Steps to Becoming a Dental Assistant

Steps to Becoming a Dental Assistant

Brooke Kuecker received her associate's degree in the dental health field from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, South Dakota. Brooke Kuecker served as a dental assistant for a year before returning to school to pursue higher education in the health sciences.

Steps to Becoming a Dental Assistant

In some states, dental assistants learn the craft on the job by shadowing others, while other states require formal education. Candidates in these states prepare by completing a program accredited by the American Dental Association. Such programs are available at community colleges, technical institutes, vocational schools, universities, and dental schools across the United States. Graduates typically complete such programs in less than one year.

Steps to Becoming a Dental Assistant

After completing a training program, a potential dental assistant may apply for certification by completing the Dental Assisting National Board's Certified Dental Assistant Examination. The exam also is open to those who have not completed an accredited program, provided that the candidate has accrued two years of full-time dental assisting experience through training while on the job. In many states, completion of this exam may satisfy certain regulatory requirements, such as proof of training in infection control. Certain states also offer their own sponsored licensing and registration programs to regulate professionalism in the dental assisting field.