Dental Assistant Is a Fast Growing Health Occupation
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that dental assistant jobs will be one of the fastest growing health jobs over the next ten years (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm).There are approximately 270,000 dental assistant jobs in the U.S. today, and the opportunities for certified assistants are growing rapidly.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation with the American Dental Association has approved over 265 dental assistant training programs across the United States. Many of these programs can be found at HealthCareers.net. There are one-year certificate programs to become a dental assistant. Students can also enroll in two-year programs that result in an associate degree.
Dental assistants work closely with dentists to provide patient care and perform laboratory and office duties. In 2004, the median hourly salary for dental assistants was approximately $13.60 an hour with health benefits included for most full-time positions. Becoming a certified dental assistant is an excellent starting point for a person who wants to build a career in dentistry while getting work experience in the field.
