Skip to content

Launching Your Dental Assisting Career in Minneapolis

As the 5th fastest growing healthcare occupation nationally, demand for trained dental assistants in the Minneapolis metro area continues to accelerate rapidly. With excellent schools, abundant job opportunities and pathways for ongoing career development, the region provides the ideal environment to begin an exciting and rewarding profession in oral healthcare.

This comprehensive guide will explore all facets of starting your dental assisting journey in Minneapolis. With a rich history profile, insights on highly-ranked local programs and advice straight from working professionals, you’ll gain invaluable perspective on how to fully leverage the city’s assets to propel your success and growth from the very beginning.

The Evolution of Dental Assisting Education in Minneapolis

With origins tracing back over 100 years nationally, Minneapolis played a pivotal role in advancing dental assisting from a predominantly on-the-job apprenticeship into a skilled, formalized educational pathway and career.

The establishment of the state’s first dental assistant training initiative in 1955 at the University of Minnesota marked a major milestone which began elevating awareness of the profession’s importance. Early program director Mary Fey RECD, CDA, provided foundational curriculum and cultivated initial classes of students.

Fey’s work sparked recognition from dental practices and associations across Minneapolis and beyond, driving further development. In 1966, the national Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) formed and established early standards and credentials for the fledgling occupation.

Momentum continued through the 70’s as more robust diploma and degree options emerged. In 1976, Minneapolis Community College (then called Minneapolis Community College) worked with local dentists to launch their dental assisting program. Early graduate, CDA JoAnn Gramse described the transformative impact of the formal education model at that time:

“Assistants were no longer seen as just helpers, but as professional members of the dental team whose specialized skills and knowledge were vital to delivering excellent patient care.”

Other Minneapolis schools expanded offerings through the 80’s and 90’s, further elevating dental assistants as skilled para-professionals.

Today Minneapolis institutes like Hennepin Technical College, the DentalCareers Institute and Dakota County Technical College continue driving progress through rigorous CODA-accredited programs upskilling assistants with the latest techniques and technology competencies.

With best-in-class schools fueled by cutting-edge industry partnerships, Minneapolis has emerged as a national hub for dental assistant education, send graduates across the upper Midwest equipped with exceptional preparation.

Demand for Professionals Continues Rapid Growth

Minneapolis’ dense concentration of both general and specialty dental clinics provides a thriving job market for aspiring dental assistants.

According to the 2021 Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) report, Minnesota employs over 10,000 dental assistants who’ve achieved nationally-recognized certification. And with nearly 300 current metropolitan openings combined with rapid occupational growth, those eager to begin practicums and clinicals need not wait long to transition directly into the field.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 650 additional dental assistant jobs to open just within Hennepin and Ramsey counties spanning the next decade. Driven by population growth, office expansion and retiring assistants, a continued high-demand for these skilled positions presents outstanding opportunity.

Beyond sheer volume of openings, compensation metrics also continue rising. Payscale currently ranks Minneapolis 7th nationally for dental assistant wages, with salaries 13% over national averages.

Dental Assistant Wages Minneapolis 2023

With numbers like these projected continue increasing over 20% by 2030, those laying foundations with Minneapolis programs and employers have an advantage in forming lasting, prosperous careers moving forward.

Choosing Your Program Pathway

Gaining competence across the array of dental assistant responsibilities from radiology and lab duties to patient education requires focused, specialized training most effectively gained through formal education programs.

As interest and opportunities have expanded, Minneapolis colleges have kept pace by offering prep pathways accessible to varying backgrounds. Enrolling students can choose from Certificates, Diplomas and Associate Degrees tailored to full-time enrollment or working learners.

