How to Become a Dental Assistant in 15 Months or Less

A good career as a Dental Assistant that pays a median of $34,500 and can be learned in 15 months or less isn’t too good to be true according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those in the field of a Dental Assistant can expect a projected growth of 25 percent over the next eight years. That means 74,000 new openings for dental assistants up to the year 2022. Careers in the health care industry carry an unemployment rate of 1.2 percent to 5.3 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics making this industry one of the most recession proof.

However, many careers in the health care industry require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and graduate school training. The cost of a four-year degree has gone up 27 percent beyond inflation in the past five years, according to the College Board. The rise in the cost of higher education has left many Americans unable to afford the bachelors’ degree they need to secure a better financial future.

What Level of Education and Certification are Needed to Become a Dental Assistant?

A two-year technical degree and a license from your state of residence is all you need to pursue a career as a dental assistant. Dental assistants receive valuable, real life, hands-on experience during their 15-month certification process. The dental assistant certification follows one up the highest mountains, and down to the lowest valley. Becoming a dental assistant in 15 months or less, is a highly esteemed and nationally recognized certification. Training is generally provided on the job.

The occupation of the dental assistant is the number one fastest job in demand in the USA. With so many positions to fill, available, in the dental assistant career world, why not safeguard the future, and become a dental assistant in 15 months or less?  Acquiring a certification is a cinch, and since the industry continues to explode with job openings, this is the time to capture the future you deserve.

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

Duties can vary office to office but most commonly include:

• Preparing patients
• Taking and processing X-rays
• Process payments and handle invoices
• Answering phones and setting up appointments for dental exams
• Hand instruments to the dentist during an examination

Are Dental Assistants Happy with their Careers?

Dental assistants report flexible schedules and low stress levels. Additionally, many dental assistant go on to get additional education to become dental hygienists to earn even more income. The money earned as a dental assistant secures one independence, while they decide where they want to live and thrive in the USA. A reliable paycheck, hardly any educational debt, and abundant career opportunities across the nation should give one enough incentive to enroll in the priceless educational programs offering dental assistant certification training.

Where Would Someone Find Classes to Become a Dental Assistant?

• Begin by enrolling in a career training school that has a program designed for the dental assisting career path. It takes anywhere between 10-15 months.
• After completing the required courses, you need to take your state dental assistant exam or take the exam with the Dental Assisting National Board.
• The final step is to apply to local dentist offices and begin your new career!

In 2012, the BLS releases the unemployment rates for certified dental assistants was at a meager 3%, a major contrast of other careers performing in the job market. The statistics noted a steady increase of 25% yearly of growth in the area of certified dental assisting, at least until the year 2022.

A considerable portion of the population in the United States is aging baby boomers. Their teeth will need treatment, and since more people are keeping their real teeth than times gone in the past, the need for dental assistants significantly increases. Federal guidelines also require everyone to access/obtain health insurance—many people have acquired new or magnified dental insurance coverage. The pressure intensifies for services provided by dental assistants exponentially every year.

There is no better time than now to invest in a career as a dental assistant and reap the benefits of short-term training, flexibility and a great salary.

For more information about a career in the dental assisting field, or to speak with an admissions representative and apply for career training, contact Centura College today by visiting our Dental Assisting Webpage. You can also learn more about Centura College at our Consumer Information Disclosure page, Your Right to Know.

Become a Dental Assistant in 15 Months or Less *as a Full-time Student

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