Howard Healthcare Academy

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Dental Assistant Frequently Asked Questions

The dental assistant career path is both rewarding and challenging. A position as a dental assistant is a great fit for anyone looking to earn more, interact with patients and medical professionals, and get started working in the dental field. If you are looking to learn more about being a dental assistant, you’ve come to the right place. On this page, our healthcare professionals at Howard Academy provide answers to frequently asked questions about the dental assistant profession and our very own award-winning Dental Assistant Program. Read on to for a dental industry overview and get your questions about our Dental Assistant Program answered. Ready to enroll? Get started here.

FAQs About the Dental Assistant Career: Frequently Asked Dental Questions

Interested in learning more about the dental assistant career path? Curious about what life as a dental assistant looks like? If you have dental assistant-related questions, this section has your answers. Read on for frequently asked dental questions about the dental assistant profession, with answers provided by our healthcare professionals here at Howard Academy.

Questions About Being a Dental Assistant

Don't See Your Question Here? Contact Us to Have Your Frequently Asked Dental Questions Answered If you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, please visit our Contact Us page to ask your question. Or if you prefer, call 1-619-ACADEMY (619-222-3369) Monday to Friday from 8am–5pm. If we are busy helping other students, please leave a message. One of our Admissions Representatives will contact you with an answer to your question within two business days. Thank you for your interest in Howard Healthcare Academy. Visit salary.com to find the most current information for dental assistant salaries in your area.
First, prospective dental assistants must complete an approved dental assistant program like our Dental Assistant Program here at Howard Healthcare Academy. After you have earned your Howard Healthcare Academy dental assistant certification, you are eligible to take the State exam to become a registered dental assistant (RDA). You will need to pass a written State examination by the Dental Board of California in order to become an RDA.
The dental field is growing at a rapid pace. U.S. News and World Report ranked Orthodontist and Dentist in the top 5 of the 100 Best Jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for dental assistants will include 19% between 2016 and 2026. With more demand for orthodontists and dentists, there are more opportunities for dental assistants and other careers in the dental office.
Many dental assistants will tell you that there is no typical day because every day brings something different. Depending on where you work, you may perform many tasks including providing care to patients, setting up for dental procedures and running the front office. The dentist you work for will determine which responsibilities to assign you. In addition to your duties as a dental assistant, you will also treat and work with many people in your practice.
Being a valued dental assistant can lead to promotions. You may decide to get additional training or become a registered dental assistant by passing the State exam. A dental assisting job can also lead you to other careers in the dental office. Once you have experienced working in a dental office you may want to pursue a career in dentistry with more responsibilities such as a registered dental assistant, registered dental assistant in extended functions, dental hygienist or dentist.
Being a dental assistant can be a full-time or part-time job. Your position specifics and working hours will be determined by both your needs and the needs of your employer. You can search for work opportunities as a dental assistant based on what type of schedule you want to work. Dental assistants can choose to work at one office or multiple offices to accommodate their personal schedule.

FAQs About Dental Assistant School at Howard Academy

Here at Howard Academy, we are proud to offer an approved Dental Assistant Program for students of all ages in Southern California. Through our Dental Assistant Program, you will learn skills and gain accreditation necessary to work as a dental assistant in any dental office. We emphasize hands-on learning, giving you extensive opportunities to practice your skills in a real dental office, thanks to our partnership with The Super Dentists, one of San Diego’s premier dental care providers. Together with our highly-trained instructors and excellent facilities, this hands-on learning approach sets our Dental Assistant program apart from others in the region.

Have questions about our Dental Assistant Program here at Howard Academy? Want to learn more about our courses and opportunities available to graduates of our program? Read on for FAQs about our Dental Assistant Program, with answers provided by our staff.

Questions about Howard Healthcare Academy

Currently, Howard Healthcare Academy offers financial assistance through a third-party loan company. When you come in for your initial meeting with one of our Admissions Representatives, you will be guided through any available options that apply to you. If you choose the third-party loan, your Admissions Rep will help you complete the online application. Whether you qualify depends on your credit. You will know immediately if you qualify for the loan. Through the financial assistance loan program, students will have monthly payments determined by the third-party loan company. Howard Academy also participates in a scholarship program for military spouses and offers a 10% discount for military members.
Howard Healthcare Academy is dedicated to the success of each student. That includes helping you complete your dental assistant certification and finding gainful employment once you’ve graduated. Our affiliation with The Super Dentists will provide you with interviewing practice. You will experience what happens during an interview as well as receive feedback on how to present yourself in job interviews throughout your career. In addition, check out our blog for responses to common dental assistant interview frequently asked questions.
You can enroll to earn your dental assistant certification from Howard Healthcare Academy in San Diego whenever you are ready. Our curriculum is flexible so that our students don’t have to wait for months until a school year begins.
It takes as little as 10 months to earn your dental assistant certificate with Howard Healthcare Academy provided that all courses attempted are completed. During this time you will attend lectures, classes, labs, preclinical, clinical and an externship to give you real-world experience as a dental assistant. Time is split between classroom learning and hands-on, in-office practice. Our partnership with The Super Dentists offers you the opportunity to develop your skills in one of the industry’s finest professional dental office settings.
Yes, as part of the Howard Healthcare Academy program, you will receive hands-on training working in a real dental office. Through our partnership with The Super Dentists and affiliated dental practices within the San Diego community, Howard Healthcare Academy students receive practical experience by training on actual dental equipment and patients in a thriving pediatric and orthodontic dental practice.
Howard Healthcare Academy has a convenient San Diego location to make attending class easy for you. We are located in Kearny Mesa. Visit our Contact Us page for our address and phone number.
For your convenience, Howard Academy offers morning, afternoon and evening classes for dental assistant courses. Standalone courses are weekend classes. Please contact Howard Healthcare Academy at 1-619-ACADEMY (619-222-3369) to speak with one of our Admissions Representatives to discuss your current life schedule so we can best accommodate your educational needs.
Yes, Howard Healthcare Academy courses are approved by the Dental Board of California and our program is approved through the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Upon graduation and accreditation from our program, you will be qualified to work as a dental assistant in any dental office in California (and many other states).
Yes, you can earn your continuing education units (CEUs) at Howard Healthcare Academy. Please contact Howard Academy at 1-619-ACADEMY (619-222-3369) to speak with one of our Admissions Representatives about having everyone in your office attend continuing education at the same time to ensure your team is up to date with their certifications.
If you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, please visit our Contact Us page to ask your question. Or if you prefer, call 1-619-ACADEMY (619-222-3369) Monday to Friday from 8am–5pm. If we are busy helping other students, please leave a message. One of our Admissions Representatives will contact you with an answer to your question within two business days. Thank you for your interest in Howard Healthcare Academy.

Don’t See Your Question Here? Contact Us to Have Your Frequently Asked Dental Questions Answered

If you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, please visit our Contact Us page to ask your question. Or if you prefer, call 1-619-ACADEMY (619-222-3369) Monday to Friday from 8am–5pm. If we are busy helping other students, please leave a message. One of our Admissions Representatives will contact you with an answer to your question within two business days. Thank you for your interest in Howard Healthcare Academy.

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Howard Healthcare Academy - Dental Assistant School in San Diego CA

9737 Aero Drive, Suite #200
San Diego, CA 92123
(619) 222-3369
info@HowardAcademy.com

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