Call Us Today! (702) 254-7577
Northwest Career College is built on the foundations of family and the bonds that bind them. Dr. Kenny and his children have dedicated themselves to the mission of educating students and helping them to succeed in their chosen profession. Once you enter the doors of Northwest, you are family, through and through. Come join the Northwest Family where you’re connected for life.
Since 1997, thousands of students have walked through the doors of Northwest and have gone on to become successful Massage Therapists, Dental Assistants, Medical Assistants, Medical Insurance Specialists and Paralegals. Won’t you join the fine group of Northwest Alumni now serving the community in a variety of professions? Explore Northwest Career College and see where your future can lead. Come tour our campus today!
At Northwest Career College, ours is a student-centered philosophy where students come first. Our open door and open heart approach to education sets us apart from all others. It’s a feeling you get when you first walk in our doors.
Every Alumni is welcome back on the campus of Northwest Career College. We love to hear your successes and share in your life’s progress. The absolute best, though, is when you return to the classroom and speak with our current students. Alumni come-backs always give students that extra bit of inspiration to help them see that their goals are achievable and real.
Northwest Career College has created a beautiful and peaceful testing space for both our students and our visitors to enjoy. We know how important and stressful test taking can be and we want to make your time here a positive one with successful outcomes! Make sure to allow yourself some extra time to arrive early, get settled, grab a drink or a snack from the front and prepare to PASS your exam! We look forward to seeing you on campus and in our testing center. Best of luck to you!
Northwest Career College takes great pride in creating beautiful campus facilities for our students, staff and faculty. We invite all of you to visit our campus in person! But, until you get here, please enjoy a virtual tour of our buildings, program labs and learning centers. We look forward to seeing you on campus!
Not every state requires dental assistants to qualify as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) before they can practice, in fact, many of them don’t and only require the completion of a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
While you might not need CDA after your name to get a job in the dental assisting field, there are some benefits to getting qualified that go beyond simply getting your first job and can help you advance your career. So, in this article, we will be looking at the ways of becoming a certified dental assistant can boost your career.
The Certified Dental Assistant Exam has three components: General Chairside Assisting (GC) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), and Infection Control (ICE).
Some states also recognize the passage of components of the CDA examination, such as the Radiation Health and Safety examination, or the Infection Control examination, for licensing and regulatory purposes.
This means that, while you can take the exam in separate sections to qualify for jobs that require RHS or ICE certification, there is some benefits to taking it a whole, directly after graduating from your dental assisting program, as it will pre-qualify you for a larger range of jobs.
No, you do not.
According to the Nevada state requirements:
“A dental assistant in the state of Nevada may perform basic supportive dental procedures specified by the state dental practice act under the supervision of a licensed dentist or dental hygienist.
There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting. A licensed dentist who owns a dental office or treatment facility must, on his or her application for license renewal, list the name and address of each dental assistant who assists in procedures for infection control, the date the dental assistant began to assist in infection control procedures, and a statement that each employee listed has received adequate instruction in infection control and is qualified to operate sterilization and other equipment, and to perform all other applicable activities, in compliance with CDC guidelines.”
Firstly, while Nevada does not require a DANB CDA certification, many states do, or a license or permit that you become eligible for by passing the RHS or ICE sections of the CDA. In order to work outside of Nevada, you may be required to have at least part of the CDA, and restricting your options to just one state can significantly reduce your chances of career progression.
Secondly, while there are approximately 330,000 dental assistants in the US today, and only around 39,000 of them are DANB-certified. This means that completing your CDA sets you apart from other dental assistants in the job market.
Thirdly, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that DANB-certified dental assistants on average make more money because they are treated preferentially by private employers and because most, if not all, government dental assisting jobs require completion of the CDA.
So, if you are considering a new career in dental assisting, passing your CDA could be the difference that helps you land your dream job, and with a 91% national exam pass rate, Northwest is the place to start that new career!
Here at Northwest Career College we firmly believe that learning is a process that continues on the job. Our Dental Assistant Training Course gives you all the key skills and experience you’ll need to find the best dental assisting employment opportunity in Las Vegas. Our Dental Assistant School offers morning, afternoon and night classes to accommodate your busy work and family schedule and our established, seasoned instructors have helped our students achieve a 91% national exam pass rate. Call us at (702) 403-1592 to speak to one of our admissions assistants about your new dental assisting career.
Written by: Cynthia Lofquist, R.D.A. Dental Assisting Program Chair Concorde Career Institute