• New opportunities are on the horizon for dental assistants.Dentist at work in dental room image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com
  
  Dental assistants perform a variety of duties, such as patient care and updating patient records. The dental industry has a high demand for dental assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dental industry needs 36 percent more dental assistants over the course of the decade. Residents in Vermont can capitalize on this opportunity by attending dental assistant programs.
  
  

Accreditation

• For dental assistant programs, students should search for schools accredited by the American Dental Association. Accreditation helps legitimate the professional and educational standards of a dental assistant program. American Dental Association accreditation also networks students with dental professionals associated with the ADA. Going to an accredited program helps with job placements and name recognition on a resume. The accreditation arm of the American Dental Association is the Commission on Dental Accreditation or CODA. This organization reviews the curriculum of 1,300 dental schools annually, making sure those schools are up to the American Dental Association's standards. While encouraged, graduating from an accredited program is not required for dental assistants.
  
  

Center for Technology

• The Center for Technology is located in the city of Essex Junction and is the only accredited dental program in Vermont. The dental assistant program at the Center for Technology teaches students everything from preventative dentistry to mouth anatomy. The program offers a mix of theory and practice with lecture courses and field assignments. There is also an apprenticeship program that connects students to over 50 dental offices across Vermont. The Center for Technology gives student a chance to take courses and utilize the resources in nearby schools. Neighboring schools include Champlain College, the University of Vermont, the Community College of Vermont, and Vermont Technical College.
  
  Center for Technology
  
  3 Educational Drive
  
  Essex Junction, VT 05452
  
  (802) 879-5558
  
  go-cte.org/educational/dental_assisting.php
  
  

Vermont Technical College

• The Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vermont offers its students an education in Dental Hygiene. 100 percent of the college's 2009 class passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Since the department is centered on Dental Hygiene, the student is given courses on the general topics of dental care and public health. Students also have the option to enroll in a two-year associate degree program or a four-year bachelor degree program in Dental Hygiene.
  
  Vermont Technical College
  
  124 Admin Drive
  
  Randolph Center, VT 05061
  
  (802) 728-1000
  
  vtc.edu/interior.php/pid/4/sid/26/tid/559