If you have decided to become a registered dental assistant, then you would be aware of the various things that are included in it. The certified course is divided into three parts, Dental Sciences, Chairside Assisting which is followed up by the Completion of Certification requirements. Whereas, the RDA program is divided into eight parts in California.
This consists of the surrounding jobs as well as the main job of a dental assistant. So apart from Dental Sciences and Chairside Assisting; Dental Radiology, Laboratory Procedures, Preventative Dentistry, Dental Specialties, Prosthodontics, the process of Administrative Assisting and Billing would be included in the course.
The problem that arises with most people is when it comes to the expenditure of the course. Read on to find out what sort of financial aid you can get to pursue your dreams!
There are several types of funds that are available when you are looking to sign up for an RDA program. There are government funded financial ailments like Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Pell grant.
In addition to these there are student loans available for you along with a required reimbursement. Most of the dental assisting colleges provide you with their own funds, so keep a lookout for that.
Best Option: Grants
The best and the most reasonable option for you is to apply for grants. Grants mean that you would not need to pay them back. So, you would not have any extra headache along with your studies for the moment.
Since you don’t need to pay back the grant money, there is also no interest that accumulates on it. For RDA programs California, the best options that you have are the FAFSA and the Pell Grant. To be eligible for government student aid, you would need to fill up the FAFSA form every year of your in school.
Federal Pell Grants on the other hand are awarded to undergraduates who have an unprecedented financial background and have not achieved any bachelor’s, graduate or professional certification from any institutes. If there is a federal criminal charge on you however, you would not receive either of these financial aids.
Get Private Loans
There are times when you cannot apply for any sort of government funds. This does not mean that you cannot pursue your dreams. You can search for any certified dental assistant program that requires relatively less expenditure for you to get a student loan.
You need to keep in mind that even though a private student loan would suffice all your expenditure for your RDA school, you would still need to pay it back. These loans are offered to you at a relatively lower rate in the market so the amount you would need to pay back wouldn’t be as intimidating as you think it to be.
Factors for Getting Scholarships
There are several dental assistant colleges that provide you scholarships on your merit like MDS Dental Assisting Academy. Of course, the criteria for providing the scholarship would differ according to the college you would choose.
For example, most of the institutes that provide you a scholarship would look for the annual income of your parents, the cost of living and the number of children in a school from one particular household. Be sure to know about the college funds from the student council or the existing students primarily. That way you would get a first-hand knowledge about other students just like you.
Various Other Scholarships
If you think that your dream could be only funded so far, think again! There are several organizations providing scholarships for you to become the best RDA. The first option is the military dental assisting scholarship.
If you are thinking of applying for this, you could do so through Health Professions Scholarship Programs. And if military isn’t the right path for you, then the American Dental Association Foundation is there that sponsors various scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 annually.
Dental practices like dental assisting, dentists and dental hygienists are always in demand. The demand only keeps growing. So, selecting dental assisting as your career path will not disappoint you. Your career would only flourish once you have your certificate in hand.Keep your options open when it comes to your career.
Inform the financial officer about your chosen college and ask about all the options that are available. Don’t let financial difficulties block the path to your dreams, there are always several options open for you. Seek help from any of the above discussed organizations or do a smart search about more organizations who would financially help you to achieve your dreams.
[…] Dental caries, which can lead to tooth decay, the gangrenous disease noma, which usually affects malnourished children, oral cancers, oral manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cleft lip and palate, oro-dental trauma, and other periodontal diseases are among the oral conditions highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). […]