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Dental Assisting Degrees:
Reaching Your Dental Assistant Career Goals

Dental Assistant diploma or associate's? Which degree is best for you?

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Education Options

Choosing a dental assisting program is a very personal choice. For many prospective students, the choice involves complex trade-offs between finances (such as the need to support a family), age (high school graduate vs. mid-life career change) and future career plans.

Fortunately, becoming a dental assistant can be accomplished through a variety of programs that suit your time and financial situation.

Certificate & Diploma

Certificate and diploma programs generally take 9 to 11 months to complete. These programs are offered by career colleges and community colleges. Career college programs usually have a faster time to completion.

Associate's Degree

Associate’s degree programs last two years and provide other general education curriculum. Both career colleges and community colleges offer associate's degree programs. If you're planning on advancing your education later in your career, the credits you earn while in your associate's program will count toward earning a bachelor's or master's degree.

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What You'll Study

Dental assistants need to know everything from office administration to chairside assisting. A good dental assistant program will give you all the necessary skills you will need to begin your career. You can also find programs that will provide you some practical experience before entering the workforce. Some typical courses in a dental assistant curriculum are:

  • Dental Laboratory Procedures
  • Dental Radiology
  • Dental Science
  • Dental Office Management
  • Dental Assisting Applications
  • Emergency Management in the Dental Office
  • Chairside Assisting

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Spotlight Schools

Sanford-Brown Institute

Sanford-Brown Institute's dental assistant program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills to assist the dentist with total management of their office.

Sanford-Brown College

Sanford-Brown Institute's dental assistant program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills to assist the dentist with total management of their office.

San Joaquin Valley College

Dental assisting programs at San Joaquin College are designed to prepare you to work under the supervision of a dentist. Programs include hands-on training, patient care, office administration and laboratory duties.

Dental Assistant Education Info