Introduction to Dental Assistant
ENROLL BEGINS JANUARY 8, 2024
Mon, Wed
02/12/2024 - 04/24/2024
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
$709
Tuition Agreements Available!
405-273-7493 ext. 4002
Are you interested in a career as a dental assistant? As the Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry continues to address the ongoing shortage of dental professionals, we will see the industry change to meet these challenges. At this time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment outlook for dental assistants will grow 8% annually through 2031, faster than average for all occupations. An average salary projection is set at $21.55 per hour.
Dental assisting is an incredibly dynamic career and every level requires training and permits. It would be impossible to squeeze a full working knowledge of even basic dental assisting into a short condensed course. It is our goal to provide a basic overview of the workings entailed within the general dental office, and what is required to function daily as a dental assistant in that setting.
With enough basic knowledge, hands-on experiences, and career overview, an entry-level dental assistant can be knowledgeable when making a decision on where to start a career and be confident and successful during those first steps.
How does Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s Introduction to Dental Assisting program differ from all-inclusive programs? In Oklahoma, dental assistants can begin working without a certification if they are trained under the direct supervision of the dentist and apply for their permit within 30 days of hiring.
So why invest time and money in a training course at all? This 60-hour course will bring you knowledge of dentistry, procedures, instruments, equipment, materials, patient care, training, and certification. Clinical hours are hands-on in an actual dental office!
Some permits and certifications are not applicable until an assistant has had experience on the job, and employers will often arrange and pay for assistants to take training and be certified to benefit the dental practice. We will supply you with a list of additional training, testing, and certifications that can be used to map out an exciting career in dental assisting with confidence.
Those wishing to pursue a career as a dental assistant have a variety of choices when it comes to training options. Gordon Cooper Technology Center will be offering an entry-level training program and will not include certifications. As stated previously, a dental assistant can be employed by a dental practice with no training but must apply for a basic chairside permit within 30 days of hiring.
To become a certified dental assistant, certifications can be earned once an individual has been hired at a dental practice under the direct supervision of a dentist. Once the required number of hours and processes are completed, testing for valuable certifications and additional trainings can then take place through a nationally recognized certification program with the Dental Assisting National Board.
If this sounds like a career path you are interested in, keep checking this site and we will soon post the start date of the class, class costs, and when enrollment can begin. You are not alone in this process. We can take these first steps together!