Becoming a Dental Assistant in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the second most-populous city in New Jersey and the largest city in Hudson County. Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City is surrounded by the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay to the east, and by the Hackensack River and Newark Bay to the west. Dental assistants living in Jersey City get the benefits of working in a densely populated metro region, within easy reach of Manhattan and Newark. Jersey City’s redeveloped waterfront area, nicknamed “Wall Street West,” is the 12th-largest city center in the nation, and is also one of the largest banking centers in the country.
Dental Assistant Schools in Jersey City
Unlicensed dental assistants in New Jersey often train on the job, but to pursue your registered dental assistant (RDA) license you must meet certain requirements. Many students find it easier to qualify as a RDA by taking a course at a community college or technical school.
Consider these programs for dental assistants near Jersey City:
- Advantage Career Institute (ACI). Located in Eatontown about an hour south of Jersey City, ACI offers several accredited programs for entry-level dental assistants. Their full-time program can be completed in about 12 weeks, and they offer a 29-week program if you prefer to take evening classes. Both programs include a 100-hour internship at a local dental clinic. ACI has a high graduation rate and offers job placement services to their graduates. Read a review of Advantage Career Institute, Eatontown here.
- Fortis. Fortis offers a program for entry-level dental assistants that quickly qualifies them for employment and sitting for their RDA exams. Their campus in Wayne is less than an hour northwest of Jersey City and can be reached by car or public transportation. Fortis focuses on hands-on skills and uses a mix of classroom, laboratory and real-life clinical training in their program. You will receive a diploma and be ready for work in a dental office or specialty practice upon graduation.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there were 22,640 dental assistants working in the New York metro area in 2017. 10,960 of these assistants were employed in the state of New Jersey. The field is expected to expand another 12.6 percent by 2026, so these positions should continue to be plentiful.
Dental assistants in Jersey City make an average of $18.83 per hour, or $39,160 annually, for full-time employment. Since this is above the national average, dental assistants in this area have a lot of opportunities to grow their careers.
Working as a Dental Assistant in Jersey City
Jersey City, like most of the New York metro area, is very diverse and densely populated. Despite the population, there are many green spaces and parks in the area and lots of housing options. You can take a walk through Liberty State Park, which has over 1,000 acres to wander through, or catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Dental assistants in Jersey City have many options for employment and can easily advance to higher positions.