Dental Assistant Training: What You Learn, How Long It Takes, and More

Key Insights:

• Dental assistant training can help prepare you for job functions typically assigned to this healthcare role. training programs include classroom and lab work, in addition to providing supervised practical experience.
• While some dental assistant programs offer a diploma or certificate, earning your associate degree can help prepare you for advancement, if that’s your goal. A degree also provides a more extensive education, which may be desirable to some employers.
• Enrollees in UMA’s Health Sciences – Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions Associate of Science Degree program also gain access to our Student Services and Career Services teams. Students receive personalized attention, academic guidance, and career support that extends beyond graduation.

If you’re interested in a career path in the dental health industry, here’s a little something to smile about: dental assistant occupations are projected to increase 6% between 2024 and 2034.¹ This equates to roughly 52,900 openings each year, on average, during this period.

Dental assistant training can help prepare you for this healthcare role, with some states requiring that you complete an accredited program before entering this career path.² Here’s what you should know.

Dental Assistant Training Basics

Dental assistant job duties include sterilizing equipment, preparing patients for procedures, assisting licensed dentists, scheduling appointments, and recording dental treatments. A career training program can help prepare you to perform these tasks with efficiency and confidence.

Accredited dental assistant programs include three key elements:²

1. Classroom work
2. Labs or clinical work
3. Supervised practical experience

Classroom instruction provides the knowledge needed to work as a dental assistant. Labs and clinical training enable you to build the practical skills that are important in this job role. Supervised practical experience helps you apply your knowledge and skills in an actual dental office, helping you experience what it’s like to be a dental assistant.

How Long is Dental Assistant School?

If you want to become a dental assistant, you may wonder how long school will take. Some certificate and diploma programs can be completed in about one year, while an associate degree program generally takes longer to finish. Why pursue an associate degree if it means that you’ll be in school for longer?

Earning an associate degree may help you obtain the education needed to pursue higher-level roles later, if that’s your desired career path. These programs often include both general education and elective courses, in addition to courses focused on dental functions and skills, giving you a more rounded education.

Obtaining a degree might impact your income, too. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that people 25 and older who have an associate degree have higher median usual weekly earnings than those with a high school diploma or those who have some college but no degree.³

What You Learn in a Dental Assistant Program

In a dental assistant training program, you can expect to learn about topics such as:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Tooth identification
• Dental charting
• Proper oral hygiene (and how to instruct patients)
• Bloodborne pathogens and infection control
• Dental office management

Dental assistant with expanded functions training

Some dental assistant programs prepare practitioners to perform expanded functions. This can include taking X-rays, fabricating temporary restorations, creating impressions, and more. An Expanded Functions Dental Assistant program can help prepare you to provide these more advanced services.

Dental Assistant Training With Certification Prep

Depending on the state in which you work, certification may be required for entry into this profession or for advancement. Even if it isn’t required, becoming certified can set you apart from applicants who lack this credential, and your dental assistant career training program may help you prepare for it.

Dental assistant certification involves taking and passing a competency exam. This exam assesses your knowledge and skills in areas important for this job role. For example, the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification exam administered by American Medical Technologists (AMT) covers four work areas:⁴

1. Dental sciences
2. Clinical procedures
3. Dental imaging
4. Office assisting skills

Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) includes RDA certification prep in its Health Sciences – Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions Associate of Science Degree program.* This can help you assess your readiness for the AMT’s certification exam, while also improving your understanding of what to expect when pursuing this professional credential.

* Learners must meet eligibility criteria to sit for applicable certification exams

Do Dental Assistant Schools Offer Job Search Assistance?

Not all dental assistant schools help you find a job once you complete the courses required. However, UMA’s Career Services team provides job search support and guidance, even before you graduate.

Team members can assist you with creating your dental assistant resume, help you practice for job interviews, and may even be able to connect you with an employer partner.

If you’re ready to pursue dental assistant training, let’s talk. We’re here to answer your questions about what training entails, set your expectations, and discuss how we can support your academic and career journeys.

FAQs

• How do I know if becoming a dental assistant is the right career path for me? If you want to pursue a career in healthcare and are interested in oral health, a dental assistant career path could be a good fit for you. Other qualities that are important to this job role include being detail-oriented, having dexterity, being organized, working well with others (interpersonal skills), and being a good listener.² If this sounds like you, these qualities may help you excel in a dental assistant role.
• Do you need training to become a dental assistant? Not always. Some employers hire applicants who haven’t completed a formal program and train them on the job. Pursuing training even if it’s not required helps prepare you to perform dental assistant duties from day one. It can also give you a competitive advantage against applicants without formal training.
• Is a dental assistant program hard? What may feel hard to one learner can feel easy to another. UMA offers several student services designed to help you succeed in your courses. If you have questions about an assignment, could benefit from 1-on-1 academic support, or have another struggle as an adult learner at UMA, our caring and compassionate team members are here to provide academic guidance and support. Just tell us the obstacles you face in your program, and we’ll work together to find a solution.
• Why pursue an associate degree in dental assisting versus pursuing a diploma or certificate? A degree can help prepare you to advance in your career and may even help you earn a higher wage.³ In a competitive job market, having an associate degree also helps you stand out from job applicants without this level of education.
• Why should I pursue dental assistant training at UMA? UMA’s curriculum aligns with commonly used dental skills, but we’re also a healthcare education institution focused on student support. We’re here to walk through your academic journey with you, also providing career and job search guidance. We may even be able to connect you with outside resources based on your needs and educational obstacles, if you qualify. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what Jermonee C. had to say about UMA’s support.