You need to have excellent vision, good hand-eye coordination, and an ability to visualize objects in three dimensions.

In addition to tuition and book fees, you usually need to buy dental instruments, a lab coat, and a name tag. You may also be required to pay for membership in a professional dental club.

You can test for voluntary certification from the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. There are certification exams for five specialty areas: crowns and bridges, ceramics, partial dentures, complete dentures, and orthodontic appliances. If you pass one or more exams, you get the title Certified Dental Technician (CDT).

Some dental laboratory technicians set a goal to open their own lab. If this sounds like something you may want to do, you should take business classes.