OPT Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs
Surgical dental assistant roles qualify for OPT work authorization when the position requires hands-on clinical support in oral surgery settings. Most employers expect chairside experience, sterilization proficiency, and familiarity with surgical instruments. STEM OPT extension is not available for this role, so your 12-month OPT window is the core timeline to plan around.
Find OPT Surgical Dental Assistant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,162+ Surgical Dental Assistant jobs
See all 1,162+ Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Surgical Dental Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsEngage with us for your next career opportunity. Right Here.
Job Type:
Regular
Scheduled Hours:
36
Why You’ll Love Working with St. Elizabeth Healthcare
At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, every role supports our mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the communities we serve. For more than 160 years, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a trusted provider of quality care across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We’re guided by our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve and by our values of excellence, integrity, compassion, and teamwork. Our associates are the heart of everything we do.
Benefits That Support You
We invest in you — personally and professionally.
Enjoy:
- Competitive pay and comprehensive health coverage within the first 30 days.
- Generous paid time off and flexible work schedules
- Retirement savings with employer match
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- Wellness, mental health, and recognition programs
- Career advancement through mentorship and internal mobility
Job Summary:
The best career is right here.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is hiring a Registered Nurse Surgical Assistant for the Surgery unit located at the Edgewood, Kentucky location.
Shift & Hours: Day shift, 11:00 am - 11:00 pm; full-time, 36 hours per week.
Job Description:
The best career is right here.
Performs/assists with surgical procedures under the direct supervision of the surgeon. The professional nurse provides evidence-based nursing care utilizing the nursing process to meet the surgical needs of the patient in the perioperative setting. The RNSA is responsible for appropriately delegating tasks to other licensed/unlicensed health care team members as deemed appropriate by training and education. The RNSA collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare team members when providing nursing care. This position is intended as a transition to the RNFA role once all educational preparation/requirements are successfully met. Demonstrate respect, dignity, kindness and empathy in each encounter with all patients, families, visitors and other employees regardless of cultural background.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education, Credentials, Licenses:
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. If eligible, must have a Compact (multi-state) License in their primary state of residence. Current registration to practice in the state where work is being performed. Meets contact hour requirements for licensure, including all state-required courses. Must be accepted into an acceptable RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) Program within one year of hire/transfer date. CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) must be obtained prior to completion of RNFA Program training.
Specialized Knowledge:
Expert knowledge of anatomy and physiology, surgical procedures and instrumentation. In depth knowledge of suture, suturing techniques and wound closure. Knowledge of assisting the surgeon with dissection and retraction. Competent in mathematical calculations associated with medication administration. Competent to independently perform safe nursing skills and procedures.
Kind and Length of Experience:
Two years of experience as a surgical RN
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Right Career. Right Here. If you're looking for the right careers in healthcare, the right place to be is at St. Elizabeth. Join us, and you'll take pride in the level of care we offer our community.
Engage with us for your next career opportunity. Right Here.
Job Type:
Regular
Scheduled Hours:
36
Why You’ll Love Working with St. Elizabeth Healthcare
At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, every role supports our mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the communities we serve. For more than 160 years, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a trusted provider of quality care across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We’re guided by our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve and by our values of excellence, integrity, compassion, and teamwork. Our associates are the heart of everything we do.
Benefits That Support You
We invest in you — personally and professionally.
Enjoy:
- Competitive pay and comprehensive health coverage within the first 30 days.
- Generous paid time off and flexible work schedules
- Retirement savings with employer match
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- Wellness, mental health, and recognition programs
- Career advancement through mentorship and internal mobility
Job Summary:
The best career is right here.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare is hiring a Registered Nurse Surgical Assistant for the Surgery unit located at the Edgewood, Kentucky location.
Shift & Hours: Day shift, 11:00 am - 11:00 pm; full-time, 36 hours per week.
Job Description:
The best career is right here.
