Your Future as a Dental Assistant in Fort Wayne

If you’re looking for a low-key city to make home while you begin your dental assistant career, Fort Wayne, Indiana, might be the place. This Rust Belt city was part of the U.S.’s rich manufacturing economy during its heyday. With a low cost of living and quiet neighborhoods, Fort Wayne is a mid-sized city with a small-town feel. Besides its 86 public parks that cover 2,805 acres, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy on the evenings and weekends.

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Schools for Dental Assistants

While you can become a dental assistant in Indiana without training, it’s best to study and earn certification to find the best jobs. Here are some dental assistant programs available to Fort Wayne residents:

Fort Wayne Dental Assistant School. This 12-week dental assisting program offers weekend classes. Hands-on training is the main method of teaching, and the program includes a 40-hour externship at a local dental office. Students at this school also receive career services. The program’s cost is $3,350 to $3,510, depending on payment plan.
American Institute of Dental Assisting (AIDA). This is a 13-week program that takes place in a real dental clinic. Classes are available on both evenings and weekends. Tuition payment financing solutions are available to students, and graduates receive job placement assistance. Students can receive a range of other services—tutoring, resume writing, interview coaching and more.
Penn Foster offers an online dental assistant program for students requiring more flexibility.

A Promising Career in Fort Wayne

In 2018, Fort Wayne employed 540 dental assistants. That number is sure to grow since Indiana is expected to see an 18.7 increase in dental assistant employment by 2026. The Projections Managing Partnership also estimates an average of 760 job openings in Indiana per year.

In Fort Wayne, dental assistants were paid a median income of $18.21 per hour in 2018. That’s right on track with the national dental assistant median wage of $18.59 per hour.

Downtime in Fort Wayne

You might be in a peaceful small-town setting, but that doesn’t mean life has to be boring when you’re not working or studying. Fort Wayne is full of year-round festivals, such as the Yearly Buskerfest street festival, Germanfest in the summer, the Three Rivers Festival with amusement rides and the Middle Waves Music Festival. Other fun attractions include the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and Science Central. With time, as your dental assistant career progresses, you’ll begin to feel right at home in Fort Wayne.