Become a Dental Assistant in Washington - WA

By allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 30 2010

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the dental assisting profession will grow 29% through 2016.

The state of Washington signifies a trained dental assisting professional through registration. As a registered dental assistant you are considered to be the most marketable and knowledgeable professional within your field and will stand out to be selected for jobs among competition with your peers. Listed below are the steps you should take to become a dental assistant in Washington.

Preparing as early as high school for a career in dental assisting is a smart choice. You can take classes in biology, health and math to give you a strong foundation.
Complete a dental assistant certificate program.
As a member of the dental health community, Washington law requires you to have an up-to-date CPR certification (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). Contact the Washington branch of the American Heart Association to confirm your certification is current or find a place to get certified.
Apply for dental assistant certification through the American Dental Associations Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation. The current application fee is $138, which includes your application and certification for 3 years. After completing your first three years in practice you will be required to pay an additional fee to retain your certification.
A background investigation is required in order to check your criminal history in the state of Washington.
In Washington, you are required to take 7 hours of AIDS education and training.
Finally take the certification examination and look for a job as a dental assistant. You will now be considered a registered dental assistant in Washington.