When pursuing a career as a dental assistant, it’s important to understand the education and licensure process, as well as the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist. Online dental assistant classes may only be available for continuing education credits and it’s important to check accreditation before applying. Clinical and laboratory hours are required for dental assistant training and online options may not be suitable for career training. Continuing education credits are required to maintain a certificate or license in good standing.
Dental care can be a rewarding career. As part of a dental team, a dental assistant provides support to practicing dentists and their patients. When looking for educational paths to becoming a dental assistant, it is important to understand the nature of the learning process, the licensure or certification process, and the role that a dental assistant plays. As far as education is concerned, online dental assistant classes are often options only available to dental assistants as a way to earn continuing education credits. To make sure you’re choosing the best dental assistant classes, whether online or in a traditional classroom setting, consider accreditation first.
Accreditation in education is just one way to provide a form of checks and balances for an otherwise flawed system. As is the case in most allied health careers, a governing or accrediting organization typically works in conjunction with licensing or certification boards. The overall process ensures that healthcare providers are able to distinguish the most helpful, productive, and professional prospective hires from those who have been inadequately trained or prepared. While licensing or certification processes may differ from state to state or even country to country, the most important thing is to check the validity of any online dental assistant classes, courses, or programs you may be considering before applying.
Dental care, like many allied health programs, requires a combination of laboratory hours and clinical practice. Therefore, it is not always possible to find dental assistant classes online. There may be some institutions that offer a handful of required core classes in an online format, but clinical and laboratory hours will always be required and will take place onsite at a designated facility. If you come across online dental assistant classes that have the benefit of being completely online, check the program and its curriculum with the accrediting institution in your state or country.
While online dental care classes are not possible or suitable for career training, there are definitely options online for continuing education classes. The easiest way to find online dental assistant classes approved for continuing education credit is to check with the appropriate certification or licensure board for your area. Continuing Education (CE) credits are usually required to maintain a certificate or license in good standing. Online dental care classes for EC include subjects like sanitation, radiology, and even smoking cessation. Verify that an approved class meets the requirements to maintain your current license or certification.
One last consideration before pursuing dental care as a career is to understand the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist. The very nature of clinical tasks is different for both titles and they are not the same job. Dental hygienists typically require more education and clinical practice than a dental assistant and are trained to perform duties without supervision by a dentist.
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