Dental Assistant Programs in South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the most rural states along the coastal region, which means that quite a bit of the population has limited access to medical and dental care. How can you help this problem while creating a career you love? You can learn more about dental assistant training in South Carolina.
With just one to two years in school, you can learn the core skills of dental assisting and become a valuable asset to dental employers all over the state.
Ready to take the next step in your education and career? If you want to learn more about dental assistant training, South Carolina schools are listed below.
For your convenience, you can contact schools in your area all at once.
Dental Assistant Schools in South Carolina
The journey to a dental assisting career begins with your training. At South Carolina technical schools and community colleges, you may earn a diploma, certificate, or Associate’s degree in dental assisting.
While certificate and diploma programs generally last about one year or two semesters, Associate’s-level programs last approximately two years. Both programs have their advantages. If you hope to become a dental hygienist in the future, you may wish to earn an Associate’s degree and save time when you return to school.
Your education should be a combination of theory education and hands-on learning. Some topics, like dental theory, anatomy and physiology, and dental terminology, can be taught mostly in the classroom. Cleaning techniques and dental tool usage are much easier to learn when you work with real patients.
Courses Offered at South Carolina Dental Assistant Schools
- Dental Emergencies
- Dental Morphology
- Oral Medicine
- Clinical Procedures
- Dental Materials
- Dental Health Education
- Dental Office Management
- Dental Specialties
If you attend an accredited program, you may qualify for a number of scholarships and grants. There are state-level scholarships and federal grants to consider. The American Dental Assistants Association is one of the largest resources for dental assisting students in the country, and it has three separate scholarships it awards every year.
Working as a Dental Assistant in South Carolina
You should be able to meet South Carolina dental assistant requirements after you complete your education. You do not need a license to perform basic functions, but you do need a license to perform expanded duties.
To become an Expanded Duty Dental Assistant, you need to graduate from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program. You may also meet this requirement by working as a dental assistant for two years. All of your application paperwork must be submitted to the South Carolina Board of Dentistry.
You may enjoy a strong job outlook when you start your career in South Carolina. The dental assistant salary South Carolina average is $35,120 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). O*Net expects job openings for dental assistants to increase 14% by 2024 (2017).
Use this opportunity to explore your career options.