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Dental Infection Control Specialist

Become a Dental Infection Control Specialist

The path to becoming an infection control specialist

Infection control has always been important in the dental office, but in recent years, it’s become an even greater priority. Dental infection control coordinators must have complete knowledge of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dental guidelines and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Here’s what you need to know about career opportunities related to infection control in dentistry.

Dental infection control specialist skills

To thrive in this role, you should have a passion for learning and staying up to date with the latest information. It’s also important to be detail oriented and good at creating and implementing plans. Training could be part of your responsibilities, so feeling comfortable with instructing others is a good skill to have.

Dental infection control specialist job description

As a dental infection control specialist or coordinator, you’ll be responsible for developing, managing, and implementing infection prevention and control programs, plans and policies in the dental office. You’ll write the infection control and prevention program, oversee staff training, and make sure that disposal of medical waste follows federal, state and local regulations. Other duties include checking equipment, monitoring compliance, and other critical tasks.

Dental infection control specialist salary

The salary for dental infection control specialists or coordinators varies, as it can depend on the responsibilities and duties of the position. Dental assistants who work as infection control coordinators can earn anywhere from $20 to $25 per hour. If you have a dental hygiene or other dental or healthcare degree, you may earn even more.

Dental infection control specialist training

Your dental team will look to you for advice and guidance for improvements in dental infection-prevention measures. That means you need to have a detailed understanding of CDC dental guidelines and OSHA standards, and you must know how to implement them safely and effectively within the dental office. Holding a certificate or credential in dental infection control or a related topic can demonstrate that you’ve got the knowledge to take on this important role.

How we can help

Whether you’re new to this topic or have years of experience, a good place to start is our Dental Infection Control Certificate Program. This online certificate program includes two educational modules and an assessment. Completing this program is one of the steps to be eligible for earning certification in dental infection control.

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