For dentists who have a busy schedule and a practice to run, it can be hard to keep up with all the client information, appointment bookings, and billing that is essential to the smooth running of the office. It’s for this reason that they need the expertise of dental office administrators. Dental administrators are primarily responsible for managing important administrative tasks such as keeping track of client information, scheduling appointments, providing billing services, and maintaining the database of medical data. These responsibilities require you to have a specific skillset, which you can build upon with the right training.
If you’re interested in a career in dental administration but don’t know where to start, read on to find out how you can get on the right track with qualified training.
Is a Dental Office Administrator Career Right for Me?
A career in dental administration means that you have to have certain skills if you want to succeed in your line of work. Dental administrators help keep an office running smoothly, and are responsible for tasks such as scheduling, customer service, billing, and handling incoming or outgoing phone calls.
These tasks require you to have strong organizational skills, particularly in time and information management, because these help you prioritize tasks and stay on top of responsibilities that you will commonly have on the job.
People skills are also beneficial to a career in dental administration. If you find it easy to talk to people and have good interpersonal skills, as well as an interest in working as part of a team, you might be a perfect fit for a dental office administrator career.
Good organization and people skills are key to success in dental administration
Training with Practical Experience Gives You an Advantage
To turn your interests and natural aptitudes into a thriving career, finding the right training program can make all the difference. When trying to fill positions, employers will be looking at each candidate’s qualifications to see if they have the right technical skills and knowledge to get the job done. This includes having a demonstrated familiarity with dental office procedures, records management, effective communication, knowledge of specific terminology, as well experience with computer applications.
While it may seem like a lot of qualifications, the easiest way to make sure you’re gathering the experience you need is to complete a training program that includes what’s known as an off-site externship. An externship gives you the opportunity to build your skills through a placement in a real work environment, which means you can apply what you learned in class to a practical setting. This shows employers that you have previous experience and demonstrated capabilities to do the job they need with confidence and efficiency, and also offers you the chance to start networking within your field before you even begin your career.
Students Can Explore a Variety of Financial Assistance Options
It can be difficult to start a new career if you’re concerned about the cost of furthering your education. Fortunately, there are plenty of options you can choose from to help you manage your tuition.
Some examples of financial aid options include:
Ontario Second Career
Ontario Student Assistance Program
RESP
Employment Ontario
Monthly Payment Plan
Your future career shouldn’t seem like it’s impossible to reach, and there are many resources that you can use to make your dream job a reality. If you’re worried about being able to afford a post-secondary education along with your other responsibilities, make sure to contact or visit a dental administration college financial aid office to see if you’re eligible for certain programs.
Are you interested in opening the door to a rewarding career?
Contact Medix College for more information about our dental administration training