There is evidence that dental assistants who have completed a formal training program or are employed in states that require certification or registration receive higher salaries. It takes a relatively short period of time to become a dental assistant. Dental assistants receive their education and training through academic programs at community colleges, vocational schools, technical institutes or universities. Graduates of these programs usually receive certificates of completion. Although the majority of academic dental assisting programs take nine to eleven months to complete, some schools offer accelerated training.
Dental assistants can begin their careers without a college degree.
However, formal college-level education is encouraged. Approximately 245 dental assisting education programs in the U.S. are accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. However, career opportunities in dental assisting also exist for men. Dental assisting offers minority students exceptional career opportunities. The 1996 dental assisting enrollment figure is 7,081.