Performs/assists with surgical procedures under the direct supervision of the surgeon. The professional nurse provides evidence-based nursing care utilizing the nursing process to meet the surgical needs of the patient in the perioperative setting. The RNSA is responsible for appropriately delegating tasks to other licensed/unlicensed health care team members as deemed appropriate by training and education. The RNSA collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare team members when providing nursing care. This position is intended as a transition to the RNFA role once all educational preparation/requirements are successfully met. Demonstrate respect, dignity, kindness and empathy in each encounter with all patients, families, visitors and other employees regardless of cultural background.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education, Credentials, Licenses:
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. If eligible, must have a Compact (multi-state) License in their primary state of residence. Current registration to practice in the state where work is being performed. Meets contact hour requirements for licensure, including all state-required courses. Must be accepted into an acceptable RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) Program within one year of hire/transfer date. CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) must be obtained prior to completion of RNFA Program training.
Specialized Knowledge:
Expert knowledge of anatomy and physiology, surgical procedures and instrumentation. In depth knowledge of suture, suturing techniques and wound closure. Knowledge of assisting the surgeon with dissection and retraction. Competent in mathematical calculations associated with medication administration. Competent to independently perform safe nursing skills and procedures.
Kind and Length of Experience:
Two years of experience as a surgical RN
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Right Career. Right Here. If you're looking for the right careers in healthcare, the right place to be is at St. Elizabeth. Join us, and you'll take pride in the level of care we offer our community.
See all 1,162+ OPT Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Surgical Dental Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Surgical Dental Assistant
Target oral surgery and periodontics practices
Oral surgery groups and periodontics offices hire surgical dental assistants more consistently than general dentistry. These specialists perform higher volumes of extractions, implants, and bone grafts, which means dedicated surgical assistant headcount and steadier OPT-compatible hiring.
Lead with your chairside surgical experience
Hiring managers in surgical settings screen for specific procedural exposure. List the exact procedures you've assisted with, including extractions, implant placements, and suturing, rather than describing your role in general terms. Concrete clinical language signals job-ready competence immediately.
Get your Certified Dental Assistant credential before applying
The CDA credential from the Dental Assisting National Board signals verified competence to employers considering OPT candidates. Many oral surgery practices list it as preferred or required. Completing it before your job search removes a common objection employers raise about sponsoring international candidates.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Surgical practices run lean teams and need reliable timelines from new hires. Starting your search 60 to 90 days before your OPT authorization begins gives employers confidence you can commit to a start date without gaps in coverage on their surgical schedule.
Address OPT directly and simply in your cover letter
Many dental employers are unfamiliar with OPT authorization. A single sentence explaining that you're authorized to work for any employer without requiring visa sponsorship removes hesitation. Clarity here prevents your application from being set aside over a misunderstanding about hiring complexity.
Focus on multi-specialty and group dental practices
Larger group practices and multi-specialty dental organizations have HR infrastructure to handle OPT employment paperwork. Solo practitioners often lack that administrative support. Targeting established groups with dedicated hiring processes increases your chances of a smooth and compliant onboarding experience.
Surgical Dental Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a surgical dental assistant on OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your field of study. If you graduated from a dental assisting, dental hygiene, or allied health program, a surgical dental assistant position qualifies. Your work must align with your degree field, and you must be employed for at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid OPT status.
Does a surgical dental assistant job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Dental assisting programs are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available for this career path. You'll have 12 months of standard OPT authorization to work. Planning your job search and H-1B visa or other visa options around that 12-month window is important from the start.
Do dental employers typically understand OPT work authorization?
Many smaller dental and oral surgery practices are unfamiliar with OPT because they rarely hire internationally. It helps to explain clearly in your application that OPT allows you to work for any employer without requiring the employer to file visa petitions or pay sponsorship fees. Group practices with HR departments tend to be better equipped to handle the paperwork.
Where can I find surgical dental assistant jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the recommended platform for F-1 OPT students searching for roles open to international candidates. Rather than filtering through general job boards and guessing which employers are OPT-friendly, Migrate Mate surfaces positions specifically relevant to students on work authorization. Browsing by role and location on Migrate Mate saves significant time in your search.
What happens to my OPT status if my surgical dental assistant job ends?
You have a 90-day unemployment allowance across your entire OPT period, not per job. If your position ends, that 90-day clock starts immediately. You'll need to report the employment change to your DSO and update your SEVIS record. Finding new qualifying employment before the 90 days runs out is critical to maintaining lawful F-1 status.