Shadow a dental assistant if possible. Seeing dental assistants at work helps you understand the daily routine for the job and decide if this is really the career for you.
Contact the dental board or licensing entity for your state to determine requirements regarding training and certification. Since licensing procedures and qualifications vary from state to state, you need to ask about the specific guidelines for the place you wish to work so you can make sure the program you choose fits those requirements.
Find a program that fits your needs. It should lead toward a required license and fit your budget. Check with the American Dental Association to find their approved programs. Costs vary greatly from program to program and can run from about $750 to several thousand.
Set aside time for classwork. Online and at-home distance learning programs may take as little as four months to complete, but you must dedicate time to complete reading and assignments.
Use the assistance your school offers. Some programs, such as the U.S. Career Institute (uscareerinstitute.com) and Stratford Career Institute (scitraining.com) offer instructor and tutor assistance just a phone call or email away. If you have questions about the course material, contact these experts for help. You will have to learn medical terminology, monitor safety and infection control, how to use dental instruments and deal with patients plus understand X-ray procedures, so the content may be quite new to you if you have not worked in a medical or dental office.
Stay on task. Distance programs may not have deadlines you need to follow, so it can be easy to let coursework slide. Set up a calendar with your own due dates to be sure you keep working toward your degree or certificate.