Dental assistants play a critical role in any dentist’s office. Dental assistants help handle patient care and support a wide range of duties, including taking x-rays, managing records and scheduling appointments.
To become a dental assistant, you need to complete some form of training, such as a program at a vocational or trade school. As part of your training or after graduation, you may need to earn a certification and/or license, depending on state requirements, which vary. After that, it’s time to start your career! From start to finish, most dental assistant training programs take one year or less to complete.
If you’re interested in becoming a dental assistant, it’s important to know the responsibilities and educational requirements.
What education is required to become a dental assistant?
There are a number of paths you can take to become a dental assistant. While some states require dental assistants to complete an accredited program and pass a licensing exam, others may not have formal educational requirements.
Delta Technical College offers an accredited Dental Assisting Program that can be completed in just nine months.
For more details on educational requirements, check out How Long Does it Take to Become a Dental Assistant?
What licensing, certifications and registrations are necessary to become a dental assistant?
Depending on the route you take to become a dental assistant and which state you plan to work in, you may need to earn licensing or certification. These credentials can help expand your skill set and can potentially increase your employment opportunities as a dental assistant.
Dental assistant licenses and certifications
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) issues certifications for dental assistants. In order to qualify for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam, you must meet one of the following three criteria:
- Graduate from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program AND current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.
- High school graduate or equivalent AND a minimum of 3,500 hours of approved work experience AND current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS certification from a DANB-accepted provider.
- Former DANB CDA status or graduate from a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD program or graduate from a dental degree program outside the U.S. or Canada, or graduate from or enrollment in a post-baccalaureate program affiliated with a U.S. or Canadian dental school on DANB’s list of accepted post-baccalaureate programs AND current hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider.
At Delta Technical College, Dental Assisting Program students at the Ridgeland, MS campus are required to take two of the three DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) certification exams: RHS (Radiology Health & Safety) and ICE (Infection Control Exam).
According to the DANB, a dental assistant in Mississippi may perform basic supportive dental procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. All dental assistants involved in direct patient care must be certified in CPR (within 180 days of employment). There are no other education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting in Mississippi.
How to become a registered dental assistant
American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers a credential called Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). If you seek to take this exam, you must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Graduate of or scheduled to graduate from an accredited dental assisting program.
- Graduate of a military dental assisting program AND a minimum of one year of dental assisting work experience.
- Employed as a dental assistant for a minimum of three years (5,250 hours).
- Currently instructing an accredited Dental Assisting Program AND completed a course related to dental assisting AND have a minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience (or equivalent part-time experience equal to three years full-time)
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What do dental assistants do?
Dental assistants perform a wide range of duties in their job. They have both administrative and clinical responsibilities, though the scope of their responsibilities may vary from state to state and from dentist’s office to dentist’s office.
Typically, dental assistants prepare patients for their dental exam or procedure, sterilize and disinfect instruments, record treatment information, take down medical and dental histories, instruct patients in oral hygiene, order dental supplies, schedule appointments, and create orthodontic appliances. Some dental assistants are also qualified to take patient x-rays.
If you’re interested in becoming a dental assistant, it helps to have the following qualities:
- Detail-oriented
- Finger and manual dexterity
- Steady arms and hands
- Effective interpersonal communication skills
- Active listening skills
- Service orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Near vision
- Organizational skills
Start your career as a dental assistant
Dental assisting is an optimal career choice if you want to work in a growing industry, interact with different people, and have a variety of job responsibilities. The job outlook for dental assistants is positive, with a faster-than-average growth rate of 8% through 2033.
The Dental Assisting Program at Delta Technical College prepares you for a dental assisting career and can be completed in just nine months!
To learn more, schedule a tour or request more information.
Sources
- https://www.danb.org/exams/exam/cda-exam
- https://www.danb.org/exams/exam/cda-exam#:~:text=Eligibility%20Requirements%20%26%20Pathways
- https://danbsfprodassets.azureedge.net/assets/docs/default-source/clt/mississippi.pdf?sfvrsn=7a1fd81b_1#page=3
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-6
- https://americanmedtech.org/Dental-Assistant