Program Type Comparison

Credential Duration Format Common Career Outcomes
Certificate 9-12 months Accelerated courses and clinical practicums prepare grads for entry-level assisting roles Front and back-office assistant, oral surgery tech
Diploma 12-24 months Comprehensive classroom and hands-on training focused on preparing graduates for expanded functions EDDA status assisting, specialty office placement
Associate Degree 2 years Robust dental and general education for enhanced patient, technology and practice management competencies Lead assistant, office and lab management

With this range of options now available, Minneapolis delivers flexibility to build stands-out skills aligned with your career ambitions and realities of life outside school.

Spotlight: Trailblazing Programs

Let’s spotlight just a few of the high-caliber learning centers standing out for continually cultivating exceptional young professionals:

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

MCTC’s degree program is revered for its depth and career prep reputation. With early-adopter eight semester Associate’s model covering advanced digital dentistry competencies, graduates consistently land skilled positions with leading practices:

  • 5 semester program
  • 8 weeks of clinical rotations
  • 94% hire rate at graduation
  • 25+ employer partners

Hennepin Technical College

Long trusted for its robust diploma curriculum efficiently instilling core and expanded assistant capabilities, Hennepin Tech graduates thrive in roles across pediatric offices to surgery suites:

  • 3 semester diploma
  • 230 hours applied experience
  • 91% placement rate
  • Options in Eden Prairie, Brooklyn Park

Dental Careers Institute

Offering an intensive 10 month fast-track with extremely competitive enrollment for working applicants, DCI seals bonds linking its students to assistant openings through coordinated onsite interview days with major clinic groups.

  • 340 clinical hours
  • Radiology & coronal polish
  • 100% job placement rate
  • Top Twin Cities practicum sites

For those committed to rapidly upskilling for employment, Minneapolis delivers both foundational and specialized learning roads to actualization of your dental assisting aspirations.

Gaining Admission Takes Strategy and Preparation

Recognizing that securing seats within limited class sizes at top schools demands uniquely demonstrating potential and dedication, savvy enrollees approach navigating admissions as a project itself requiring due diligence.

While specific documentation and deadlines vary across programs, standard prerequisites typically include:

  • High school completion transcript submission
  • Entrance test scores (HESI, TEAS etc.)
  • Proof of updated health immunizations
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Essays conveying related experience, skills and motivation

Applicants able to illustrate relevant abilities like patient empathy, responsibility and dexterity required in clinical environments through work experiences or other means may receive additional consideration.

Be aware that most Minneapolis options now implement selective evaluation processes considering multiple defining elements versus solely ordering by test scores or previous grades.

Let’s walk through an example of how one local graduate engineered her successful application:

Elise S – Hired by Midwest Dental Post-Graduation

As a Minneapolis native, Elise had always been drawn helping others through healthcare. While considering nursing, a chance conversation with a family friend working as a dental assistant sparked Elise to explore this promising tangent.

Observing first-hand the positive impact assistants have through patient conversations made the choice click. “I realized this combined technology, communications and care giving in ways perfect for my strengths,” she recalled.

In preparing her application to highly-competitive Dental Careers Institute, Elise:

  • Shadowed a practicing orthodontic assistant observing tools like digital intraoral scanners used for impressions
  • Volunteered customer service hours at a local nonprofit clinic to demonstrate care giving rapport
  • Researched latest industry advancements like clear aligner treatments to convey motivation
  • Scored in 86th percentile on HESI Admissions Test through taking an preparatory workshop

Elise leveraged her personal engagement within the field to demonstrate traits aligning to a model future dental assistant. Admissions directors take note of such initiative predicting graduates propelling the profession forward.

From Clinicals to Career in the Minneapolis Market

The consistent feedback from students successfully placed into area practices is that Minneapolis dental assistant programs comprehensively equip graduates to handle the daily realities of these multifaceted jobs from day one.

By emphasizing exposure through varied real-world practicums across settings from pediatric offices to surgery centers, schools provide invaluable contact time fine tuningcapabilities most directly translating into career success.

