It is a great time to pursue a career as a dental assistant in Alabama given the strong jobs growth in the sector. There are currently over 3,200 people employed as dental assistants in Alabama and the Bureau for Labor Statistics predicts that the number of dental assisting jobs in the USA will grow by a massive 19% between 2016 and 2026.
Requirements to become a Dental Assistant in Alabama
Deciphering the requirements to become a dental assistant can be difficult because they change from state to state.
In Alabama there are no state specific training requirements or examinations currently in place for dental assistants. Any formal education or certification is entirely voluntary. However it is generally accepted that graduating from an accredited school will provide career advantages and is typically preferred by employers.
Find out more about becoming dental assistant in Alabama below.
- Dental assistant duties in Alabama
- Accredited dental assistant programs in Alabama
- DANB programs in Alabama
- Alabama licensing requirements for Dental Assistants
- Dental assistant income in Alabama
- Alabama career comparisons for Dental Assistants
Dental Assistant Duties in Alabama
Dental assistants in Alabama may perform only basic duties which are supportive of a supervising, licensed dentist. There is no minimum radiography requirements for dental assistants in the state and all dental assistants may perform dental specific x ray procedures and operate x ray equipment.
However there are many duties which dental assistants in Alabama are not permitted to undertake such as;
- Remove extrinsic stains, accretions and calcareous deposits from teeth
- Place Pit and Fissure Sealant
- Remove wire sutures
- Polish completed restorations
- Periodontal probing
- Give interpretations or readings or x-rays or roentgenograms
- Administer anesthetics
- Bleaching of teeth
For a full list of these prohibited duties click here.
For a time the Board of Dental Examiners in Alabama did introduce licensing for the new role of Expanded Duty Dental Assistant. However they revoked this role and all licensing for it in 2018.
Top 5 Accredited Dental Assistant Schools Alabama
| School | Area | Accrediting Body |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette | CODA |
| Lawson State Community College | Bessemer | CODA |
| Calhoun Community College | Decatur | CODA |
| Wallace State Community College | Hanceville | CODA |
| H. Councill Trenholm State Community College | Montgomery | CODA |
Graduating from a CODA accredited program provides students with the skills necessary to work in an entry level dental assisting role. They will also be qualified to sit an additional voluntary national level certification exam to earn the qualification of Certified Dental Assistant (CDA).
There are 5 CODA accredited dental assisting programs available in Alabama. These programs are located at schools in Montgomery, Hanceville, Bay Minette, Bessemer and Decatur.
General requirements for entrance into each of these programs typically include minimum standards for Maths, English and reading. Prior to partaking in any clinical aspects of your study you will be required to complete a CPR course from a recognized organization.
Additionally most schools will require that you attend a compulsory orientation meeting, provide evidence of having completed a physical exam and obtained all the required vaccinations. You will also need to give your consent for random drug testing and background checks.
For specific admissions requirements see each of the schools below.
Bay Minette
Coastal Alabama Community College
- 1900 U.S. Highway 31 South, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507
- Admissions: 251-580-2111
- http://www.coastalalabama.edu/dentalassisting/
The certificate program for dental assisting at the Coastal Alabama Community College is offered at their Bay Minette Campus. The program takes 3 semesters to complete with the option to undertake further classes over additional semesters to achieve an associates degree. Current in-State tuition costs and fees for 3 semesters are $10,895. Admission into the program requires a GPA of 2.3 with college credit or 2.5 on high school diploma or GED. Closing dates for applications into the program are the 1st July each year with classes commencing once per year in the fall.
Bessemer
Lawson State Community College
- 1100 Ninth Avenue SW, Bessemer, AL 35022
- Phone: 205.925.2515
- http://www.lawsonstate.edu/programs_of_study/
The dental assistant certificate program at Lawson State is offered at their Bessemer Campus. The program takes 3 semesters to complete with the option to undertake further classes over one additional semester to achieve an associates degree. Current in-State tuition costs and fees for 3 semesters are $8,313. Admission into the program requires a GPA of 2.0. Closing dates for applications into the program are the 30th June each year with classes commencing once per year in the fall. There are only 24 places available on this program each year.
