Becoming a Dental Assistant in San Antonio, Texas
Across the country, dental assisting is a rapidly growing career field. Dental assistants are trained professionals who perform support functions in dental practices to help business run smoothly. From assisting a dentist with patients at chairside to completing office paperwork, dental assistants find themselves completing a number of fulfilling roles.
With mild weather, a great family environment and a rich Mexican-American historic culture, San Antonio, Texas, is an ideal city for dental assistants to study and work. Known for historic sites like the Alamo, this city also offers an array of recreational opportunities like Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio.
San Antonio Schools for Dental Assistants
Texas dental assistant programs should prepare students for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) exam as regulated by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). An additional x-ray certification is available through the TSBDE, which helps dental assistants find more jobs.
- San Antonio Dental Assistant School. This school offers a 12-week Dental Assistant training program that will prepare students to take the RDA exam. Those who wish to further their training can enroll in an orthopedic assisting program at this school as well.
- The College of Healthcare Professionals. CHCP’s many locations in the San Antonio area include an online-hybrid program which allows students to complete a portion of their training online. Dental Assistant training at this school can be completed in 35 to 54 weeks.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a mean income of $15.82 per hour for San Antonio dental assistants, which is more than double Texas’s minimum wage. With 3,420 dental assistants employed in San Antonio that same year and statewide growth of 22 percent projected over the next 10 years, it’s never been a better time to pursue this career. Find more information on dental assistants careers in Texas here.
Working as a Dental Assistant in San Antonio
In 2018, U.S. News listed San Antonio as the 14th best city for living in the U.S. This area has a slightly lower cost of living than the rest of the country and is loaded with culture. Residents enjoy a vast array of foods like Tex-Mex and taco trucks and live in close proximity to the San Antonio International Airport, only eight miles from downtown San Antonio. In such a great city for living and work, dental assistants in San Antonio should enjoy long, rewarding careers.