Although most dental assistants train on the job, many assistants train through accredited dental courses, so finding one of the many courses which have the approval of the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is essential. Expect to train full time for up to a year on the dental assistant's program, where quality training takes place and students qualify with a certificate or diploma. Some private vocational training institutes offer shorter programs, but these are not approved by CODA.
Many dental assistant programs offer places to the best qualified applicants, whether it be candidates who have received some on-the-job training or students with high school diplomas in subjects such as: chemistry, biology and IT. Students can expect to learn dental terminology, names and uses of instruments, patient care and first aid, including CPR, so a good all-around education prepares potential candidates for the demands of the course.
Requirements for practicing as a dental assistant vary from state to state. Some states require licensure, which could include passing a written examination. Many accredited programs meet their state's requirements. Other states require dental assistants to complete shorter state-approved courses lasting between four to 12 hours in length. Little or no formal dental assistant education is allowed in some other states. However, more and more states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program if they wish to perform some more technical functions, such as x-rays.
Dental assistant programs cost somewhere in the region of $4000 as of 2010 at an accredited institute such as Coastal Carolina Community College. This pays for tuition fees, vaccines for hepatitis, registration with Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), books, uniforms and liability insurance. This sum, of course, does not include day-to-day living and transport costs.