Online Courses and Training for Dental Receptionists
As a dental receptionist, you would be responsible for customer service, paperwork, and administrative tasks. Training programs for this job are not widely available online, but you can find online options in related areas, like administrative dental assisting. Find out how online programs work, and explore some course topics you'd study as an aspiring dental receptionist.
What You Need to Know
Dental receptionists are responsible for greeting patients, answering telephones, scheduling appointments, ordering supplies, and handling correspondence between patients and insurance companies. There are some online educational opportunities for these types of receptionists.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b> Education </b></td><td> High school diploma or equivalent is the typical base education for a receptionist</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Online</b></td><td> The American Society of Administrative Professionals offers online courses for administrative professionals; online diploma, certificate, and continuing education programs are available in dental assisting and medical/dental reception</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Courses</b></td><td> Accounting, computer skills, word processing, spreadsheet application, communication skills, privacy laws</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhichSchoolsOfferOnlineProgramsForDentalReceptionists">Which Schools Offer Online Programs for Dental Receptionists?</h3><p>Online studies for dental receptionists are fairly uncommon. You will more readily find online studies in administrative dental assisting. Many of these programs are found in continuing education departments. Schools that offer these kinds of programs include:
</p><ul><li>University of Alaska Fairbanks
</li><li>University of Georgia
</li><li>Emily Griffith Technical College
</li><li>University of Louisiana Monroe
</li><li>Oregon State University
</li><li>College of DuPage
</li><li>Peninsula College
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWillIStudyInAnOnlineDentalReceptionistProgram">What Will I Study in an Online Dental Receptionist Program?</h3><p>An online dental receptionist program teaches you about dental billing and terminology, blood-borne pathogens, HIPAA privacy rules and how to manage a dental office. This program often leads to a certificate and may help you earn continuing education units.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatWillIStudyInAnOnlineDentalAssistingProgram">What Will I Study in an Online Dental Assisting Program?</h3><p>It's important to note that online dental receptionist programs are rare, so it may be wise to select an alternative online program, such as a dental assisting program. Dental assistants complete many of the same tasks that dental receptionists perform.
</p><p>While the dental assisting and dental receptionists programs cover many of the same topics, a dental assisting program also touches on areas involving pharmacology, radiology, anesthesiology, nutrition and preventive care. Administrative courses taken in these programs include:
</p><ul><li>Dental office management
</li><li>Records management
</li><li>Patient scheduling
</li><li>Dental terminology
</li><li>Dental insurance processing
</li><li>Dental team communication
</li></ul><p>Dental assisting programs may offer specializations in the administrative and clinical aspects of dental health. It's important that you opt for the administrative dental assisting specialization instead of the clinical program. The clinical dental assisting program is typically designed for individuals who assist the dentist in performing laboratory procedures, processing radiographs and cleaning teeth. At the end of your studies, you are typically awarded a certificate or a career diploma, depending on the school you choose to attend.
</p><h3 id="section---HowWillIAccessMyCourses">How Will I Access My Courses?</h3><p>Many programs offer their distance-learning programs through an online learning management system, such as Blackboard. As a student, you need to log onto Blackboard using a school-issued username and password. After logging onto Blackboard, you are able to view and submit your assignments, take quizzes and tests, participate in group discussions and receive your grades. You can also get in touch with your professors and other students through Blackboard and ask questions or address any concerns that arise.</p>