The career outlook for California dental assistant training is quite positive as more and more healthcare careers are growing in demand. Dental assistants benefit from flexible work schedules, fast track training programs, and an average salary of $33,000 per year. Most dental assistants in California work an average of only 3 1/2 days per week and get great benefits like vacation, healthcare, and bonuses. There are many great post-secondary colleges in Claifornia offering dental assistant training at the Diploma, Certificate, or Associates levels. Attending a California Dental Assistant school is also quite affordable as there are many great financial aid options, and fast track Diploma programs can take as little as 9 months to complete.
Finding the Right California Dental Assistant School
Finding a Dental Assistant training program in California is very easy to do, as there are many great colleges offering the program. Students generally opt into Certificate programs, but there are Diploma and Associates degrees in dental assisting as well. To graduate, you will need to pass the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam which takes 4 hours and requires a score of 400 or greater to pass (on a 100-900 scale). The right California dental assistant school will prepare you for this test with both classroom based and hands on experience. To take the exam while in school, you must attend an accredited institution like the schools on this site. You can still take the exam without training from an accredited institution, but you will need on the job experience for at least two years before this is allowed.
The right dental assistant school in California will train you in Dental Science, Dental Lab Work, Dental Office Management, Dental Radiology, Emergency Response, and Chairside Assistance. When browsing through relevant dental assisting programs, be sure to request FREE information from many schools to ensure that they include these focuses in their curriculum.
To get into dental assisting quickly, it is suggested that you enroll in your local certification program. Once in the profession, you can determine if you want to grow and evolve in the field. If you want to continue to grow in the field, then you can extend your education with an Associates degree, or get further education on one of the many popular dental assistant focuses including Orthodontics, Endodontics, and more.
When you are ready to begin your career as a dental assistant, browse our thorough directory of California dental assisting programs and request FREE information from the schools of your choice!