Dental Assistant Career Assessment
Explore whether this career path is right for you
1Welcome
This assessment will help you decide if dental assisting is a good fit for you.
You'll learn about the job, the training it takes, and what it's really like to work as a dental assistant. At the end, you'll get personalized advice based on your answers.
This takes about 15 minutes.
2What is a Dental Assistant?
A dental assistant helps dentists take care of patients. You'll be in the middle of everything that happens in the dental office.
You might:
- Seat patients and explain what to expect
- Prepare the dental chair and get tools ready
- Hand instruments to the dentist during procedures
- Use suction and water sprays to keep the patient's mouth dry
- Take X-rays (in ND, you must register with the state dental board first)
- Keep detailed patient records on the computer
- Schedule appointments and handle payments
- Educate patients about oral health and brushing
Dental assistants are the backbone of a dental practice. You're organized, calm under pressure, and genuinely interested in helping people feel less nervous about dental work.
3A Day in the Life
8:15 AM — Arrive early. Turn on lights, unlock cabinets, sterilize instruments from yesterday's procedures.
8:45 AM — Review the day's schedule. Call patients who might forget appointments. Set up treatment rooms.
9:00 AM — Seat the first patient. Take blood pressure. Get their history. Answer questions. Help them relax.
9:30 AM — During a filling: Pass instruments, manage suction, watch the patient for signs of discomfort, keep the dentist moving smoothly.
10:30 AM — Clean up that room. Sterilize and organize. Update patient records.
11:00 AM — Take X-rays for the next patient.
12:00 PM — Lunch (sometimes quick, sometimes not).
1:00 PM – 4:30 PM — More patients, more instruments, more helping.
4:30 PM — Final cleanup. Run instruments through sterilization. Check supplies. Restock.
5:00 PM — Lock up. Done for the day.
Every day is different. Some patients are easy. Some are anxious. You adjust. You stay positive. You move fast.
4Training in North Dakota
No license needed to start in North Dakota. You can do basic tasks after on-the-job training. But to take X-rays or do expanded duties, you must register with the ND Board of Dental Examiners as a Qualified Dental Assistant (QDA) or Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). There is also an X-ray-only option (QDA-Limited Radiology Registrant).
BUT — Many employers prefer certification. Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) shows you know what you're doing.
Training Options:
- College Program: About 10-month certificate or 2-year AAS degree. Classroom + lab + clinical. Graduates can register as an RDA in ND. Costs vary by school, so check with the program.
- Online QDA Course: Up to 1 year at Bismarck State College. $1,250 if you already work in a dental office, $1,750 if not. Online classes + 300 hours in a dental office. Board-approved course for ND QDA registration (you also pass an ND dental law exam and keep CPR current).
- On-the-Job Training: Dentist teaches you while you work. You earn a paycheck while you learn. You cannot take X-rays until you register with the state board.
Time Commitment: Most programs are daytime, Monday-Friday. Some offer evening or weekend options.
In North Dakota: NDSCS (Wahpeton) and Dakota College at Bottineau (Minot campus) offer CODA-accredited dental assisting programs (certificate or AAS degree). Bismarck State College offers the online QDA course. Many dentists also hire high school graduates and train them on-site.
5Certification Exam
DANB (Dental Assisting National Board) CDA Exam
DANB's CDA is the main national certification for dental assistants.
What you need:
- Graduate from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program, OR
- Have a high school diploma and 3,500 hours of work as a dental assistant (about 2 years full-time)
- Plus current CPR certification
The Exam: Three multiple-choice tests: General Chairside, Radiation Health and Safety, and Infection Control (245 questions total, 195 minutes). There is no hands-on part.
Cost: Set by DANB and can change. Check danb.org for the current fee.
Why It Matters: Employers trust it. Patients see it. Pay is typically higher. You can move between states more easily. In ND, a CDA can help you register as an RDA.
6Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Salary (BLS, May 2025):
- Lower end (bottom 10%): about $21/hour ($43,680/year)
- Median (middle): $27.78/hour ($57,770/year)
- Top earners (top 10%): about $35/hour ($72,710/year)
Benefits Often Include: Health insurance, dental coverage, 401(k), paid time off.
Job Outlook: Good. BLS projects 7% growth nationally from 2025 to 2035 (much faster than average), with about 53,000 openings a year.
Flexibility: Most dental offices are 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Some offer evenings or Saturdays. Part-time work is available.
Pay by Area in North Dakota (middle/median yearly pay, BLS May 2025)
| North Dakota (statewide) | $57,770 |
| Bismarck | $58,960 |
| Fargo area (incl. Moorhead, MN) | $56,940 |
| Grand Forks area (incl. East Grand Forks, MN) | $57,770 |
| Minot | $57,770 |
| Rural eastern ND | $57,870 |
| Rural western ND | $60,200 |
Areas not listed had too few workers in this job for BLS to report pay.
7Where Does This Lead?
Dental assistant is an entry point to many dental careers.
Path 1: Stay in Dental Assisting — Specialize, lead a team, or move into office management. Or just keep being a great dental assistant. There's nothing wrong with that.
Path 2: Become a Dental Hygienist — Associate degree (about 2 years after prerequisite classes). You already understand dentistry. ND median pay: $43.53/hour ($90,530/year, BLS May 2025).
Path 3: Dental Lab Technician — Make crowns, bridges, dentures. Less patient interaction. More technical. Most learn on the job; some take a college program.
Path 4: Expand to Other Healthcare — Medical assisting, nursing, dental therapy. Your customer service skills transfer.
Path 5: Practice Management — Run the office. Handle payroll, scheduling, billing. Get an associate degree in business.
Most people who start as dental assistants either stay and grow into specialty roles, or move into related healthcare fields.
8The Real Talk
What's Great:
- You help people feel better
- Every patient is different
- You learn fast
- Job security
- No late nights or overnight shifts (usually)
What's Hard:
- Standing all day (bring good shoes)
- You have to like people — even anxious, grumpy people
- Blood, saliva, procedures. You work inside people's mouths.
- Infections are possible without proper safety protocols
- Sometimes the dentist is stressed and you feel it
- If you hate dealing with difficult personalities, this is tough
- Physical strain (wrist, neck, back issues are common)
Be honest: Do you like helping people? Can you stay calm when things are messy or uncomfortable? Can you handle a demanding dentist or an anxious patient? If yes to all three, you'll do well.
9Part 1: What's Driving You?
People pursue dental assisting for different reasons. There's no wrong answer — but let's be honest about yours.
Which of these best describes why you're interested in dental assisting?
10Part 2: Are You Ready?
This is about honest self-assessment. Answer yes, no, or unsure for each.
1. I can stay calm when patients are anxious or upset.
2. I'm comfortable with blood, saliva, and dental procedures.
3. I can work fast and handle multitasking (patient care + paperwork + learning).
4. I can follow detailed procedures and maintain infection control standards.
5. I can stand for long periods (6-8 hours) without major discomfort.
6. I'm committed to completing training (6 months to 2 years).
7. I'm willing to get certified or registered (needed in ND to take X-rays).
8. I can take direction and work well with a dentist and dental team.
11Part 3: What's Next?
Where do you see yourself in the next year?
What do you want to do next?
Anything else about dental assisting you want to know or think about?