A joint program through the Vermont Adult Career and Technical Education Association (VACTEA) and the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS).
About the Program
The hybrid dental assistant program is a unique collaboration between the Vermont Adult Career and Technical Association (VACTEA) and the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS). This program provides students with a comprehensive education in dental assisting, combining online coursework with hands-on, paid work-based learning experiences. The program covers a range of topics, including dental anatomy, radiography, infection control, and chairside assisting. Students will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience in a dental office, working alongside experienced dental professionals. This paid work-based learning component provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations, while also earning valuable work experience and building professional connections.
Program Outcomes
Prepare for the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam Online: Dental assistants play a valuable role in any dental care team, often handling a variety of tasks from assisting with treatment procedures to administrative duties. This online course with work based learning opportunities, will help you gain the technical skills you need to join a dental office as a clinical dental assistant. Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for national certification exams.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is online with opportunities for work based learning at a local dentist office. You can start at anytime.
Instructor Bio
Cindy Lamkin has been employed in the dental field for over 20 years. She graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in dental hygiene and holds Registered Dental Assistant and Registered Dental Hygienist credentials. In addition to practicing clinical hygiene, she has also worked in dental office administration and treatment coordination. Her career includes general dentistry, as well as specialty practices of periodontics, endodontics, pedodontics, and orthodontics.
Certification Testing, Tuition, & Assistance
- Tuition for the course is $2995.00.
- Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive vouchers to sit for the Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology (AMP), Infection Control (ICE), and Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) portions of the Dental Assisting National Board examinations. The exams meet 3 of 3 exam requirements for the NELDA certification and 2 of 3 exam requirements for the CDA.
- The required clinical hours to complete the CDA certification can be completed through our partnership with VSDS and completed at a local dentist facility. If you already have 3,500 hours of clinical experience and wish to pursue the CDA certification, you will need to acquire the General Chairside Assisting exam. The General Chairside Assisting exam is not included in this voucher package. Included vouchers are prepaid access to sit for the exams upon eligibility.
- Tuition assistance and paid training for this program is available through VACTEA, VSDS, and VSAC. Visit the VACTEA website or complete the online VSAC application to find out if you qualify.
Course Objectives
- Real-world perspectives from experienced dental assistants
- Essential information about anatomy and physiology, preventive dentistry, patient care, and communication, radiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, assisting in specialty practices, employment strategies, and much more
- Explore the basics of maintaining computerized clinical dental records using Dentrix Practice Management software
Job Outlook for Clinical Dental Assistants
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a clinical dental assistant is currently just over $40,000 per year.
- Employment is projected to grow by 11% through 2030, which is considered much faster than average. Ongoing research linking good dental health with good overall health is driving this growth as demand for preventative services continues to increase.
Clinical Dental Assistant FAQs
WHAT DOES A CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANT DO?
Clinical dental assistant jobs vary based on the dental office and the state your work in. Typical duties include preparing patients for treatment, sterilizing tools, instructing on proper dental hygiene, passing instruments to the dentist during procedures, keeping records of treatments, scheduling appointments and processing x-rays.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BECOME A CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANT?
Most clinical dental assistant training programs can be completed in one year or less. This does not include the time you will spend working in an externship or similar position to gain experience in the field. It also does not include the required two years of work experience you will need to become certified.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CERTIFIED DENTAL ASSISTANT?
To become a Certified Dental Assistant, you will need to pass the three components of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification Exam and meet the Board’s work experience requirements. You will need to pass the Radiation Health and Safety, Infection Control, and General Chairside components of the DANB Certification Exam as well as complete at least two years of work experience (or a minimum of 3,500 hours accrued over a two to four year period).
WHAT KIND OF HOURS DO CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANTS WORK?
Most dental assistants work a full-time schedule of 40 hours per week, however, there are some dental assistants that work part-time. Many of the hours will be worked during the day, but depending on your dental office, you may be asked to work some evenings or weekends.
WHERE DO CLINICAL DENTAL ASSISTANTS WORK?
Almost all clinical dental assistants work in dental offices under the supervision of dentists, though some may find employment with the government or in physicians’ offices. Dental assistants work very closely with dental hygienists. In this position, you will be on your feet for large portions of the day and wear surgical masks, safety goggles, gloves, and protective clothing to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DENTAL ASSISTANT?
While both roles are important components of the dental staff, an administrative dental assistant focuses more on the office’s administrative tasks, such as greeting patients, collecting patient information, filling out medical forms, organizing office records, and other clerical tasks. On the other hand, a clinical dental assistant helps dentists and dental hygienists with treatment procedures, sterilization and disinfection of dental tools, patient charting, taking vital signs, processing quality radiographs (x-rays), and more.
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