There is definitely a growing need for dental assistants across the United States which is why now is a good time to study to become one. The big question is which course to choose. Participate in the shorter course and be able to start work sooner, or complete the longer course with a higher qualification. The difference between the two courses is how much hands on experience a student gets before having to do the daily tasks under pressure. The other difference is the qualification gained at the end, the longer course offers a diploma to graduates and the shorter course offers a certificate.

There are a few dental assistant schools in Houston. Some offer the longer diploma course and some offer the shorter certificate course. Below is a review of 2 schools that offer the diploma programs and 2 schools that offer the certificate:

Remington College

Remington College has two campuses in the Houston area that offer a dental assistant diploma program. The dental assistant programs in Houston are available in Southeast Houston at the South Webster campus and in North Houston at Greenspoint. After completing this year long course students will be able to sit the required exams to become a registered dental assistant in the State of Texas.

The course offered a both campuses is split into seven modules to allow each topic to be comprehensively covered. At the completion of these 7 modules students need to complete an externship in a local dental practice that is organized by the school. The externship gives students the opportunity to get hands on in a real time dental environment. The externship allows students the opportunity to get on job skills with the care and experience of a qualified dental assistant helping them. The course can be completed in as little as eight months.

Houston Community College

This college offers dental assistant training in Houston through a twelve month dental assisting program. This course is offered to students through two methods of learning in classrooms and through on site labs. The training also gives students the opportunity to get hands on training in a local dental clinic.

Students who complete this course will be given a certificate of completion and then they will have to complete the requirements of the State of Texas to become a registered Dental Assistant. The clinical training sites used in this program are all over the greater metropolitan area, so access for students will try to be as easy as possible.

There are many areas of dental practice available for students to get experience in such as general practice clinics, oral surgery offices, orthodontic clinics, pediatric clinics and some other specialties. So in the length of this course students will have access to many different specialties allowing them to have a broad range of experience.

Houston Dental Assistant School

This school offers a ten week course for dental assistants. There are two campuses in the Houston area offering this course. One in the Katy area and one in the Woodlands/Spring area and is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission.  They have been providing this course to the Houston area for over 13 years.

The school offers a course that is able to fit around current commitments that students may have such as work or family commitment. The classes for this course are held on Saturdays to make it easy for students to continue working.  The philosophy of this school is that people can be trained in relatively short periods of time. This commitment is possible if the critical skills for dental assisting are the focus of the course.

They offer modern classroom instruction with an emphasis on hands on experience. Students are given the tools required through class room instruction and practical hands on training with the equipment and instruments used in most dental practices. The course fees for this course also include the cost of the dental assistant certification in Houston through the exam required by the State of Texas.

Academy for Dental Assisting

This is the most affordable way of becoming a dental assistant in Houston.  They offer a new, innovative and unique course that includes the best foundational knowledge required to start dental assisting. The academy seeks to offer a wide range of experiences, techniques and materials they are focused on the core necessities to get the best job.

This course is run in just 11 short weeks and only costs a third of what other dental assisting courses costs. The course is set in a running dental clinic giving students great hands on knowledge with real patients. People skills are very important in the dental assistant so learning to work with real patients during study is a great asset to the potential dental assistant.

This course is run on Saturday through the daytime so that students have the ability to keep their current job and to train at the same time. This is a good option for studying if thinking of changing career or if the training is undertaken by someone who has existing family commitments. Another eighty hours is required to be completed as an externship in a dental office to gain completion of this course.

Upon completion of the course the academy will help students to gain employment in this field of work, although jobs are not guaranteed. The director of education will help students in resume presentation, interview techniques and employment opportunities. The class sizes for this school are relatively small so the best chance is available to get hands on experience, they run with the ratio of 12 students per one instructor and 15 students to two instructors.

These schools offer two different courses and each has it pros and cons. The dental assistant role is growing and there is a shortage of dental assistants which is likely to get worse over time. Studying as a dental assistant has a high chance of job opportunities, however there is still competition in good job opportunities. Having an advantage over other competitors is an advantage to get the best job possible.