How to Become a Dental Assistant in Sacramento, California

Sacramento is the capital city of California and a major educational and financial part of the West Coast. This makes it a prime location to consider becoming a dental assistant. Dental assistants are responsible for office tasks and patient care. They may also take X-rays and do coronal polishing, but they may have to be certified or licensed to perform certain functions. This will vary by state. To find out what the requirements are for becoming a dental assistant in California, please click here.

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Sacramento Schools for Dental Assistants

To become a dental assistant, some formal training is usually required. Completing a dental assistant program at a dental school or community college will help you get that training.

In Sacramento, Carrington College offers a one-year certificate program that prepares students to sit for the Dental Board of California exam. Carrington College is in the midst of several historic landmarks in Sacramento, including the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the Governor’s Museum, the State Capitol Museum and Capitol Park.

Another dental assistant program to consider is the one offered by Sacramento City College, which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. After completing this one-year program, students will be ready to sit for both the National Board and Dental Board of California exams.

To the southwest of the city is Vacaville, where you can find the Dental Assistant School of San Pablo and Vacaville.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

More than 3,000 dental assistants were employed in the city of Sacramento in 2017, according to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That same year, dental assistants in this region earned a mean hourly wage of $19.57 and a mean yearly wage of $40,710. The job growth rate for this career field in California is expected to increase by 16.5 percent by 2026.

Working as a Dental Assistant in Sacramento

Sacramento is the sixth largest city in California as well as the fifth most populated city. It is also one of the fastest growing major cities in the state, making it an ideal place to find work as a dental assistant. Furthermore, Sacramento is considered a “hipster” city, and because it is the state capital there are plenty of historic landmarks nearby. The city is very diverse, and the cost of living there is reasonable compared to other cities in the state. With nearby attractions such as the Sacramento Zoo and the California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento is an enjoyable city for dental assistants to live and work.