Dental assistants assist dentists during the examination and treatment of patients, and perform some clerical functions.

To work in these areas you must have some high school education or a high school diploma.

To be a dental assistant, you need a three-month to one-year college dental assistant program, or high school and on-the-job training. You'll need certification if your duties include taking X-rays and polishing and cleaning teeth.

Many recent entrants have a trade/vocational certificate or community college diploma, and almost 1 in 10 has an undergraduate university degree.