Dental Assistant
Job Summary
A dental assistant will perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and performing administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Required Education / Training Summary
People starting in this career usually have:
Postsecondary certificate
No work experience
No on-the-job training
Some employers may require you to be licensed through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) in order to work as a dental assistant. Learn more about the DANB Certification Process to get started.
Explore Programs in Rhode Island
| Occupation | Program Name | Institution | Certificate Earned | Per Student Program Cost | Program Length | Time of Day | Instructional Hours / Credits | Clinical Placement/Field Experience/Practicum? | Modality | Location | Eligibility Reqs/Pre-Reqs | Notes/Description | Website | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant | Dental Assisting Certificate | Community College of Rhode Island | Certificate | $8,190.00 | 2 semesters | - | 39 credits | Y | in-person | Lincoln, RI | High School Diploma; Placement testing; BCI | Prepares students to become DANB cerified Dental Assistants. | https://catalog.ccri.edu/programs-study/health-sciences/dental-assistin… | tswift@ccri.edu |
| Dental Assistant | Dental Assisting Certificate | Community College of Rhode Island - Division of Workforce Partnerships | $0.00 | 14 weeks | Days | 336 hours | Y (externship) | Hybrid | Westerly,RI or Coventry, RI | This program prepares students to work within Rhode Island as a dental assistant and will qualify students to sit for two out of the three DANB certification examinations. This program is a 14-week full-time program and includes an externship. | https://www.ccri.edu/dental/daprogram.html | kfriel@ccri.edu | ||
| Dental Assistant | Dental Assistant | Cranston Adult Education Programs | Certificate | $1,550.00 | 15 weeks | Evenings | Cranston, RI | The curriculum is designed to prepare students for an entry-level position as a dental assistant in a private office or clinic. Coursework includes basic body systems and functions, oral anatomy and dental science fundamentals. The student is prepared for off-site radiology. | https://cranstonadulteducation.weebly.com/dental-assistant-da.html | gdzekevich@cpsed.net | ||||
| Dental Assistant | Dental Assistant | Genesis Center | Certificate | $0.00 | 12+ weeks | 9AM to 1PM Tues- Sat | online and in-person | All participants may earn the opportunity to complete an internship in the health care industry; this experience helps participants develop a resume, and many students are hired upon successful completion of their internships. Other benefits include: Participation in our Financial Opportunity Center; Resume/Job Development; Financial Coaching; Technology, language and math integration; Soft skills & team-building activities; updated immunizations, TB tests and BCI checks. | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b5altGUm14UqDHrmdqmksVv71SHH2134/view | cdyer@gencenter.org | ||||
| Dental Assistant | Dental Assisting | Lincoln Technical Institute | Diploma | $21,920.00 | 51 weeks (Day); 72 weeks (evenings) | Days/ Evenings | 900 hours | Y | Hybrid | Lincoln, RI | *DLT pays up to $7,500 of total program costs for WIOA participants; Prepares students with a strong foundation in dental assisting. Students gain knowledge/skills in preventive dentistry, four-handed dentistry, chair side assisting, diagnostics, operative, fixed prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontic procedures, endodontic procedures, surgical procedures, and dental radiology. | https://www.lincolntech.edu/careers/health-sciences/dental-assistant | 844-677-3307 |