Going to school to become a dental assistant is popular for those who want to enter the field. A postsecondary allied health training program gives dental assistant students the opportunity to learn more about the job by going into greater depth. In addition to what they learn in the classroom, students are also able through actual practice. However, dental assistant programs vary wildly in length. Indeed, it will all depend on whether you attend a vocational school or community college. This can be a problem as it can make it tricky to plan for.
To help you out with this, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article outlining the entire path towards becoming a dental assistant. If this is something that you’re interested in learning more about, read on as we break down how long it will take to be a dental assistant.
GED
It takes four years to complete high school, while a GED certificate can be finished in around three months. High school students interested in a dental assisting career should consider taking classes in biology, chemistry, and anatomy as it will give them a good foundation and should prepare them for the dental assistant programs.
On-the-Job-Training
Some people decide to become dental assistants by working in dental offices under the guidance of an experienced dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dentist. They learn most of what they need to learn like dental terminology, names of instruments, daily tasks, scheduling appointments, filing patient records, interacting with patients, and other typical dental office activities by actively participating in the day-to-day operations of a dental clinic.
Postsecondary Education
Most dental assistants receive their training at a postsecondary institution, such as a vocational school or community college. The education is normally completed in about a year, through both classroom lectures and hands-on training in a clinical setting. The curriculum consists of classes on the anatomy of the mouth, administration of a dental office, types of dental materials, and X-rays. Community colleges offer similar programs but also require students to take general education classes like Math or English.
Certifications
Dental assistant certification and licensing requirements can differ from state to state, so it is important to check with the dental board of the state in which you want to work. If certification is required, it is typically a Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) certification. The amount of time it takes to become certified depends on what type of certification you seek. While some certifications can be obtained by completing the required dental assisting programs, some certifications require a minimum amount of work experience.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped shed some light on how long it will take to become a dental assistant. While it may seem like it requires a lot of time, effort, and money it will all be worth it in the end as it gives you a direct line to the dental industry.
If you want to take the first step in your journey of becoming a dental assistant, then you’ve come to the right place. Northwestern Suburban College offers healthcare career training and is a health sciences college situated near Schaumburg, IL. If you’re interested to learn more about the programs, give us a call today, and we can help you get your dental assistant certificate!