Let’s examine how these clinical experiences culminate for local grads:

Snapshot: MCTC Dental Assistant Clinical Requirements

  • 100 observational hours – Shadowing dentist/assistant
  • 100 direct patient hours – Managing records, patient education etc.
  • 100 total procedural hours – Hands-on equipment operation, assisting etc.

Progression begins through observation then shifts focus to foundational patient interactions before activating technical skills application. Monitoring student development allows customization keeping growth on track.

Ongoing connections through site supervisors frequently channel graduates into open local positions. In many cases, a practicum kicking off junior year transforms into a multi-year paid job offer letter just months later upon completing school.

Spotlights: Assistants at Leading Local Dental Groups

Most Minneapolis natives recognize names like Midwest Dental, Park Dental and Twin Cities Orthodontics from neighborhood clinic locations and community sponsorships. But what attracts top talent to launch and build careers behind the scenes at these distinguished practices?

Let’s profile experienced dental assistants at two standout regional dental care providers:

Midwest Dental

From neighborhood clinics to multi-specialty offices, Midwest Dental offers variety and advancement potential that retains quality assistants. Jaclyn P. has worked steadily up the clinical ladder since starting with them after her HTC graduation in 2008:

Jaclyn Perez, Experienced Orthodontic Assistant at Midwest Dental

"I began as a general dentistry assistant while taking night courses to specialize in ortho. Midwest fully supported me to transition into a specialty orthodontic assistant role once certified. I’ve since had experience in two different Midwest orthodontic offices, and even trained newer assistants. There is excellent opportunity to keep moving your career forward here."

Park Dental

Connie L. actually completed her degree through online courses while working full time, completing her clinicals at two different Park Dental locations. She turned that exposure into a full-time job offer between semesters:

Connie Lin, Pediatric Dentistry Assistant at Park Dental

"Park Dental first hired me as an interim assistant contingent on finishing school. But through those initial months I learned so much about pediatric cases and built great relationships, they formally brought me on long-term before graduation! Having supportive doctors and experienced assistants train me has been invaluable to build my knowledge and confidence."

Jaclyn and Connie illustrate the twin pillars assistants credit to building prosperous careers with Minneapolis dental groups: specialized skills development and internal mobility.

Prioritizing continued education indeed offers exciting horizons for dedicated professionals.

Continually Advancing Your Capabilities & Prospects

While completing initial assistant certification opens entry-level possibilities, viewed as the commencement of an educational journey the Minneapolis market encourages and rewards through abundant avenues to continually upskill advancing your scope of practice and earnings potential over time.

Positioned within a metro home to 23 dental assisting programs and host to national industry groups like DANB, no shortage of quality advancement pathways exist from CE workshops to dedicated recertification tracks allowing back-office team members to map out decade-spanning ascent.

Here are three mid-career options popular among local assistants:

Orthodontic Assistant Certificate – Complete this 1 year course offering specialized expertise assisting orthodontists manipulating appliances and supporting patients through tooth movements from Invisalign to traditional braces.

Restorative Functions Endorsement – Take weekend modules and pass a certification exam conferring qualifications in procedures like temporary crown prep expanding competencies and office productivity.

Office Management Graduate Degree – Earn a masters level degree online or locally qualifying to take on lead hygienist, IT implementation or practice management duties applied within larger clinic settings.

With no ceiling on impact possible through progressing assistant roles, Minneapolis facilities attract loyalty from supporters appreciative of support bettering capabilities and income year after year.

Join the Next Generation of Minneapolis Assistants

The region’s wealth of opportunities make Minnesota’s Twin Cities an ideal headquarters for building a prosperous dental assisting career. From numerous openings to specialized advancement pathways, dental professionals at all stages thrive in Minneapolis.

Earning admission into one of the metro’s CODA-accredited programs marks your first step on a decades-long journey mastering this vitally important healthcare occupation. Commit to pursuing the highest quality education, certification and real world experiences from your earliest days.

The industry eagerly awaits talented, motivated individuals ready to take on exciting roles shaping the future of dentistry in Minneapolis and beyond!