To be successful as a dental assistant, you will need to master a series of soft and hard skills.
Hard skills are acquired through formal education with a recognized institution, while soft skills are mastered before and on the job.
For example, a dental assistant should be able to communicate effectively at all levels, think critically, have administrative skills, be organized, and know how to properly follow instructions.
5 Dental Assistant Schools in Michigan
We looked at five schools in the state of Michigan that offers a course in dental assistance.
Grand Rapids Community College
The school offers a two-year Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Dental Assisting as well as a Dental Assisting Certificate.
The certificate course offers two applications: one for students that have no prior experience and one for students that hold a Certified Dental Assistant credential.
The certificate course is a total of 44 credit hours.
Students participating in this course are prepared for the Michigan Registered Dental Assistant exam.
The courses include an externship which students are expected to complete in order to successfully graduate from both of these courses.
Student fees are as follows:
- Resident student – $151.00 per credit hour
- Non-resident student – $321.00 per credit hour
- Out of state student – $482.00 per credit hour
Delta College
The school offers an associate degree course in dental assistance.
Upon completion, students are eligible to take the State of Michigan licensure exam.
Upon successful completion of the exam, students may become Registered Dental Assistants.
Students are able to receive the CDA national credential once the course has been completed, but this is not recognized in all states.
In-state students pay $1,792 for 12 contact hours per semester, while out-of-state students pay $2,908.
The second course is known as a dual degree, which focuses on the skills required to become a dental assistant as well as business management skills.
Upon completion, students are able to assist licensed dentists with:
- Diagnostic procedures
- Operative procedures
- Restorative procedures
- Preventive procedures
- Surgical procedures
The course fee is similar to that of the standard Associate degree course offered by the school.
Lake Michigan College
The school offers two courses in dental assistance:
- The advanced certificate in dental assistance
- Associate degree in dental assistance
Both courses are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Students will be licensed upon successful completion of an internship with a local dentist’s office.
In addition, students may sit for the Michigan Board of Dentistry Examination and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination.
In-state, students will pay $168.25 per credit hour, while international students will pay $168.25.
Mott Community College
The school offers an Associate Degree course and a certificate course in Dental Assistance.
The certificate course is 42 credits and 61 contact hours.
Both courses prepare students to sit for the Michigan State Board Examination to become licensed Registered Dental assistants (RDA).
In addition, both courses are accredited by the state of Michigan and the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Students may expect to pay around $5,149 per year to attend this school.
Northwestern Michigan College
The school offers a two-year associate degree course and a one-year certificate course in dental assistance.
Students may practice as Registered Dental Assistants after successfully completing the Michigan state board exam.
In addition, students are able to sit for the National Certification exam.
In-district students will pay $112.00 per contact hour while in-state students will pay $234.00 per contact hour.
Out-of-state students may expect to pay $305.00 per contact hour.
Dental Assistant Schools in Michigan – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Michigan
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Community College | 143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Delta College | 1961 Delta Rd, University Center, MI 48710 |
| Lake Michigan College | 2755 E Napier Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 |
| Mott Community College | 1401 E Court St, Flint, MI 48503 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | 1701 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686 |
Salary
When you enter your field, you may expect a starting salary in the state of Michigan of $33,102 per year.
As you gain experience and exposure in the field, you may expect a mid-level income of $42,223.
Candidates with several years of experience and formal instruction under their belt, on the higher end of the scale, may earn up to $51,059 per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Dental Assistants in Michigan
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $41,618 |
| Grand Rapids | $39,682 |
| Warren | $41,618 |
| Flint | $38,141 |
| Sterling Heights | $41,487 |
| Lansing | $39,609 |
| Ann Arbor | $42,223 |
| Livonia | $41,487 |
| Dearborn | $41,618 |
| Westland | $41,757 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 590 | $44,960 | $21.62 | $55,070 | $30,930 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 110 | $40,340 | $19.39 | $49,410 | $33,170 |
| Bay City, MI | 80 | $39,420 | $18.95 | $44,920 | $29,010 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,540 | $41,580 | $19.99 | $52,470 | $30,320 |
| Flint, MI | 430 | $41,320 | $19.86 | $48,030 | $28,260 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 1,340 | $43,820 | $21.07 | $49,270 | $35,120 |
| Jackson, MI | 150 | $42,180 | $20.28 | $49,740 | $29,590 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 330 | $43,320 | $20.83 | $54,210 | $34,270 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 480 | $42,490 | $20.43 | $54,490 | $31,350 |
| Midland, MI | 110 | $41,440 | $19.93 | $48,070 | $30,380 |
| Monroe, MI | 100 | $40,120 | $19.29 | $48,730 | $29,050 |
| Muskegon, MI | 140 | $40,050 | $19.25 | $46,180 | $29,450 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 120 | $42,100 | $20.24 | $45,920 | $35,740 |
| Saginaw, MI | 220 | $41,010 | $19.72 | $46,350 | $35,210 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to find a job in Michigan?
No school is able to guarantee that you will find employment.
Finding a job in a specific state will be based on specific standards and requirements.
A good tertiary institution may offer career services assistance to help students master drawing up a compelling resume and preparation for interviews along with various other aspects.
Where does a dental assistant work?
Many graduates end up working in a dentist’s office under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
However, these candidates may also work with other members of the dental healthcare team, such as a dental hygienist.
Is there room for career advancement as a dental assistant?
Yes.
You may be able to use your qualifications as a dental assistant to study further. It will strengthen your credentials.
There are various other roles in the dental hygiene team that a dental assistant may move into after completing the appropriate course.
I have no previous experience in this field. Will I be able to do the job with no experience?
Yes.
In fact, many students that enroll for a course in dental assistance do not have any prior learning or experience.
When taking schools into consideration, it is important to evaluate the credentials of the school, who has accredited the course, and what material is covered in the course.
Is this a stressful job?
It is only physically stressful as you are on your feet for most of the day.
