Dental Assisting Associate Degree vs. Certificate
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More and more Americans have access to dental insurance plans which is creating a surge in need for qualified dental assistants—an entry-level career for those wanting to join the field of allied health professionals. Dental assisting has multiple degrees and certificate pathways. The primary responsibilities of a dental assistant include basic patient care, taking x-rays, scheduling appointments, and assisting dentists and dental hygienists with clinical tasks.
With more than 370,000 positions (in May 2022), the field of dental assisting is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 25,700 new dental assistants will be needed between 2022 and 2032—an 7 percent rate of growth which is faster than the national average for all occupations (BLS 2021). Fortunately for prospective dental assistants, educational and vocational career pathways are plentiful and offer extensive on-the-job training.
So why is the field of dental assisting growing so rapidly? There are two main reasons: expanded dental care for children and a large aging population in the United States. The expansion of the Affordable Healthcare Act in 2010 has required that children under 18 years old be enrolled in a dental plan as part of ten essential health benefits. The prevention and treatment needs for children and adults have resulted in more patients going to the dentist, which explains the increasing demand for more allied health dental professionals. Dental assistants are being hired in dental clinics to help dentists and dental hygienists take on this increasing number of patients.
Not only is dental care being incentivized through the Affordable Healthcare Act, but recent legislation passed in 2018 is also helping expand dental care to underserved populations in the United States. The Action for Dental Health Act bill was passed in December 2018 and promises to improve access to oral healthcare for all Americans and expand care to the elderly, blind, disabled, and other patients who may have difficulty accessing dental clinics (American Dental Association). This legislation also signals the need for more highly qualified dental assistants to treat more patients and help with daily clinical and administrative responsibilities in dental offices.
As with most professions, dental assisting has a few different career pathways. The two primary pathways are achieved by earning an associate degree or a certificate in dental assisting. Educational and professional requirements for dental assisting vary from state to state, and professionals can hold both a degree and a certificate in dental assisting.
Candidates applying to take the certified dental assistant (CDA) certification exams must first show that they have completed a CODA-accredited dental assisting program or be able to prove equivalent preparation through related career experience. Certified dental assistants (CDAs) make roughly $4 more per hour than non-certified dental assistants (DANB 2022).
When considering all available dental assisting educational and certification options, knowing how each career pathway differs can help prospective dental assistants enter a program suitable to their career goals.
Read on to learn more about the professional pathways for becoming a dental assistant outlined in the table below.
| Dental Assisting Associate Degree | Dental Assisting Certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Description |
Dental assistant programs offering two-year associate’s degrees are a great option for entry-level professionals with a high school diploma or GED who want to gain knowledge, clinical experience, and enter the workforce within two years. Graduates from CODA-accredited dental assisting programs can stand out in competitive job markets with both a degree and a certificate in dental assisting. Dental assistants with two-year degrees are halfway to completion of a four-year degree. |
Dental assistant certificate programs offer two benefits: a relatively quick course of study to learn professional skills and access to entry-level jobs upon completion. This option is ideal for new professionals who want to try out working in the field of dentistry before committing to a two- or four-year program in dental assisting or dental hygiene. Certificate-holders can pivot into related allied health occupations by pursuing two-year degrees or four-year degrees in related fields. |
| Educational Requirements for DANB Certification | Graduate with a two-year associate’s degree in dental assisting. |
Option 1: Graduate from an educational program that takes nine to 11 months to complete and leads to a diploma or a certificate in dental assisting. Option 2: Complete two years of supervised on-the-job training as a dental assistant (only allowed in some states). Option 3: Complete military training as a dental assistant and two years of supervised on-the-job training. |
| Educational Institutions |
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| Duration | 24 months |
Option 1: Six to eleven months Options 2 & 3: Two years |
| State/Local Requirements | Requirements vary by state |
Requirements vary by state |
| Typical Coursework |
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| Program Accreditation Body | Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) (for dental assisting academic programs) |
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) (for dental certification academic programs) |
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| Skills Learned |
The skills learned in dental assisting degree and certificate programs are similar, but due to the longer duration of dental assisting degree programs (24 months v. six to 11 months), students learn the following skills more in-depth in the classroom and clinical settings of dental assisting degree programs:
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| Salary – How Much Do Dental Assistants Make? | The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2022) does not distinguish between dental assistants with certificates and those with associate degrees. The BLS (May 2022) found an average annual salary of $44,710 among the 363,880 dental assistants employed nationwide, although candidates with associate degrees may be eligible for greater pay. In more detailed terms, here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all dental assistants in the country (BLS May 2022):
It’s important to note that these figures also varied based on the source of data. By illustration, Indeed (Oct. 2023) found an average annual salary of $71,380 among United States dental assistants. Payscale (Oct. 2023) found the following percentiles nationally:
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021) found an average annual salary of $42,510 among the 347,170 dental assistants employed nationwide. In more detailed terms, here is a breakdown of the salary percentiles among all dental assistants in the country (BLS May 2022):
It’s important to note that these figures also varied based on the source of data. By illustration, Indeed (Oct. 2023) found an average annual salary of $71,380 among United States dental assistants. PayScale (Oct. 2023) found the following percentiles nationally:
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