Are you interested in shifting careers to become an orthodontic assistant or wondering how long it takes to become an orthodontic assistant? Whatever your questions are, Howard Healthcare Academy has the answers. Understanding the steps to become an orthodontic assistant will prepare you for achieving your career goal. In addition to thinking about what orthodontic assistant school you should enroll in and what orthodontic assistant tasks you’re interested in, there are several steps to take that will ensure you are equipped to make your dream of becoming an orthodontic assistant come true.
At Howard Healthcare Academy, we want to help you become an orthodontic assistant as quickly as possible. In this post, we review important information about the profession, including what an orthodontic assistant does and the general requirements candidates will need to meet. Finally, we outline seven steps detailing how to become an orthodontic assistant.
Before you start working towards your new career, you should know the main purpose of an orthodontic assistant and the general job duties. Many people who visit the orthodontist’s office are apprehensive about being there because the procedures are sometimes painful or uncomfortable. That is why having friendly and supportive staff on hand is key to making an orthodontist visit experience a good one.
An orthodontist assistant is key to putting a patient’s mind at ease and creating a comfortable environment for them. To be a successful orthodontist assistant, you need good interpersonal communication skills to explain procedures, educate patients, and collaborate with the orthodontist.
An orthodontic assistant should be a friendly and familiar face that greets children and adults who may be nervous or scared about impending orthodontic treatment, which can oftentimes be uncomfortable. An orthodontist assistant provides support services to orthodontists, performing duties like the following:
To begin a career as an orthodontist assistant, you’ll first need to review your state’s requirements. State requirements to work as an orthodontic assistant can vary, but many of them are the same across the board. The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) tracks state requirements, so you can research, by state, the criteria for becoming an orthodontic assistant.
To become an orthodontic assistant in the U.S., you must complete a one-year dental assisting certificate or a two-year associate’s degree program in orthodontics assisting.
You need a high school diploma or GED and CPR certification to enter a dental assisting training program. In addition to classroom instruction, you will receive hands-on practical experience to learn the technical skills of the job from a licensed orthodontist.
Even though some orthodontic assistants have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. Many orthodontic assistant jobs require experience in other roles, such as dental assistant.
If you haven’t already, earn your high school diploma or GED, and you can move one step closer to enrolling in an orthodontic assistant school.
A specialized orthodontic assistant schooling is less common than dental associate schools, but there are many dental assisting and associate programs nationwide that offer orthodontics classes. Be sure to research your options. A program should feature a comprehensive curriculum, expert instructors, and convenient class schedules – all of which can help you pursue your goal of becoming an orthodontic assistant.
Complete the orthodontic assistant schooling, dental assisting school, or dental associate program enrollment process. If you have concerns or questions as you enroll, reach out for assistance. School or program administrators are happy to help you in any way possible. If you contact these administrators, you can get the help you need to streamline your enrollment in orthodontics classes.
This is the bulk of the process! Study hard, take advantage of the resources your program offers its students, and get in as much practice time as possible. Orthodontics classes provide students with insights into bonding agents, tooth appliances, and the use of archwires. Meanwhile, students will learn about oral anatomy, infection control and related topics as well.
Before you can search for orthodontic assistant jobs, many states require you work for a period of time (usually around six months) as a dental assistant. Once you complete your educational program, start searching for your first job as a dental assistant. This will allow you to build work experience and, importantly, is a step on the way to obtaining your orthodontic assistant permit (OAP). It also enables you to earn money as you work toward achieving your goal of becoming an orthodontic assistant.
DANB offers a Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) Designation that validates your expertise in the field. The COA assessment includes two components: an orthodontic assisting exam and an infection control test. The orthodontic assisting exam consists of 210 multiple-choice questions; comparatively, the infection control test includes 100 multiple-choice questions. The COA designation is not a requirement to work as an orthodontic assistant in most states. However, earning the designation may help you distinguish yourself from other candidates when you apply for orthodontic assistant jobs. It could also help increase your earning potential.
With these seven steps in mind, you can start the journey to becoming an orthodontic assistant feeling prepared. Along the way, you should be building skills in your specialty area that will help you succeed:
Howard Healthcare Academy offers an 84-hour Orthodontic Assistant course covering all the basics you need to know to get started. Howard Healthcare Academy offers an orthodontic assistant permit (OAP) course for people interested in orthodontic assistant jobs. Our OAP course is ideal for individuals and dental assistants who want to become orthodontic assistants, and its benefits include:
The Howard Healthcare Academy OAP course offers a terrific option for individuals who want to thrive as orthodontic assistants. To learn more about our OAP class, please call us today at (619) ACADEMY (619-222-3369) or email us at info@howardacademy.edu.
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