Certification is an acknowledgment of an assistant's qualifications and professional competence, and may be an asset when seeking employment. In several States that have adopted standards for dental assistants who perform radiological procedures, completion of the certification examination meets those standards. Candidates may qualify to take the certification examination by graduating from an accredited training program, or by having 2 years of full-time experience as a dental assistant. In addition, applicants must have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Without further education, advancement opportunities are limited.
Some dental assistants working the front office become office managers.
Others, working chair-side, go back to school to become dental hygienists. Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. Also, the proportion of workers leaving the occupation and who must be replaced is above average. Population growth and greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people will fuel demand for dental services. Older dentists, who are less likely to employ assistants, will leave and be replaced by recent graduates, who are more likely to use one, or even two.