Start Your Career

As a Dental Assistant

How to Become a Dental Office Assistant

Becoming a Dental Office Assistant Involves Four Basic Steps

Becoming a dental office assistant is one of the quickest ways to begin a dental career. As a dental professional, you'll find yourself right at the heart of the dental office, handling essential administrative tasks. Don't let anymore time go by before you act on your dreams - follow the steps below and get started as a dental office assistant.

Steps to Become a Successful Dental Office Assistant

  1. Enroll in a Quality Dental Office Assistant Program - Nowadays it is common that dental office assistants have formal training. In the past, dental office assistants largely received on-the-job training, but now the trend is toward those with training. When choosing a dental office assistant program, make sure that the school offers a dental terminology module, along with lessons on important topics like the nine major dental specialties, dental charting and dental office management.


  2. Treat Your Training Like a Job - Tackle your dental office assistant training like it was the first day of a new job you'd worked very hard to secure. The best way to keep up with your training is to do your assignments each day, constantly test yourself for a firm grasp of the material and dedicate study time before each test or quiz. If you establish a solid work ethic during your training, it is sure to carry into your work as a dental office assistant.


  3. Pass the State Exam (if applicable in your state) - Depending on which state you live in, you may need to pass a state exam and complete work experience to start your career as a dental office assistant. Some states even mandate that dental office assistants take a state-approved education course, which may run anywhere from a few hours all the way up to 12 hours. To discover the specific requirements for your state, go to your state's official website and click on tabs like "employment" or "licenses" to learn more.


  4. Conduct a Successful Job Search - Once you've completed your Dental Office Assistant Program and gotten licensed (if required), you're prepared to enter the job market. Dental office assistants, like professionals in any field, must be able to research job openings, write a sound cover letter and résumé, and interview with confidence