Dental Assistant Training Programs - What's In Store For Me?
Dental assistant training programs are now becoming more and more popular. Dental assistants are professionals who care for the dental needs of patients under the supervision of dentists. Among the common duties of a dental assistant are cleaning and disinfecting dental instruments, assisting the dentist when giving a patient an oral exam, cleaning a patient's teeth and more. Sometimes, they may perform clerical task as well like scheduling appointments and taking phone calls.
A dental assistant enjoys several benefits in this profession. One example is job schedule flexibility. Read more about this in the site at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_assistant. Usually, dental assistants are at work between 35 and40 hours weekly, and they are off on weekends. Good pay is yet another advantage. The average income of dental assistant is around 32,000 USD per year, although there are many who can make up to over 46,000 USD. When it comes to job opportunities, the prospects are also great. Experts have predicted a growth of 36% in this field between 2011 and 2018.
One thing people like about dental assistant training is that it's not as extensive as training required for other medical professions. In most cases, one has to have a high school diploma before being admitted into a program. Students who are yet in high school must pass courses in chemistry, math and biology as preparation for a dental program. Those who are interested in becoming dental assistants should also be comfortable with a job that requires a lot of people interaction.
Dental assistant programs are typically offered by technical and community colleges. Programs would normally have two aspects - theory and practical experience. Lectures teach the basics of the job, while the clinic portion of the program lets the students apply what they have learned in the classroom. Students have to complete these two portions of the program before graduation.
A diploma or certificate will be awarded to students who successfully comply with the requirements of the training program of the site at www.njdentalassist.com. Those who've had prior experience in the field of dentistry can go on to complete on-the-job training. Some programs may be completed in around four to six months.
Many people, after completing a basic program, move on to finish an advanced course that earns them an associate degree. The advantage of an associate degree is that the holder can apply to higher positions like office manager and dental instructor. Of course, with higher positions, salaries increase too.
Over the last few years, enrollees of dental assistant training programs have undeniably increased. Either they are building a career in dentistry as their first choice, or they have shifted from another less rewarding career. In any case, enrollees the have passed the dental assistant qualifications have vast employment opportunities in store for them.
