Becoming a Dental Assistant in Minnesota is possible whether you have any prior health career experience or not.
It also could prepare you for becoming a Licensed Dentist.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Minnesota Dental Assistant
In Minnesota, you can perform basic dental tasks as long as a Licensed Dentist is present.
However, you will have to receive CPR training and follow the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and OSHA infection control (ICE) guidelines.
Radiology Health and Safety (RHS) certification is also required.
The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) provides all essential certifications, such as the RHS, ICE, and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) credentials.
You can prepare for all your required certifications when you attend a school approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which is a part of the American Dental Association (ADA).
Licensed Dental Assistant (LDA) Requirements
The CDA exam hosted by the DANB you would prepare for while enrolled in school counts toward becoming an LDA in Minnesota.
Your CODA-approved schooling will also put you one step close to the LDA status.
In addition, you need to pass a state licensing and state Jurisprudence Exam and fill out the Minnesota Board of Dentistry application.
By this time, you will probably have completed your basic CPR training.
4 Dental Assistant Schools in Minnesota
1. Central Lakes College (CLC)
Your CLC Dental Assisting Diploma training would take place over three semesters, including a summer term.
This coursework will prepare you for the DANB and state licensure exams.
When finished with this instruction, you will have enough practice in chairside assistance in a dental office setting for an entry-level assistant job.
The CLC training you receive also equips you for complying with all rules for handling biohazards and fighting infections.
In addition, you will gain experience communicating with patients and teaching them about oral health.
2. Century College
The three-semester coursework offered by Century College takes place in the daytime, evening, or online for your convenience.
Start out in the Dental Assisting Diploma program if you want.
Then, work toward your Associate in Applied Science Dental Assistant degree, which takes about two years.
Your training prepares you for all chairside, sterilization, and restorative situations you would perform at your level.
What is more, you become a positive voice to families who want to maintain and improve teeth and gum health.
3. Dakota County Technical College
Dakota County training places you in an environment where you would gain hands-on experience taking X-rays and in the sanitization of equipment and sterilization of instruments.
Learn both the foundations of Dental Science and how to prepare a patient dental care station and receive all the education you need about healthy versus unhealthy teeth and gums.
In addition, you will become acquainted with restorative dentistry tools and how to apply them.
Use this training to prepare for the CDA, LDA, ICE, RHS, and related credentials offered by the DANB.
4. Hennepin Technical College
Your Hennepin Dental Assistant Diploma or Associate Degree program prepares you for both clinical and office Dental Assistant training.
When enrolled, you will learn best practices for lab procedures too.
In the process, you will prepare for licensing by MN and for your DANB certificate exams.
This school has received CODA approval too.
Dental Assistant Schools in Minnesota – Summary Table
Top 4 Schools in Minnesota
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Central Lakes College (CLC) | 501 W College Dr, Brainerd, MN 56401 |
| Century College | 3300 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 |
| Dakota County Technical College | 1300 145th St E, Rosemount, MN 55068 |
| Hennepin Technical College | 9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 |
Salary
The average yearly income for a Minnesota Dental Assistant as of 2022 equals about $41,859.
Typical salaries range from $37,126 to $46,440.
Alexandria, Bemidji, Fairmont, and Glenwood are some places you can find Dental Assistant jobs in MN.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dental Assistants in Minnesota
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $43,594 |
| St. Paul | $43,594 |
| Rochester | $39,629 |
| Duluth | $38,811 |
| St. Cloud | $38,835 |
| Eden Prairie | $43,521 |
| Lakeville | $43,324 |
| Burnsville | $43,471 |
| Minnetonka | $43,594 |
| Moorhead | $38,389 |
Regional Salary in Minnesota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 280 | $54,340 | $26.12 | $62,810 | $42,970 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 140 | $57,780 | $27.78 | $63,400 | $48,430 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,910 | $66,300 | $31.88 | $75,730 | $52,720 |
| Rochester, MN | 280 | $60,180 | $28.93 | $68,940 | $48,680 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 250 | $55,510 | $26.69 | $61,710 | $47,600 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What abilities do you need to have as a dental assistant in MN?
You must have steady hands and the ability to react quickly with them, such as when making tooth impressions or taking X-rays.
Communication, interpersonal interaction skills, and maintaining a positive attitude that relaxes patients help too.
Working as a Dental Assistant also requires organization.
In addition, you must stay conscious of preventing contamination in the exam room, front office, and when preparing trays of instruments.
How much does an MN Dental Assistant certification cost?
The certificate program will cost about $10,000 for a program that lasts about one year.
Exam fees might cost you extra unless the school covers the fees.
Do I need to be certified to be an MN Dental Assistant?
If you plan to only work in the office and not in the lab or as a chairside assistant, you may perform basic duties without certification.
However, you would be limited in your opportunities and in the skills you can provide at a dentist’s office.
You will still need CPR training as soon as possible too.
What is a day like for an MN dental assistant?
A Minnesota Dental Assistant typically arrives before the dentist does.
They might open the office and prepare it for the first patient and the other staff to arrive.
In addition, they gather and sterilize the necessary tools for the first patient appointment.
DAs also frequently look at patient charts and discuss them with a Licensed Dentist or Dental Hygienist.
What advancement opportunities do MN CDAs have?
You might transfer to a hygienist position.
Otherwise, you perhaps will continue working as an assistant while you attend dentistry school.
