Career change as a dental assistant (ZFA)

Career change paths

• Medical assistant (Medizinische/r Fachangestellte/r, MFA)

  With on-the-job training

  In a doctor's practice, drawing blood, ECGs, vaccinations and assisting with examinations come on top.

  What you bring:

  You know practice organization, hygiene, sterilization, billing and dealing with anxious patients.

  How to get there:

  Some doctors' practices hire dental assistants (ZFA) with on-the-job training, mainly for reception, organization and billing. For a recognized qualification, you can do the MFA training, often shortened on request because of your previous training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,270gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dental claims processor

  Also: Benefits case officer at a health insurer

  With on-the-job training

  At a health insurer, you check invoices and cost plans, decide on reimbursements and answer questions from insured persons and practices.

  What you bring:

  You know treatment and cost plans, fee schedules and the billing of dentures and treatments precisely.

  How to get there:

  Private health insurers and civil servant benefit offices (Beihilfestellen) hire dental assistants (ZFA) with billing experience for dental benefit checks and train them, usually for a few weeks to months. Similar positions exist at statutory health insurance funds. Good knowledge of the fee schedules BEMA and GOZ is usually required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €4,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Specialist consultant in the dental trade

  Also: Medical device consultant for dental products

  With on-the-job training

  In the field sales team of a dental depot or manufacturer, you advise practices on products, devices and equipment.

  What you bring:

  You know materials, instruments, devices and the way of working in dental practices from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  The dental trade company or manufacturer trains you on the job with product training, usually a few weeks. Under § 83 MPDG, your medical training together with this training counts as expertise. A class B driving license is almost always required, and travel is part of the job.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dental administration specialist (Zahnmedizinische/r Verwaltungsassistent/in, ZMV)

  Also: Practice manager in a dental practice

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a ZMV or practice manager, you are responsible for billing, organization and quality management and often lead the team.

  What you bring:

  You know treatment procedures, treatment and cost plans, the appointment book and billing with insurance funds and private patients from practice.

  How to get there:

  You take the advanced vocational qualification (Aufstiegsfortbildung) to become a ZMV at the Dental Chamber (Zahnärztekammer) or a training institute recognized by it. It usually takes 1 to 2 years alongside work, or less time full-time. The requirements are the dental assistant qualification (ZFA) and work experience. The upgrading course can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,341gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dental technician (Zahntechniker/in)

  With further training

  In the dental lab, you make dentures yourself, from models to ceramic veneers and digitally milled work.

  What you bring:

  You know impressions, dentures, crowns and bridges and their materials from treatment and have a steady hand.

  How to get there:

  You train as a dental technician in the craft trade, 3.5 years, often shortened on request because of your completed ZFA training. Manual dexterity and good eyesight are required, and labs now also work with CAD/CAM.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €3,500gross per monthMedian salary

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• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  With vocational training

  In nursing, you look after patients comprehensively and plan their care on your own responsibility.

  What you bring:

  You work according to hygiene rules, assist with procedures and are calm with people who are afraid or in pain.

  How to get there:

  You train to become a registered nurse, 3 years full-time or up to 5 years part-time, with a training allowance. On request, the responsible authority decides whether parts of your ZFA training are credited.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

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• Surgical technical assistant (Operationstechnische/r Assistent/in, OTA)

  With vocational training

  As an OTA, you do this in the operating room for larger procedures and are responsible for instruments, sterility and procedures at the operating table.

  What you bring:

  You hand over instruments, work sterile and prepare treatment rooms and medical devices.

  How to get there:

  You complete 3 years of training at school and hospital, with a training allowance. Admission is with an intermediate school certificate, or with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and at least two years of vocational training, so also with your ZFA training.*Regulated by law (Anesthesia Technical and Surgical Technical Assistants Act (ATA-OTA-G) § 11).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demanding

  €4,666gross per monthMedian salary

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• Medical technologist for radiology (Medizinische/r Technologe/Technologin für Radiologie)

  With vocational training

  As a medical technologist for radiology, you work with X-ray, CT and MRI in clinics and radiology practices.

  What you bring:

  You learned X-ray and radiation protection in your training and take images in the practice.

  How to get there:

  You train under the MT Professions Act, 3 years full-time or up to 5 years part-time, at a state-recognized school with practice in clinics and radiology practices. Admission is with an intermediate school certificate, or with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and at least two years of vocational training. Parts of an equivalent training can be credited on request.*Regulated by law (MT Professions Act (MTBG) §§ 13 to 15).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLots of contact with people

  €4,443gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.