Become a Dental Assistant in Texas - TX
The requirements for becoming a dental assistant vary by state. Some dental assistants learn their skills on the job because it is an unlicensed profession. Formal training is increasingly becoming the norm as employers expect a level of competency from job applicants. The following steps are the ones most commonly taken by aspiring dental assistants in Texas:
- Graduate from an approved dental assisting program or complete on the job training.
- Complete a current basic life support course (CPR) and a mandatory course of training as specified by the State Board of Dental Examiners (SBDE) or earn the national certification and complete the Texas SBDE jurisprudence assessment.
- Apply for licensure or registration. Dental assistants do not need to be licensed in the state of Texas, however optional licensing is now available. Dental assistants who take x-rays in Texas must register with the SBDE. Dental assistants who do not take x-rays do not need to register with SBDE in Texas.