Dental Assistant Schools in South Dakota

The responsibilities of a dental assistant in South Dakota include scheduling appointments, assisting with procedures, providing supplies and information materials, and sterilizing equipment.

Dental surgery professionals are also responsible for preparing patients and ensuring their comfort and well-being.

The guide below analyzes everything that South Dakota residents must consider before starting a career in this discipline. It explores academic and real-world requirements, as well as possible licensing and certification options.

It also provides adequate information about the top training programs, career projections, and possible annual average salary ranges.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in South Dakota

The considerations below are essential to becoming a successful dental assistant in South Dakota.

Building Transferable Attributes

Dental assistants in South Dakota thrive in their roles, utilizing transferable skills such as interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. Candidates are expected to develop and refine these attributes throughout their training.

Basic Requirements

Candidates typically request proof of immunization and a criminal background check before entering a dental assistant training program. The best programs will also require a high school diploma or GED.

Enrolling in a Program

The best programs for prospective dental assistants are those that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. After accreditation, candidates may choose their training destination based on personal preference.

For instance, they may favor associate degree or certificate programs. Many individuals also opt for online programs due to their convenience, rather than campus or hybrid programs.

Real-World Proficiency

Real-world proficiency is key to career readiness. To this end, training programs often require candidates to participate in internships or externships.

Candidates may also build real-world proficiency through volunteer hours.

Job Placement

Once they meet the general licensing and certification requirements and are already academically and in real-world training, candidates may gon to secure employment in their specific focus areas.

Possible specialties include orthodontics, preventive functions, and restorative functions.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• How to become a medical assistant in South Dakota

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Dental assistants in South Dakota can work professionally, but they must receive a state license to perform expanded functions. Registration is compulsory for those who want to perform expanded functions.

To qualify, individuals must be at least 18 years old and hold a current CPR certification. They must also have graduated from an accredited program and be certified by the Dental Assistant National Board.

Regular dental assistants without expanded functions can also pursue the Certified Dental Assistant credential from the board. The state also requires a registration fee for those who wish to perform expanded functions, which may differ from year to year.

Top Dental Assistant Schools in South Dakota

Aspiring dental assistants in South Dakota may receive their training from any of the top-class institutions below.

Explore dental assistant schools in South Dakota by city:

• Dental assistant schools in Sioux Falls

Salary & Career Outlook

Location is an important factor when analyzing the annual average salary of a dental assistant. A survey of professionals in the field revealed that Mitchell is the place where dental assistants in South Dakota earn the highest relative salary.

Those who work here manage an annual average salary of $90,267, while those who work in Brookings are second with an annual average salary of $82,988. Also notable are Sioux Falls and Watertown, with annual average salaries of $76,486 and $72,52,7, respectively.

Other criteria worth noting include experience and professional credentials. However, without analyzing specific criteria, dental assistants in London can expect an annual average salary of $73,800, which falls within the median range, and $57,511, which falls within the lower-earning range.

The salary figures for the top 10 percent can also be as high as $94,704.