I am trying to decide whether to be a dental assistant or go into medical billing/coding (both through cert.)?
December 21st, 2009 by admin
I haven’t worked in 12 years (stay home mom). Want to start part time for at least 2-5 years. Interested in both really. Is one better than the other money wise? Plan on going for certification program at local college for either. I live in Maryland.
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If you like working with people directly, and the possibility of doing different things from patient to patient, rather than the same type of routine in an office type position, then I would say Dental Assisting would be the better choice.
I actually went through dental assistant training about 13 years ago, in Iowa. I personally did not like it, so I moved on to other jobs, in an office type setting.
I am actually considering going back to school myself for medical billing/coding. From what I have seen in my research, I think medical billing/coding would be better in regards to pay.
You may also want to consider medical assistant training, I think it requires a lot of the same core classes as medical billing/coding…. Usually about the same amount of time for each of the three programs at a local college.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide!
Do NOT become a Dental assistant! There is a reason that there are always so many help-wanted ads for them. My sister was one, and she said almost all the dentists she worked for were abusive. One threw sharp instruments at the assistants. Another refused to allow lunch or bathroom breaks, not even time to get a drink of water! I could go on and on…She got out of the field and still has to repay the student loans.