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Dental assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, dental assistants don't need a college education. The most common degree for dental assistants is associate degree with 23% graduates, with only 20% dental assistant graduates earning bachelor's degree. Dental assistants who decided to graduate from college often finish Concorde Career College or Pima Medical Institute. Some good skills to have in this position include patients, patient care and cpr.

Popular dental assistant certifications include Dental Assistant (RDA), Certified Dental Technician, or Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). To improve dental assistant qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in dental assistant education paths.

What education do you need to become a dental assistant?

What degree do you need to be a dental assistant?

The most common degree for dental assistants is associate degree, with 23% of dental assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 20% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
  • Associate, 23%
  • Bachelor's, 20%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Diploma, 17%
  • Other Degrees, 22%

What should I major in to become a dental assistant?

You should major in dental assisting to become a dental assistant. 43% of dental assistants major in dental assisting. Other common majors for a dental assistant include business and general studies.

Best majors for dental assistants

20 best online courses for dental assistants

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1. Introduction to Dental Medicine

coursera

The mouth is the window into human health. This course provides an overview of dental medicine to engage, educate, excite and assist you in improving the oral health of your patients and members of your community. We will review topics in dental medicine including scope of the field, what to expect in function, and some of the many ways that dysfunction may present for different patients. This will include discussions of mouth, jaw, and tooth anatomy, pathology, and treatment. We will talk...

2. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

coursera

This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

3. Modern Dental Extractions - Fast, Painless, & Non-invasive

udemy
4.5
(329)

The goal is less trauma and less drama! This is an update that teaches superior methods for atraumatic extractions...

4. Become a Virtual Assistant

udemy
4.5
(1,223)

Live Free. Work Virtually. Virtual Assistant Training...

5. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

coursera

Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

6. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

coursera

COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

7. Virtual Assistant Training, a Complete Guide: Work From Home

udemy
4.4
(358)

Rock Star Virtual Assistant Training: Create an online business + become a freelancing virtual professional in any field...

8. Becoming an Executive Personal Assistant

udemy
4.2
(282)

Learn how to be an effective personal assistant, and find out how to develop the skills for the role...

9. Must-Have Tools for Virtual Assistants in 2023

udemy
4.8
(1,267)

Step by step tutorials for over 30 tools that will make your Virtual Assistant business and productivity skyrocket!...

10. Google Assistant development with Actions on Google

udemy
4
(513)

Google Assistant development in Node.js with Actions on Google & Dialog Flow & Firebase for Google Home & Android device...

11. Executive Assistants: Manage Client's GCal (Beginners)

udemy
4.6
(917)

Google Calendar (2018) Setup, Strategies and Scripts...

12. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

13. Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant

udemy
4.4
(1,406)

Learn how to launch your own business providing services via online technology...

14. Executive Travel Planning for Virtual Assistants

udemy
4.6
(412)

Manage flights, hotels, and car services for corporate travel like a pro! PLUS travel changes during a global crisis...

15. How to Find Your FIRST Virtual Assistant Clients

udemy
4.8
(265)

Find clients that you love working with, and who love working with you!...

16. How to Become a Virtual Assistant

udemy
4.7
(349)

Resources, templates & training to launch & grow your business fast!...

17. How to Train your Virtual Assistant for eBay Drop Shipping

udemy
4.7
(449)

Training Lectures to help you hire & train a Virtual Assistant for your e Bay Drop Shipping Business! Extra Profit Videos...

18. New Virtual Assistants: Launch Your Business Blueprint

udemy
4.6
(657)

Launch your own VA business with this foundational course. Plan, manage, and grow your business and clients with ease!...

19. Digital Nomad: How to find Freelancing Opportunities in 2023

udemy
4.7
(416)

Online Job Search for Digital Nomads : Freelancing and Virtual Assistant Masterclass...

20. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out

udemy
4.5
(528)

OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...

Average dental assistant salary by education level

According to our data, dental assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $40,131 annually. Dental assistants with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $39,972.
Dental assistant education levelDental assistant salary
High School Diploma or Less$38,699
Bachelor's Degree$40,131
Some College/ Associate Degree$39,972

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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