Delaware, also known as ‘The First State,” offers many exciting opportunities to dental professionals. If you have decided to kick-start a rewarding career in the field of dentistry, then you might find this guide quite useful. Go through it to learn how to become a dentist in Delaware.

Should I Become a Dentist in Delaware?

If you are social, detail oriented and like helping people, then a career in dentistry would be suited to you.

Before deciding whether you want to become a dentist, you should take a moment to familiarize yourself with the basic education and training requirements. The information and statistics mentioned in the table have been extracted from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education Required Professional or a Doctoral degree.
Training General dentists don’t have any additional training requirements. Individuals who are planning to specialize are required to undertake additional training, which may take up to four years to complete.
Licenses/Certifications A license is required.
Key Skills/Qualities Organizational Skills, Communication Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Dexterity and Patience.
Annual Mean Salary (2019) – National $178,260 (Dentists, General)
Job Outlook (2018-28) 7%
Annual Mean Salary (2018) – Delaware 2019 data for Delaware is unavailable. The annual mean salary for 2018 was $264,440.

Career Outlook

The career outlook statistics published by BLS show that employment growth opportunities for dentists are likely to shoot up by 7% from 2018 to 2028.

Steps to Become a Dentist in Delaware

In order to qualify as a licensed dentist in Delaware, you will be expected to pass through the steps mentioned below:

    1. Complete an Undergraduate Program

 

The first step would be to complete the pre-dental education requirements. In order to do that, you will have to enroll in a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts program. During your undergraduate studies, you will be required to take a long list of recommended modules, related to Chemistry, General Biology, English and Calculus. You can expect to earn your bachelor’s degree within four years.

    1. Enroll in a Dental Program

 

In order to get into a dental program, you will have to pass an aptitude test, which is called the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The admissions committee will also review your CGPA score and interview performance to determine whether you should be admitted to the Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) or the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program. After graduating from dental school, you will have to work as a dental intern within a general practice residency for one year.

 

    1. Get Licensed!

 

To get the dental license, you will have to send an application to the Delaware Board of Dentistry. Please note that a license will not be issued unless you have cleared the exams prescribed by the board.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Dentist in Delaware?

The process of becoming a licensed dentist in Delaware is no different than the process of becoming a dentist in other states. It typically takes around eight years to get done with the degree requirements. Individuals are required to obtain a bachelor’s degree, which may take around four years, after which they have to earn a four-year long professional degree from an approved dental school. Individuals also have to complete a residency, in case they opt for a specialization, and clear the required exams in order to get licensed.

What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Dentist in Delaware?

In order to work as a licensed dentist in Delaware, individuals have to meet a long list of requirements. The candidate must have:

  • Completed a minimum of 2 years of undergraduate study in an accredited university or college, before getting admitted to a dental school.
  • Obtained a degree in dentistry from a dental university or college, that has been accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
  • Worked as a dental intern within a general practice residency for one year. The residency program should be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) or;
  • Completed a CODA approved specialty residency.
  • Obtained passing marks in the exams prescribed by the state board.
  • Completed and sent a license application to the Delaware Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene.

 

How Much Do Dentists Earn in Delaware?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that Dentists (General) working in Delaware earned an annual mean salary of $264,440 in May 2018. This figure was considerably higher than 2018’s national average of $175,840.