I graduated from a two-year Dental Technology Program at a San Francisco Bay Area junior college in 1975, and was also required to obtain an A A degree. At that time, the instructor, strongly felt that within five to 10 years that all dental technicians would be required to get their initial training through a college -- technical program. If I remember correctly, 1975 was the first year that NADL started their Recognized Graduate (RG) program. The RG written exam was our final exam in the program. After working in in the field for three years, we were then eligible to take the CDT exams, both written and practical. I'm not sure, but if remember correctly, both exams were taken on the same day. When I started the program, enrollment was a maximum of 24 students, but by that time I graduated in two years, only 13 students made it all the way through. For our class, unfortunately, all seven of the students that had to drop out, were because of medical issues; a lot of car accidents, heart attack, and cancer. In 1978, when I took my CDT exams, there were two other students from my graduating class there. Unfortunately, I don't have any idea of how many of the original 13 students are still in the profession. Sometime in the late 1980s, the junior college dropped the Dental Technology Program. The reason? Entry pay was too low, just above minimum wage.
So that's a little bit of background information.
My personal view is that dental technicians should go through an accredited program, and earning some type of degree along with it. And after X number of practical experience years, then take the CDT exams.
Continuing education is a must! Do I feel like I get enough? No! Unfortunately, I think logistics is my excuse. We can't get lecturers to my community, because we don't have enough technicians in our county or the county to the north of us. To travel to a course, especially outside of Northern California, typically means two lost days of work. I've been in this business for over 30 years now, and still think there is so much that I don't know.
The biggest pitfall to our profession? Piece work, and assembly line job descriptions.
Okay, I'm getting off topic...
What's the benefit of being a CDT? Whatever you get out of it.
So that's my two cents worth