Colleges and Universities often provide their own grants for students. The amount of school grant varies, but they do take into consideration a number of factors in issuing these types of grants including: financial need, grades, merit or program of study. Please check with college you’ve been accepted to for more information.

To be considered for any of these types of grants for college, you must complete a financial aid form known as FAFSA. Your college will help you with this process and you can get information online. There are time deadlines in completing this application, so be sure to take that into consideration when planning your education.

Even though college costs are trending upward, there are many financial aid options for students. College grants are one of best options since they don’t need to be repaid, however, not everyone qualifies for them. Complete a FAFSA application to determine whether you can qualify for a college grant.

Advancement in this career is limited due to low education requirements. Some dental assistants advance to office management or product sales representatives. Others go to school for an additional year to become a dental hygienist. Dental assisting is very much an entry level position, but experience in field and additional education can be very lucrative.

Education / Getting Started

Several educational paths exist to become a dental assistant. Most dental assistants learn on job, however more and more dentists hire assistants with formal training. The American Dental Association accredits one and two year dental assistant programs leading to certificates or associate’s degrees. Some schools offer four to six month dental assisting programs, but these are not accredited. A clinical rotation is part of training.

Most States require dental assistants to be registered or licensed. Dental assistants who perform x-rays may be regulated by their State as well. The Dental Assisting National Board offers certification that meets registration requirements in over 30 states. CPR training and continuing education may be a requirement of a dental assistant.

Dental Assistant Summary

Training to be a dental assistant is a great way to get into healthcare field. It offers a great employment outlook, but additional education is needed to get into more lucrative jobs.