West Virginia Dental Assistant Schools and Salary Guide

Performing as a Dental Assistant in West Virginia could provide you with a stable career.

It also gives you the chance to experience what life would be like if you were to someday become a Licensed Dentist.

Licensing Requirements To Become a West Virginia Dental Assistant

You can perform basic dental duties as a Dental Assistant if they fall under the list of duties allowed in West Virginia.

No training requirements exist at this level either.

However, you should acquire your chairside assisting CPR (Basic Life Support) training as soon as possible.

Additional requirements apply when you decide to become an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA), also known as an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA).

This includes when you decide to become eligible to perform restoration and orthodontic assisting duties.

This requires that you take coursework approved by the West Virginia Board of Dentistry (WVBD), which would include hands-on clinical time and an application for a WVBD license.

Similar requirements apply to acquiring the coronal polishing and nitrous oxide components.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is another credentialing body that approves college Dental Assisting programs, and certification exams usually come from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

5 Dental Assistant Schools in West Virginia

1. Mercer County Technical Education Center (MCTEC)

MCTEC provides you the CODA-approved education to help you acquire state certifications.

You’ll end up stationed in local dentist offices and participate in school lab assignments.

This coursework includes eight different levels of Dental Assisting, which offers you the EDDA and entry-level DA skills you need.

It will prepare you for the WVBD licensing requirements too.

2. Ross Education

This school has quite a few offerings across the nation, including in West Virginia.

This Dental Assisting program will teach you how to perform vital signs and process X-rays.

In addition, this training will show you the correct way to prepare and dispose of anesthetic supplies.

Taking impressions, filing medical records and scheduling appointments all becomes part of your training.

3. West Virginia Junior College (WVJC)

Your WVJC Dental Assisting training will show you what it is like to assist patients in the dental chair.

This training will also provide you with dental office management skills and provide you radiography experience.

In addition, you will receive the education you need to pass on to patients after operations and routine oral hygiene procedures.

4. Parkersburg West Virginia University (WVUP)

Your WVUP Dental Assisting training will teach you a history of dental assisting and practices, and this includes related policies and guidelines.

You will also learn general office duties, such as scheduling appointments and welcoming patients, and making them feel comfortable.

If you pursue the clinical side of dental assisting, you will learn about instrument sterilization, disinfection processes, anatomy, and tooth structure.

5. The DALE Foundation

The DALE Foundation provides support for Dental Assistants throughout the nation, including West Virginia.

They offer continuing education and course bundles and referrals to both new and returning students.

Topics covered include all those required by the state, including the OSHA-approved Infection control, Radiology (RHS), and DANB-certified dentist exam preparation.

Dental Assistant Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table

Salary

Dental Assistants in West Virginia earn an average of $36,254 as of May 2022.

Salaries range from $32,154 to $40,225.

You can earn as high as at least $43,840 per year with some advanced training.

Charles Town, Clarksburg, Beckley, and Bridgeport are some cities where you can find jobs.

Regional Salary in West Virginia