Dental Assistant Schools in Maryland

Dental assistants are versatile enough to perform administrative and laboratory duties. In Maryland, there is no shortage of dental assistants who are desperately needed to work with dentists to ensure that customers are well taken care of and that everything runs smoothly in a dental establishment.

When launching a career to fulfill this demand, candidates must consider a few general requirements and some specific considerations that can help them improve their career prospects and earn more.

We discuss all of these and more extensively below.

How to Become a Dental Assistant in Maryland

These are the general guidelines for becoming a dental assistant in Maryland.

Step 1: Completing a Dental Assistant Program

The steps to becoming a dental assistant in Maryland are so straightforward that a candidate can begin their journey by seeking admission directly into a dental assistant program. While not compulsory, it is highly advisable to seek a program that boasts accreditation from CODA.

Training programs in Maryland may also ask interested applicants for proof of high school education or a GED. Depending on whether they pursue a certificate or an associate degree, candidates can expect to complete their programs in 1 to 2 years.

By the time they graduate, they should have received extensive classroom and laboratory practice.

Step 2: Externship & Volunteer Work

Academic training programs are great at providing candidates with a solid base of classroom and laboratory training upon which to build. However, in order to settle into a work environment quickly, candidates typically participate in an externship under real-world supervision.

Volunteer work can help those who may not have an externship as part of their curriculum achieve the same results.

Step 3: Employment & Advanced Degrees

Dental assistants in Maryland may seek entry-level employment immediately after completing classroom and practical education. They may also take some time to pursue certification and, ultimately, acquire more skills by pursuing advanced degrees in dental hygiene.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a medical assistant in Maryland

Licensure & Certification Requirements

In Maryland, professionals don’t need a state license to perform the general duties of a dental assistant. They also don’t need to become certified, although this step is quite popular.

Certification is popular for dental assistants in the state because it can help them maintain a high level of appeal with employers and signal competence and reliability.

Typically, dental assistants across the country seeking reputable credentials turn to the Dental Assisting National Board. Here, they can earn credentials such as the Registered Dental Assistant and Certified Orthodontic Assistant.

Radiation Health and Safety credentials are also important for dental assistants who carry out radiography procedures.

Top Dental Assistant Schools in Maryland

The following schools offer top-quality training programs for prospective dental assistants in Maryland.

Explore dental assistant schools in Maryland by city:

• Dental assistant schools in Baltimore

Salary & Career Outlook

The annual average earnings of dental assistants in Maryland can be divided into three broad categories. Without focusing on any single determining factor, the income distribution is as follows:

• The bottom 10% in the first category manage an annual average salary of $58,444;
• The median earners in the second category manage an annual average salary of $74,610, and lastly
• The highest earners in the top 10% earn an annual average salary of $95,246.

There are several ways for individuals to improve their yearly incomes as dental assistants in Maryland. It is normal for annual incomes to increase with time and as they gain more experience.

Additionally, credentials, work environment, and locations can help improve these figures.

The top destinations to work as a dental assistant in Maryland for the highest relative income include Germantown, where dental assistants end up with an annual average salary of $80,694; Hyattsville, with an annual average salary of $78,727; and Gaithersburg, with an annual average salary of $78,662.

Dental assistants in Randallstown take home an average salary of $78,076 every year.