Pediatric Dental Assistants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of pediatric dental assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for pediatric dental assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of pediatric dental assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for pediatric dental assistants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Pediatric Dental Assistants?
Do pediatric dental assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do pediatric dental assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for pediatric dental assistants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Pediatric Dental Assistants
Jobs Postings for Pediatric Dental Assistants By Education
- No Education Listed: 87,948 (68%)
- High School or GED: 38,032 (29%)
- Bachelor's degree: 1,958 (2%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,664 (1%)
- Master's degree: 590 (0%)
No education was listed by most employers of pediatric dental assistants. According to job data, no education was required for 68% of positions. In 29% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 2% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Pediatric Dental Assistants
Jobs Postings for Pediatric Dental Assistants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 26,261 (58%)
- 2-3 Years: 16,663 (37%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,878 (4%)
- 7-9 Years: 76 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 121 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for pediatric dental assistants. In 58% of job postings for Pediatric Dental Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 4% of job postings for pediatric dental assistants.
What Kind of Degree Do Pediatric Dental Assistants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for pediatric dental assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective pediatric dental assistants, and in 2023 a total of 20,051 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective pediatric dental assistants.
Top Degree Programs for Pediatric Dental Assistants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Pediatric Dental Assistants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Dental Assisting/Assistant. | 16,157 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 3,822 |
| Dental Services and Allied Professions, Other. | 72 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Certificates & Microcredentials for Pediatric Dental Assistants
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Skills Do Pediatric Dental Assistants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by pediatric dental assistants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for pediatric dental assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Pediatric Dental Assistants
Based on 130,513 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Pediatric Dental Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilization | 32,865 | 25% |
| Dentistry | 31,309 | 24% |
| Dental Procedures | 23,949 | 18% |
| Infection Control | 22,901 | 18% |
| Oral Hygiene | 20,312 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Pediatric Dental Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,839 | 27% |
| Customer Service | 21,436 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 17,953 | 14% |
| Scheduling | 12,100 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 11,544 | 9% |
Based on 130,513 job postings related to pediatric dental assistants, sterilization was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for dentistry, dental procedures, infection control, oral hygiene and patient education and counseling were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for pediatric dental assistants, followed by customer service, detail oriented, scheduling, multitasking and organizational skills.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilization | 32,865 | 25% |
| Dentistry | 31,309 | 24% |
| Dental Procedures | 23,949 | 18% |
| Infection Control | 22,901 | 18% |
| Oral Hygiene | 20,312 | 16% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 17,400 | 13% |
| Patient Preparation | 16,655 | 13% |
| Radiography | 14,806 | 11% |
| Oral Health | 14,776 | 11% |
| Medical Records | 14,569 | 11% |
| Dental Radiography | 14,439 | 11% |
| Dentrix | 14,431 | 11% |
| Orthodontics | 14,405 | 11% |
| Disinfecting | 12,774 | 10% |
| Treatment Planning | 12,563 | 10% |
| Dental Surgery | 11,554 | 9% |
| Dental Instruments | 11,042 | 8% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 9,605 | 7% |
| Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery | 8,658 | 7% |
| Coronal Polishing | 8,610 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,839 | 27% |
| Customer Service | 21,436 | 16% |
| Detail Oriented | 17,953 | 14% |
| Scheduling | 12,100 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 11,544 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 11,044 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 8,520 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 7,962 | 6% |
| Spanish Language | 7,847 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 7,692 | 6% |
| Administrative Functions | 7,129 | 5% |
| Self-Motivation | 7,037 | 5% |
| Lifting Ability | 6,860 | 5% |
| Positivity | 6,504 | 5% |
| Willingness To Learn | 5,943 | 5% |
| Teamwork | 5,673 | 4% |
| Management | 5,058 | 4% |
| Professionalism | 5,047 | 4% |
| Time Management | 4,828 | 4% |
| Operations | 4,755 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about pediatric dental assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for pediatric dental assistants.
What do pediatric dental assistants do?
How much do pediatric dental assistants make?
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