You have decided that you want to become a dental assistant. Before you can begin applying for jobs in the dental field, you will need to complete an associate degree or diploma program in dental assisting. The purpose of these programs is to help you gain the skills that will be necessary when working under the supervision of a dentist. The programs and training received in an accredited college will help you develop the skills that you need to work in a variety of dental settings, whiling completing various dental assistant duties. The more education you have, the more duties you will be able to perform.

Courses and Training

If you are enrolled in the associate degree program for dental assisting, it will typically take you 24 months to complete. The dental assistant diploma program at an accredited college generally takes 10 – 12 months to complete; this will vary from student-to-student, and college-to-college. The courses that you take in a dental assistant degree or diploma program will vary, but most colleges require you to take:

• Biology
• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• and more…

In addition to classroom studies, you will be required to complete training outside of the classroom. This includes laboratory work where students learn more about teeth, jaws, and gums, in addition to other areas of the mouth that dentist will work on. You will also learn more about the instruments that dentist use.

Certification

Depending on the state that you are practicing in, you may need to pass the Certified Dental Assistant exam (CDA). This examination can only be taken once you have satisfied all of the requirements pertaining to the dental assistant degree or diploma program that you have enrolled in. Before taking the CDA exam, you can download a copy of the exam and guide to study. Remember that the questions offered on the exam you download will not be the actual exam questions; these are similar questions that could help you prepare for the actual test. You will need to submit an application before you can take your exam; once your application has been received and processed, you will be prompted to schedule your CDA exam. The exam is taken on the computer, and it generally consists of three components:

• General Chairside
• Radiation Health and Safety
• Infection Control

Job Outlook

Once you successfully complete your dental assistant degree or diploma program, you could apply for certification. After you have passed your exam, you could begin applying for positions as a dental assistant. The employment in the dental assisting industry is expected to grow by 25 percent over the next few years. The median annual salary for a dental assistant is $34,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Enroll in an accredited dental assistant degree or diploma program to work on obtaining the skills and knowledge necessary to work as a dental assistant.

While it is true that both dental hygienists and dental assistants will assist with patients, these two professions are not entirely the same. The main difference is the type of work a dental hygienist will perform, in comparison to that of a dental assistant. A dental assistant will work in a smaller dental practice, assisting in the office, performing clerical duties; however, a dental hygienist will help a dentist by performing actual dental work. The type of education that a dental assistant is required to have is not as much as a dental hygienist. Before you decide which of the two professions is the best choice, take a look at some of the differences between the two.

One-on-One

A dental assistant will begin working under the supervision of a dentist immediately, helping the dentist out with various tasks, most of which involve the office. Some dental assistants will help a dentist work on a patient’s teeth, but they will need to be supervised at all times, and the jobs that an assistant does pertaining to a patient’s teeth will be small. In contrast, a dental hygienist has the ability to work under the supervision of a dentist, but he can also work alone, in a one-on-one setting with the patient. The tasks assigned to a dental hygienist will be more advanced, in comparison to those assigned to a dental assistant. 

Educational Requirements

The education requirement is another contrast between these two career choices. As a dental assistant, you will need to enroll and successfully complete a diploma program; you do not need to pass a certification examination to become a dental assistant. However, in order to become a dental hygienist, you will need to receive certification, but you will not be able to take the exam until after you have successfully completed an associate degree program from an accredited college or university. If you would like to receive more job opportunities, you could go back to school and earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the future. 

Equipment 

As a dental assistant, you will not have access to the same equipment that a dental hygienist does. For example, a dental hygienist will be permitted to use equipment to clean a patient’s teeth, in addition to lasers, probes, x-ray units, scalars, and more. A dental assistant is not trained to use this type of equipment; instead, an assistant will work with software, and use dental dams, forceps, and other accessories.

Pay Scale

The amount of money that a dental assistant could earn is less than a dental hygienist. Dental assistants earn an average of $34,000 per year, while a dental hygienist could earn $69,000 per year.

Working in the nursing industry may be your goal, but you do not want to spend years and years in school training and taking college courses. If this is the case, you should consider becoming a practical nurse. You will typically complete your nursing program in less than 12 months; some students can earn their nursing diploma in 10 months, depending on the program you take, and how well you do in the program. Once you have successfully completed your practical nursing diploma program at an accredited college, you could take the certification exam necessary to begin practicing as a practical nurse. 

