by Have you been thinking of making a career in the field of dentistry? Becoming a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) offers a rewarding career option in 2024! According to statistics, the employment opportunities for this particular sector is assumed to grow by 7% by 2032!
However, the best part about being a Dental Assistant is that, you can start your career early! The accelerated training program offered by dental assistant schools in California has quick turnaround time, which makes it easier for students, as well as people juggling with their jobs and education, to pursue a stable career option.
Interested to know more about CDA and how to start? Let’s plunge in a little deeper then!
Why Should You Become A Certified Dental Assistant?
You might ask why pursue a dental assistant course out of all the options out there? Here are some of the reasons that can justify your query-
– Highly Demanding
The field of dentistry is witnessing a significant growth in the demand for qualified dental assistants. Being a certified DA can ensure that you’ll never be out of a job after completing your course.
– Dynamic Work Environment
Forget the tedious job environment. Being a dental assistant rewards you with a dynamic work culture. You get to collaborate with dentists, hygienists, and patients on a daily basis. This creates a proactive learning environment where you have the opportunity to experience and learn something new every day.
– Handsome Salary Package
The average annual salary of a certified dental assistant ranges from $35,000 to $40,000. However, that’s the starting point! You can easily expect a $60,000 a year package if you have the required expertise and experience in the field.
Excluding these, certified DA’s also enjoy a hoard of perks and benefits that makes dental assistant programs an optimal career choice. You can easily look for dental assistant schools near me and have a discussion with them for any further queries on the course structure!
About The 4 Month CDA Course Program
Among the best dental assistant programs is this 16-week comprehensive program which is a well-structured course that can equip you with effective theoretical as well as practical skills that you will be honing under an actual dental office setting!
As they say “nothing teaches better than experience itself”, institutions like MDS Dental Assisting Academy that offers dental assistant certification follow this as a principle!
Along with dental sciences and chairside assisting, the students also get to have certifications in Basic Life Support, Infection Control, and Radiation Safety.
So, it’s not just a single avenue that you can dwell on! There are numerous avenues you can explore, and make a great career for yourself.
What’s The Course Fee?
On an average, the course fee of dental assistant program across a majority of the reputed dental assistant schools in California, starts from $9,000.
Sounds a little expensive? Well, you don’t know the whole scenario yet!
This tuition fee includes everything that the student is going to need to complete the course. Which means they get all the required study materials, uniforms, instruments, and necessary supplies.
Added to that, reputed dental assistant schools also provide the opportunity for externships for the graduating batches. Once they are done with their externships, the organization assists them in landing a job.
Technically speaking, if you follow their guidance diligently, you’ll be able to recover your tuition fee within just about six months after you start to earn!
Not so bad a deal, is it?!
Hybrid Classes- For Convenient Learning
Keeping the convenience of the students in mind, most of the dental assisting schools offer hybrid dental assistant certificate programs.
Not all candidates who enroll themselves for a DA course are students. Some of them might have responsibilities which they need to juggle. Some might even have day jobs that they need to maintain while studying. The hybrid (online and offline classes) learning structure offered by various dental assistant schools makes it easier for such candidates to attend the classes diligently.
Also, the practical classes, the ones where the students get to have hands-on experience, are held on weekends. This makes it even more convenient for the hustlers as well as the students to attend the classes without any interruptions.
Choose From Reputed Institutions
Decided that you’re going to be a dental assistant? That’s nice! Congratulations!
However, getting certified from reputed institutions puts you at an advantageous position. Here are a few tricks that’ll help you narrow down your choices-
– Look For CODA Accreditation
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is considered to be the highest standard for dental assistant programs. So, while choosing an institution, check whether it’s accredited by CODA or not.
– Look For Experienced Faculties
Your learning curve enhances when it’s supported and backed by passionate and experienced teachers! So, keep an eye on the experience of the faculty members of the concerned institution. Their practical experiences would help in the training process effectively.
– Consider Course Length And Schedule
Dental assistant programs come in a wide range of length and schedule options, ranging from year-long courses to 4-month intensive programs. While selecting an institution, make sure that the course length and schedule matches your requirements.
To Conclude
The 16-weeks intensive dental assisting course provides a stable career option in this fast-paced and competitive job market. From the nature of the job, to the various perks and benefits it puts to the table, it’s a great program that not only rewards you with job security, but also helps you maintain your work-life balance optimally!
