Job Description for a Dental Office Administrator

As job opportunities in the health field continue to climb, so does the need for dental office administrators. Colleges and schools offer programs to help train administrators for the variety of departmental duties they will perform on the job.

Job Description

Duties for a dental office administrator include all clerical duties at a dental office including scheduling appointments, preparing insurance claims and answering phones, according to dentalmanagers.com. They may also maintain the facility by arranging cleaning and equipment repairs.

Certification

Training programs and associate degrees are available at a variety of vocational and technical schools, community colleges and at schools like Everest College, Penn Foster and the Harris School of Business. No certification or degree is required but certification can open doors to job advancement and higher pay.

Considerations

Dental office administrators have to learn the unique computer systems, insurance paperwork, scheduling and patient policies of the office, college, or hospital they work for.

Salary

Salary is highly dependent on years of experience for dental office administrators. According to Payscale.com, in October 2009 administrators earned a starting average of $12.50 an hour and can make up to $25 an hour with 20-plus years of experience.

Advancement

Although there are opportunities for advancement, there aren't many. Administrators may move on to become office managers or may consider becoming a dental hygienists or assistants.

References

• Dental Office Administrator Job Duties
• Pay Scale for Dental Office Administrator
• 5 Steps to Becoming a Dentist Office Manager

Resources

• Harris School of Business
• Penn Foster Career School
• Everest College