The field of dental assisting and the healthcare field in Alabama in general are seeing a rise in demand and the time to enroll in to dental assistant schools in Alabama is extremely strong at the moment. We showcase all the best accredited training options for you and show you how you can go about getting a dental assistant certification along the way below.
Get Access to Dental Assistant Courses in Alabama Now
Becoming a Dental Assistant in Alabama
All control over the regulation, licensing, oversight of the dental professionals and the dental assistants in Alabama is done by the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama. There are not any specific training requirements or certification demands for all Alabama basic entry level dental assistants. This level of dental assistant is responsible for the basic supportive dental procedures in a dental office. The State’s dental practice act states that all work must be done with supervision of the licensed dentist in the dental office. It should also be known that no requirements are put in place for for dental radiography, and all Alabama dental assistants can do radiography procedures and even operate the office’s x-ray equipment under supervision of the dentist.
An important note for dental assistants in Alabama is that they do have limitations on their scope of practice. Dental assistants cannot do some procedures such as extrinsic stain removal, accretions and calcareous deposits from teeth, or perform any placements of pit and fissure sealants.
How you can become an Expanded Duty Dental Assistant in Alabama
Follow these steps and you can become a dental assistant that can perform expanded functions on the job that a basic dental assistant cannot do, such as the ones we detailed above. Candidates will have to enroll in to and take an accredited dental assistant training in expanded functions approved by the Alabama dental board, pay fees associated with the training and register with the dental board. Examples of the costs for becoming an EDDA are detailed below.
Regional Exam Application Fee – $75.00
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Examination Application Fee – $500.00
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Examination Fee – $600.00
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Examination Materials Fee – $400.00
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Licensure by Credentials Fee – $2,000.00
Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Annual Registration Fee – $75.00
All data comes from the Alabama dental practice act here.
Dental Assistant Classes in Alabama that are Approved by CODA
Coastal Alabama Community College
1900 Highway 31 South Bay Minette 36507
251-580-2110
Lawson State Community College-Bessemer Campus
1100 9th Ave. SW Bessemer 35022
205-929-3440
Calhoun Community College
P.O. Box 2216 Highway 31N Decatur 35609-2216
256-306-2812
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW P.O. Box 2000 Hanceville 35077-2000
256-352-8380
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College
1225 Air Base Boulevard Montgomery 36108
334-420-4427
The Dental Assistant Outlook for Salary and Jobs in Alabama
Dental assistants in Alabama are seeing an 18% increase in the overall demand for new jobs across the state and below you can check out the salary expectations too.
| Location | Pay Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Hourly | $12.24 | $17.76 | $25.00 |
| Yearly | $25,460 | $36,940 | $52,000 | |
| Alabama | Hourly | $10.64 | $15.21 | $21.64 |
| Yearly | $22,120 | $31,630 | $45,010 | |
| Southeast Alabama | Hourly | $11.01 | $17.97 | $23.43 |
| Yearly | $22,900 | $37,380 | $48,740 | |
| Decatur, AL | Hourly | $13.25 | $16.92 | $22.65 |
| Yearly | $27,550 | $35,190 | $47,110 | |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | Hourly | $12.24 | $16.29 | $24.05 |
| Yearly | $25,470 | $33,880 | $50,020 | |
| Gadsden, AL | Hourly | $10.39 | $15.95 | $23.20 |
| Yearly | $21,620 | $33,180 | $48,250 |