Courier

Brush up on proper hygiene
Russellville Courier
EURWe passed out brochures, tooth brushes and tooth paste,EUR said Terri Howell, certified dental assistant. EURWe were able to answer questions and encourage parents to take their children to the dentist.EUR Johnston and Richardson cater to children, .

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Preventing urban decay - Phoenix Business Journal

Preventing urban decay
Phoenix Business Journal
Central Arizona Shelter Services has opened a dental assistant school, where students get hands-on experience in the CASS Dental Clinic for the Homeless. The Bruce T. Halle Family Foundation has agreed to pay for two students each term who come from .

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News from DANB's and the DALE Foundation's Boards - Dentistry IQ

News from DANB's and the DALE Foundation's Boards
Dentistry IQ
The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) and the DALE Foundation held Board meetings in February, and as always, many exciting initiatives were discussed. One of the highlights from DANB's Board of Directors meeting was to welcome one new .

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