Courses and Training

Once you find the practical nursing program that is best for you, there are a variety of courses you will be required to take. Some of those courses include:

• Pharmacology
• Biology
• Nursing
• and more…

In addition to the classroom work you will need to take in order to complete your practical nursing diploma program, you will need to be trained. This training will take place outside of the classroom in a clinic or hospital setting. The clinical experience you are required to have before you can receive your practical nursing diploma will be under the supervision of an instructor.

The training and skills that you learn while enrolled in a practical nursing diploma program could help you develop the nursing skills that are necessary to work in the medical field. Some of those skills include compassion and communication. You will be required to assist patients, which will require you to communicate with the patients and their family member effectively. You cannot give a patient the wrong type of advice; this could be bad for their physical well-being. These skills are necessary for you to build a rapport with your patients.

As a practical nurse, you could be required to spend a majority of the day on your feet, which is why physical stamina is also required; you may also be required to move and transport patients.

License

Even if you have successfully completed your practical nursing diploma program, you cannot begin working as a practical nurse. Employers will require you to be certified before you can begin practicing. The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) is required by all nurses who want to practice, regardless of which state you are practicing in.

Advancing your Career

After you have completed a practical nursing diploma program, you could further your education. Some options include earning specializations and certifications in specific areas, such as IV Therapy, Gerontology, and more. You also have the option to enroll in a degree program to earn your associate or Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Before you send a resume to a potential employer, consider for a moment - what will that employer find if they google your name?

Face it, the web and Social Media are whole new avenues for employers to find information on you, and it’s their job to find as much as they can before they make you a job offer.  Studies show more and more employers are using it as a hiring tool.  So try it.  Google yourself and see what a potential employer will find.  Then work to create an online profile that will get you hired, not fired.

Set up your privacy settings on material you don’t want to be made public.  Remove posts and photos that you don’t want to be shared with co-workers and bosses, and delete email accounts that are working against you in your search.  Sure, you may feel like you’re not being honest, but an employer is going to want an employee that is professional and is going to benefit the business.  The material you share with the public online can also be found by your customers, so they need to know you aren’t going to hurt business.  Make sure that is the person they find online is professional.

But Social Media is more than just a way for a potential employer to dig up dirt on you.  It can also be one of the best tools you have to get the job you want.  Abby Gilmore, an Internet marketing specialist with Vertical Measures, has written an excellent guide to using Social Media in your job search.  She offers quick and easy tips that ensure you are maximizing your job search potential.

In today’s economy, there are many things you can’t control in your job search.  Make sure to maximize the things you can control to your benefit before you send out your first resume, and you’ll be well on your way to finding a new job in no time!

You are ready to join the workforce, but what does that mean? How are employers going to know YOU are a rock star and potentially THE candidate they have been looking for?

Your resume is the first impression they have of you.

So what really is a resume? It’s a brief history of your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications that you prepare for potential employers.

 How does it work?

1. Introduces you to employers
2. Chance to describe who you are
3. Guide for you and the interviewer to discuss your background
4. Reminder to the interviewer of who you after the interview is over

 10 Resume Tips:

1. Look at resume examples
2. Start with a resume template
3. Choose a basic font throughout your resume
4. Include all of your contact information
5. Choose the right resume format
6. Include keywords in your resume
7. Prioritize your resume content
8. Customize your resume
9. Tailor your resume objective to specific job openings
10. Tweak for technology

 What to include in your resume?

1. Heading: Full name, complete address, phone number, professional email address
2. Education/Training
3. Work Experience
4. Awards/Affiliations/Skills

 Other Resume Tips:

1. Sell your strengths
2. Highlight accomplishments
3. Use action verbs
4. Avoid wordiness
5. Proofread carefully and let someone else proofread it with a keen/critical eye
6. Create an “e-friendly” version of your resume

 Keisha White is a Career Services Coordinator and instructor at Antonelli College in Ohio. Connect with her on Linked-In to learn more about the career placement opportunities.  Her professional skills have come a long way since the second grade when she was forced to take a school picture AFTER cutting off her own eyebrows.