Decatur
Calhoun Community College
- P.O. Box 2216, Highway 31N, Decatur, 35609-2216
- Karen Chockley: 256-306-2812
- karen.chockley@calhoun.edu
- https://calhoun.edu/health-sciences/dental-assisting/
The program at Calhoun Community College is offered at their Decatur Campus. The certificate program takes 3 semesters to complete with the option to undertake further classes to achieve an associates degree. Current in-State tuition costs and fees are $160/ credit hour (approx $6,000 excluding fees for general education classes). Additional coursework expenses amount to $1,000+. Admission into the program requires a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Applications are open from February 1st to July 1st each year. Classes commence only once per year in the fall. There are only 25 places available on this program each year.
Hanceville
Wallace State Community College
- 801 Main Street NW, P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, 35077-2000
- Phone: 256-352-8025
- sharon.alley@wallacestate.edu
- https://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/health-division/dental-assisting
The dental assistant certificate program at Wallace State Community College is offered at their Bessemer Campus. The program takes 3 semesters to complete with the option to undertake further additional classes over one extra semester to achieve an associates degree. Current in-State tuition costs and fees for 3 semesters are $6,462 for all dental assisting courses and up to $3,358 for general education courses. Admission into the program requires an ACT score of at least 16 and a GPA of 2.3. Closing dates for applications into the program are the 1st June each year with classes commencing once per year in the fall. There are only 24 places available on this program each year.
Montgomery
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College
- 1225 Air Base Boulevard, Montgomery, 36108
- Phone: (334) 420-4427
- kwhite@treholmstate.edu
- https://www.trenholmstate.edu/programs/allied-health-division/dental-assisting/
The dental assistant certificate program at Trenholm State Community College is offered at their Trenholm Campus in Montgomery. The program takes 3 semesters to complete with the option to undertake further additional classes over three extra semester to achieve an associates degree. Current in-State tuition costs and fees for 3 semesters are $7,595 with additional costs of over $1,300 for course materials. Admission into the program requires a GPA of 2.3. Dental assisting classes commencing once per year in the fall – however students may begin general education classes in the spring or summer term. There are only 20 places available on this program each year.
DANB Dental Assisting Programs in Alabama
If you are unable to attend a CODA accredited school in Alabama you can still achieve your CDA qualification by taking the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) certification exams. The NELDA exams where introduced by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) as an alternative pathway towards becoming a Certified Dental Assistant. To qualify to sit the NELDA exams in Alabama you must have completed your dental assisting training at one of the below schools.
Post Secondary Dental Assisting Programs AL
- Fortis Institute, Birmingham
- Fortis College, Montgomery
- Northwest Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals
- Ross Medical Education Center, Huntsville
High School Dental Assisting Programs AL
- Theodore High School, Theodore
You can also view results for schools offering Dental Assisting programs in Alabama and surrounding states on the map below.
Alabama Dental Assistant License Requirements
It is not required by Alabama law that you obtain a license to work as a dental assistant there. The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama governs all regulations pertaining to the role of the dental assistant in Alabama. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:
Phone: (205) 985-7267
Website: http://www.dentalboard.org/
Dental Assistant Salary in Alabama
| Average Salary | $33,490 |
| Hourly Wage | $16.10 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $46,220 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $22,830 |
| #'s Employed | 3,270 |
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2017), the average Dental Assistant salary in Alabama is $33,490 – 11% below the national average.
This represents an hourly wage of $16.10.
There are currently 3,270 persons employed as dental assistants in the state.
*Updated May 2018 to allow for the most recent BLS data released in March 2018.
Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in Alabama
The table below (May 2016) provides a comparison between income and employment for dental assistants with related healthcare careers in Alabama;
| Career | Number Employed | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | 3,410 | $31,240.00 |
| Dental Hygienists | 3,040 | $44,400.00 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1,010 | $54,470.00 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 7,350 | $27,520.00 |
| Surgical Technologists | 1,680 | $35,590.00 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 910 | $29,180.00 |
| Nursing Assistants | 22,740 | $22,150.00 |
| Medical Assistants | 6,660 | $26,740.00 |
| Phlebotomists | 2,140 | $27,440.00 |